Tuesday, November 27, 2012

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly: Lesson #5


The beginning, the start-up, the “behind-the-curtain” work is all consuming.  A normal schedule would be hard to keep for any business partners, let alone 4 with such conflicting schedules and priorities… 

Lesson #5
The “When Two of Your Business Partners are Married with Kids, 9-5 Doesn’t Really Apply” Lesson


The issue is that Teresa and Alicia can only be “on” for the business during naptime, on weekends or once the kids are in bed. That is clearly not a normal working schedule and does not match up with Michelle and Elena’s single-girl schedule.  Here is how the days breakdown Moms vs. singles: naptime=lunchtime, weekends=having a life and once the kids are in bed=happy hour.

While this poses some interesting scheduling issues it also allows for division of labor.  The Moms can check e-mails at night, research and create a beginning agenda to the day, you know, the REALLY fun stuff.  The singles are free to attend meetings, check morning emails, check-in on the space and execute the advertising and marketing plan, you know, the REALLY boring stuff.  Of course, Teresa pops in and out throughout the day (Alicia via telephone) but the singles run the daytime operations and the Moms take the backseat.  Michelle and Elena feel like they are doing it all and, at times, it’s true. 

If Michelle and Elena had it their way we would all be single.  Imagine the productivity and the fun, ah the fun!  And on certain days, Teresa and Alicia wish “those single girls” understood the demands of motherhood.  This is where we are and it does make the business flow into all hours.  For good and for bad!  Time is our BIG sacrifice this first year and as long as we stay focused on the end result that sacrifice is worth it, every day and every night.




Thursday, November 15, 2012

GETTING TO KNOW THE TEAM

Sarah is a ball of energy! She shows passion and dedication in everything she does and there is no doubt in our minds that her riders will love her as much as we do!

Spotlight on Instructor, Sarah Rock


Sarah is originally from Southern California and loves to run marathons. She says that running is the best kind of therapy, besides TEAMride of course! Sarah enjoys the theatre, summer, traveling, Disneyland, family, coffee and dogs! She believes that fitness is a lifestyle that never goes out of fashion and cannot wait to share it with everyone at TEAMride.

1. If you could be any fictional character, who would you choose? Hmmmm, Hermione Granger....she really was the best wizard, c'mon, how many times did she get Harry out of trouble?
2. If you were stranded on a lonely beach, what are the 5 things that you would want to survive? Survival stuff or wants? Survival: knife, kindling, water (never ending supply), blanket & sunscreen Want: ipod, cabana, sunscreen (sunburns suck!), coffee, hammock 
3. What is the #1 most played song on your iPod? Holiday Club, by Jim and the Povolos, reminds me of the theatre groups I grew up with!
4. If you could learn to do anything, what would it be? Silks, or Trapeze, I love the beauty and danger of dancing in the air.
5. If you won the lottery, what is the 1st thing you would do? Invest, and go for frozen yogurt with everyone I know!
6. What is one of your favorite quotes? "At any given moment you have the power to say this is not how the story is going to end"




Tuesday, November 13, 2012

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly: Lesson #4


We each bring something unique and critical to the success of TEAMride.  It has been fun to see how our personality traits have segued into key roles in the business.  We have decided that identifying your strengths and weaknesses early on is a major factor in the eventual success or demise of your business.  There are amazing checks-and-balances that occur when you have the right group of people working together.  The give and take seems effortless; one person’s weakness is taken up by another’s strength. Lucky for us, the four of us work well together; otherwise, things could get scary.

Lesson #4:
The “We are glad we all balance one another out, otherwise we’d be broke, not talking and business-less” Lesson


“It’s 8:01, you’re officially late.  If you were my employee you would be fired.” -Michelle via text message to Elena

Elena arrives at the dining room table aka “the office” a few minutes later, coffee cup in hand and a smile on her face. 

How’s that for checks-and-balances? 

Michelle’s strengths are clear. She is efficient, punctual, manages multiple tasks with ease and knows how to delegate.  Her years of work in the corporate world make her an invaluable resource for our business. With her around, our productivity level is at an all-time high J She and Elena work extremely well together because Elena is a real doer and she never says “No,” no matter the task.  She may appear to lack initiative but she sure can execute, with a smile and uncanny sense of calm.  She frequently stops Michelle from freaking out by reminding her, “We are not a multi-billion dollar corporation, we are a small business, relax, have fun.” Checks-and-balances.

While we are all friendly and social girls, Teresa is THE people person. When none of us wants to put on a “happy face,” we can depend on Tere to talk to anyone, at any time, about anything.  She promotes our business at any opportunity and that is exactly what a small business needs... an advocate.  This “over-sharing” does have one downside; she is inevitably tardy on her work days at TEAMride HQ because she spent 20 minutes chatting in some parking lot “drumming up business!” With an excuse like that it is hard to get mad. If it weren’t for Teresa, we would have a more challenging time spreading the word. Checks-and-balances.

Alicia and Teresa balance one another on the money front. If it was up to Alicia, our floors would be tile flown in from Italy and chandeliers would be hung wherever possible. If it was up to Teresa, our interior would look as sterile and uninteresting as a hospital. Thankfully, they can find a happy medium. Teresa watches the bottom line and questions every monetary decision; annoying sometimes, but incredibly smart in the long run. Alicia finds discounts where she can and has scaled down her tastes for the sake of Teresa’s blood pressure. Checks-and-balances.  

Varying strengths and personalities make for one hell of a TEAM. We hope you all agree!

Thursday, November 8, 2012

GETTING TO KNOW THE TEAM

Today on Getting to Know the TEAM, we highlight our first male instructor! We could only hope that Josh's enthusiasm and love for outdoor cycling would translate into a love of indoor cycling. Needless to say, it has :)

Spotlight on Instructor, Josh McCann




Josh is a Sacramentan to the core. He was raised here and is now a realtor in the area. He tries to enjoy every moment of everyday and believes that the simple things in life are what matter most. 

1. If you could be a fictional character who would you choose? Batman, hands down
2.  If you were stranded on a lonely beach, what are the 5 things that you would want to survive? A fiddle, gummy bears, 3d glasses, Chuck Norris, and a about beach survival for dummies picture handbook   
3. What is the #1 most played song on your iPod? Michael Bolton "Greatest Hits"
4. If you could learn to do anything, what would it be? I would love to learn how to fly in a squirrel suit
5. If you won the lottery, what is the 1st thing you would do? I would build the most magical tree fort ever! and live there full time
6. What is one of your favorite quotes? "Just do it" - Nike


Tuesday, November 6, 2012

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly: Lesson #3


People start businesses out of their garage all the time…right?  We can tell you at least one has!  TEAMride has started in a garage and a home.  Our Mother’s that is!  We had no idea, nor did she, that when we decided to start a business her house would become intimately involved.  Our Mother’s house and her heart have welcomed TEAMride and we have built our headquarters there for the past 8 months!

Lesson #3
The “When Your Space is Under Construction and No Packages Can be Delivered There…Let’s Hope You Have an Awesome Mom” Lesson


If we had formally asked our Mother 8 months ago if we could have 35 bikes, boxes of towels, shoes, weights and more piled in her garage and dining room we are pretty sure the answer would have been “No!” The fact that this chaos has been delivered slowly is perhaps our saving grace. 

Truly, though, 760 Laurel Dr. has become TEAMride Headquarters.  Her family room hosts weekly “training” rides with our instructors and 8-10 bikes have become more-or-less permanent fixtures in that room.  The dining room is our “office” with coffee cups and piles of paperwork strewn everywhere.  Our Mother has taken this all in stride.  She occasionally has a “freak-out” but who can blame her.  Frankly we are all surprised how well she is handling this, although there is really no alternative!  As we expectantly wait for TEAMride’s true home to be complete a small part of us will miss this stage: Having Mother moving about the house as we conduct business, being pleasantly surprised by a green drink when we need an afternoon “pick-me-up” or a meal served in the “office” just as we thought we couldn’t push on.  Our Mother, on the other hand, we are sure will not miss a single box, pile of paper or having to park outside!

Here’s to her: our Mother.  The one who dreams right along with us no matter how bumpy or intrusive the ride!



Thursday, November 1, 2012

GETTING TO KNOW THE TEAM

Today we highlight another one of our fabulous instructors in our "Getting to Know the TEAM" series! Heather's warm and calming presence is a joy to be around and we wouldn't be surprised if you walk out of her class wanting to be her best friend! 


Spotlight on Instructor, Heather Hayes

Heather graduated with a BA in Interior Architecture, although, she wishes she were a professional dancer :) She has a four-year-old son, Tyler and her sign is Scorpio, so she says she can get pretty intense about things she believes in. Heather lived in South Lake Tahoe for 6 years and spent her winters as a competitive snowboarder.

1)  If you could be any fictional character, who would you choose? Aeon Flux
2)  If you were stranded on a lonely beach, what are the 5 things that you would want to survive? Solar laptop (they exist!), I guess I'd need sunglasses, the hunger games trilogy (does that count as one?) economy pack of lighters and a tarp.
3)  What is the #1 most played song on your iPod? Black Eyed Peas, I just can't get enough
4)  If you could learn to do anything, what would it be? Speak Italian (I've tried)
5)  If you won the lottery, what is the 1st thing you would do? Sail around the world on a yacht, fully staffed of course.
6)  What is one of your favorite quotes? "When it rains or shines, it's just a state of mind" The Beatles, "Rain"