the REAL social media

The REAL Social Media

Last night, we had a networking event for theFLOnetwork and during the event I had an eye opening experience.

We had a great mixture of younger and older fitness professionals.  I noticed that the older fitness pros felt right at home in a social setting. They were relaxed and chatting with everyone who walked in, but there was something different with the younger professionals.

The younger people there looked like kids in a candy store.  It was like a space in their life was finally filled. They were wide eyed and super excited to be chatting with REAL people.  A light bulb went off in my head: this upcoming generation of professionals has really only networked with their cohorts via social media. They read blogs, follow tweets, repost Instagram pics, etc. but they never really get REAL life interaction with people in their industry. 

Coming up in the fitness industry, my best friend Denise Loustau taught me the importance of building a network. She would take me from gym to gym in New York City building her relationships with the owners and repping TRX, which she worked for at the time.  She single handedly built their whole NYC connection, which still stands strong till this day. I got to personally connect with people and build long lasting friendships that have helped me grow and still flourish today.  This is a huge missing cog in the wheel of the industry now. We are missing connection with each other. 

Benefits for old and young

Last night, I witnessed the benefits of connecting the older with the younger energies in a REAL social setting.  The seasoned pros got to feel the enthusiastic, ambitious, and sometimes reckless energy of the younger pros.  It has a nostalgic feel of when they used to feel the same way.  The younger energy got to learn the wisdom, hear advice, and experience the point of view of someone who has been through it already. Both sides need these interactions to continue to grow.  We never want to feel alone, and getting together to talk shop helps us realize that there is more out there.  We all want to improve and grow as professionals but we cannot do it alone. We need to talk, share ideas, share our passion, bring our energy, and share our gift.

I can’t wait till our next event on Feb 19^th. If you’re interested on joining the movement email theFLOnetwork@gmail.com .