Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicole Rysdyke.
Hi Nicole, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
“Someone like you will never make it owning a gym, you don’t have what it takes. It’s not worth it, many gyms fail.” The words expressed to me after leaving a personal training interview for Gold’s Gym seven years ago. It was my ultimate goal. He asked the typical question, “Where do you see yourself in five years?”
A small-town girl growing up in East Texas, you could always catch me with friends, family, in the outdoors or with some type of sporting equipment in my hands. I had a huge passion for sports and taking care of people. To me I have always felt it was my ultimate calling and what I was put on this earth to do, SERVE. Fast forward to my college years, I played one year of college basketball at the University of Concordia Texas and then pursued my degree of Athletic Training (Sports Medicine). I interned for Westwood High School Football and as well for the Texas Stars Hockey team. I became a licensed Athletic Trainer in the year of 2015.
That personal training interview was the first experience and welcoming into the “Adult World.” Now that I had a sheepskin in my hands; what a shot to the gut that was. HELLO RAW WORLD. I was crushed, and of course I left crying. He asked me a personal question and I told him the truth and to get a response like that? Kinda a slap in the face. Carrying on, I took a position with my college degree where I became a therapist for a therapy called “Egoscue.” Egoscue is a holistic, nonmedical therapy where a client is reviewed as an individual and what their body, posture, and pain presents. We develop a “menu or sequence” of exercises based off of what the body presents and assessing them in gait analysis, functional muscle tests, posture deviations, compensations and dysfunctions. Each body presents something different so they should be treated differently. It’s an amazing alternative route for those that were trying to avoid surgery, have went through surgery and still living in chronic pain. Also, it was great for clients who wanted to correct their posture to prevent pain, we even helped athletes gain a better awareness for their body in space to prevent further injuries. We worked with people all over the world and a big chunk of our practice was through Skype. One of my favorites was a client who traveled and lived in England. She would have to travel for her job and she would “take me with her,” showing me the world through the computer screen out her windows. This practice is very dear and near to my heart. I’m very grateful to have it in my toolbox of teachings.
Fast forward, I was blessed with a sweet baby boy and decided to become a domestic engineer; a stronger word for “stay at home mom.” Because we all know those stay at home moms DO WAY MORE than THAT. SHOUTOUT TO YOU MOMMAS! Well, months later I took on a local smoothie bar job with my son Stetson, six months at the time. I just had a personality, honestly, couldn’t just stay in a house all day… I had to find something part-time but still being able to be with my son- a blessing in disguise. What a joy it was meeting all the moms in town, having my son work with me EVERY SINGLE DAY, and slinging smoothies, and making energy green teas.
Ok, here’s the meaty part of my story and how things start to unfold… Of course, I have to set the scene and how I got to where I am today…
This smoothie bar started my roots in my town of Liberty Hill, Texas. I was freshly planted at the time. Being brick and mortar, I got to meet a lot of people and a lot of mommas. Shortly after being there for about a year or so, my gut started to pull me and give me this urge of taking over ownership. The old owner was even pushing me out of my comfort zone. My husband said “DO IT”…… I DON’T HAVE A COLLEGE DEGREE in business, mind you. I know nothing about finances or taxes. But nothing google and networking can’t do these days. So I took over ownership. My first month, I forgot to pay my electric and my quarterly taxes were missed. BIG FAT PENALTY and RED X! Off to a great start!
Boss mom, owning a smoothie bar with my toddler son… Got that? Ok, next chapter.
During this time, I was working out at our local gym called Flock Fitness. My absolute third home!! It’s a group exercise studio that has a cycle, weight lifting classes, boot camps, body pump, and cardio classes. Well little did I know, for my plans in my life, I was made out to be a Cycle instructor. I fell in LOVE with it! I was picked out of the crowd to move to the podium and take on the chief position in Ride Tribe as we like to call it. Shortly after, I became a Boot Camp instructor teaching our “FIIT Camps.” This gym is a gem. Not a franchise. Just started by a courageous, bold woman who set after her goals in helping others reach their greatest potential through fitness and spiritual wellness….
Boss mom, owning a smoothie bar with my toddler son, teaching fitness. OH and also, my husband owns an Automotive shop in Cedar Park as well!
Next chapter… At this time, it would be working at the smoothie bar for about four years and ownership of 1 year… My daughter was born.. 2020 in the middle of the pandemic… Running a business pregnant in a pandemic, WHAT A RIDE of a LIFETIME. We were fortunate enough to adapt to the carry out and curbside orders during the time. And I will say, I thank my Lord every night for all of my loyal customers that supported me during that scary time of business that remained faithful to their health and the smoothie bar to keep my lights on. I WOULD HAVE not made it during that time if it wasn’t for them.
At the beginning of 2021, I started looking at my business and I just wanted to GROW and SCALE it. I wanted to do something different. I felt my inner being just urging to explore. I didn’t know quite what that was. (I am actually kinda getting a lump in my throat typing this out right now). I was talking with the owner of Flock Fitness at the beginning of the year about this feeling and what I wanted to do. I knew I could do more and I wanted more but I couldn’t put my finger on it. I thought about opening another smoothie bar. Exploring other business opportunities. God, whatcha got for me?
September of this year, I knew my lease was going to be ending at the end of October at my smoothie bar. My decision needed to be made if I wanted to move or renew. Again, I felt my gut and God pulling on me. Certain things were showing red flags. Certain doors were closing in my life. Certain people were entering my life and even LEAVING my life. I started to get uncomfortable, if you will, in my own skin. A lot of personal things were happening and I experienced during the year of 2021 to spare the details. It was like things had to happen in order to get to where I was in the month of September/October. STUFF WAS HAPPENING. One day I had a meeting with the owner of Flock Fitness, Maranda. It was just a good talk one on one about personal things in life, where we both were in our lives, talked about the gym, talked about what’s to come. Just a good heart to heart conversation and accountability with being women of faith and business owners. I remember going home talking to my husband just having this gut feeling. This feeling of “If she decided to sell, let it go, pass it on to someone,” you don’t let Flock go. I remember telling and speaking it in existence to my husband, THE ONLY one that knew where my body was and thought process at the time, “I’ll take it over.”
2.5 weeks later. I get a text message from Maranda, not knowing my stance, my words. HAVE NEVER mentioned to her that I would love to move to the position of ownership… “If you had the opportunity to take over Flock what would your response be….. is it something you would be interested in..?”
I screen shotted that and sent it to my husband. He sends back a heart and says, “You spoke it.”
It took about six years from leaving that interview for the plans of my life to be mapped out to get to where I am today. I had to go thru parts of hell and experience certain areas of my life to get me where I am today. I had to experience the highs and the lows. I believe God needed me to see things, live things. And lose things to put me where I am today. I wasn’t ready at the time or mature enough to take on the role of taking on this beast. It was never the fact that I lost sight of that goal or gave up on that goal of becoming an owner of a gym but I just had to change my approach. When I got there, I got there. I didn’t put up unrealistic expectations that quickly would make my heart shatter if I didn’t reach it in a timeline. I continued to do life. And the will of my God and the alignment of the stars did what it needed to do.
So, today? Where am I? Liberty Hill, Texas. As of January 1, 2022 I will be running a scaled-back version of my smoothie bar as a pop-up inside of Flock Fitness combining the forces of health and wellness. I couldn’t be ANYMORE stoked to take this journey I was intended to be on with the right people, right coaching staff, right mindset at the right time.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Yes, I had lots of smooth roads along the way and I feel like I can only owe that to my close circle an tribe for the help of making it easier to travel. It takes a village to raise babies and just to live life. Which leads me to those roads that were struggles. Some roads I KNOW, I had to face it one on one with no one’s help. I had to appreciate the darkness to get to the light. But majority of those struggle roads I was able to accomplish because of those people that I gained along the way. I told myself, I even have a sign in my room that I adopted. “You’re right where you need to be. That mountain you’re climbing is the mountain that was meant for you.” With anything you do in life, there will be HIGHS POINTS and there will be VERY VERY LOW points. You need both to grow. Grow through what you go through.
We’ve been impressed with Flock Fitness, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
To start, Flock Fitness is not and will never be a franchise. Right there sets it apart from any other form of gym because what it takes to make a gym, fund a gym, run a gym. You create your lane and vision. You’re in charge of it, no one else is. Just like no one else is in charge of YOU. Discipline beats motivation. You have to create your amendments and your discipline. You don’t owe anyone any royalties at the end of the month but making sure you can pay to keep your gym lights on and your own home. There’s a different breed of us small business owners to run a small business. It’s not for the faint of heart.
Flock Fitness is a group exercise gym. We offer spin classes, Les Mills Body Pump, Fiit Camps (similar to boot camps), Lifting classes that work on just strict weight lifting, and other cardio classes, such as Step. Personal Training is also being offered through package sessions. We run off scheduling six days a week. And at Flock Fitness, you are for sure to find you are stronger with the “Flock.”
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
I feel the health and wellness world in general is an ever-evolving door. New things are designed and created. New methods, new trainings. New “diets” evolve and new trends. SO, if this is one of those interview questions where you ask where will I be in 5-10 years? My response will be, I will be STRONGER with the FLOCK. And I’ll say that with tears STILL in my eyes because of how grateful I am for this opportunity. We will soar to new heights and grow. With the coaching staff I have right now, my plans are to only expand and recruit more cream of the crop as well as adding more editions on to the Gym. I’m ready to be uncomfortable again and see where it takes me.
Pricing:
- 6 month commitment $100
- 12 month commitment $90
- Class pass $15
- 6 Class pass $60
- 12 Class pass $108
Contact Info:
- Email: rysdyke.nicole@gmail.com
- Website: www.flockfitness.net
- Instagram: flock.fitness
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FlockFitnessLH
Image Credits:
Amy Schiller Photography
