Building an Industry Takes More Than Unity
A couple of years ago, I wrote a blog asking a simple question.
Is fitness equipment service a real industry?
At the time, I wasn’t trying to make a statement. I was trying to start a conversation.
Because if you’ve spent any real time in this space, you’ve probably felt it too.
Something has always been missing.
We have strong companies.
We have manufacturers building incredible equipment.
But when you step back and look at it as a whole… it has always felt fragmented.
And that was the point of that original post.
The Message Hasn’t Changed
Fast forward to today, and I’m still talking about the same thing.
In fact, just last week at the 2nd annual NAHFTA Gathering, the people in that room heard me say the exact same things in my opening remarks.
Not because I’m stuck.
Because it’s still true.
If anything, the conviction is stronger now than it was then.
I believe in unity.
I believe in collaboration.
I believe in a unified voice for the service side of this industry.
I always have.
This isn’t something I started saying recently.
This isn’t a shift based on pressure or trends.
This is who I am.
It’s why I built Field Tech.
It’s why I helped build NAHFTA.
It’s why I’ve dedicated years of my life, and a significant amount of my own money, to this space.
Not to create noise.
To help build something real.
But Unity Is Just the Start
Here’s the part that matters.
Unity alone doesn’t build an industry.
It’s important. It’s necessary. But it’s not enough.
Coming together is step one.
What happens after that is what actually moves the needle.
Because an industry isn’t defined by conversation.
It’s defined by what gets built.
What Actually Builds an Industry
If we really want to build something that has weight… something that commands respect… something that lasts…
It takes more than a place to talk.
It takes structure.
It takes tools.
It takes support systems.
It takes standards.
It takes training paths.
It takes recognition.
It takes alignment between service providers, manufacturers, and vendors.
It takes real infrastructure.
Not just ideas.
Not just discussion.
Actual systems that people can plug into and use.
That’s what turns a fragmented space into a defined industry.
This Was Never About Creating More Fragments
There’s a narrative that pops up from time to time.
That starting new initiatives or building new things somehow creates more fragmentation.
I understand where that comes from.
But that’s not what I’m doing.
The fragmentation already exists.
It always has.
What I’m focused on is bringing those existing pieces together in a way that actually works.
Creating synergy.
Building alignment.
Giving people something they can connect through… not just connect on.
There’s a difference.
This Is Who I Am
I’m not going to shift with the wind.
I’m not going to change direction based on pressure or perception.
I’ve been saying the same things for years, and I’ll keep saying them.
Because I believe in this industry.
I believe in the people in it.
And I believe we have an opportunity to build something that hasn’t fully existed before.
Not just a community.
An actual industry.
If You’re Not Sure Where I Stand
Ask around.
Talk to people who have worked with me.
Talk to people who have disagreed with me.
Better yet, call me.
My number isn’t hard to find.
I’m always open to the conversation.
Let’s Build It the Right Way
At the end of the day, this isn’t about one person.
It’s not about one company.
It’s not about one group.
It’s about building something bigger than all of us.
Together.
But not just together.
Built.