Roni Lewis and Shambrey Walker are Franchise Partners of our Fayetteville, AR location, and Roni is the sole Franchise Partner of Springdale, AR. This duo packs a punch and has a fire within to make a difference in the lives of those around them. Whether it’s bringing an incredible workout to their members or raising thousands of dollars for charity, there is no ceiling to these women making an impact in their communities. Today we are diving into their business partnership, how they made it through these past two years opening their gyms, and Roni vulnerably shares about a very difficult season of life she endured. 

How did you two find one another?

“We worked together in the apparel division for Walmart! We went to the very first pop-up camp hosted by the first Burn in Arkansas. We were totally bitten by the Burn bug. We went every day at noon. It was my happy place and it changed my life forever, for the better. I was just so excited to join another community.” -Shambrey Walker

What was the moment that you both decided to become business owners?

“Shambrey is the one that got me into Burn, but I’m the one who left corporate America first. I died after the first pop-up camp and couldn’t go back for 6 months! At the time, I was a plus-size apparel buyer while simultaneously planning my Burn workouts, meal prepping, and goal setting. I truly believe that to be good at something, you have to be all-in. I realized I needed to do something different because my professional work and my personal work were suddenly very divided” – Roni Lewis

What have you learned going into business with a friend and fellow coworker?

“It’s so nice working with someone who genuinely cares about you, because when we have to pour into other areas like our kids or family, the other one picks up the slack. We also have defined responsibilities and you have to let the other person truly own the process and do it their own way. You have to have trust in your partner that even if they don’t do it the way you would, you still support them. Don’t both try and do the same thing. Figure out your strengths and complement one another.” -Roni Lewis

Does one partner handle specific tasks and responsibilities, and the other handles what the other can’t? How do you balance the to-do’s based on your strengths and weaknesses?

“I am super Type A, task-oriented, organized and I love lists, numbers, and results!! I am driven by numbers and it’s how I lead my team. It gives me a competitive edge. I struggle with creativity, larger vision, and event planning. That’s all Roni. It’s been a learning curve to step back and let people flourish in their role and be hands-off and just let people do their job” –Shambrey Walker

Why Burn?

“Burn changed my life. I went to another gym that provided quote-unquote “childcare” and I ended up leaving within a few days. Burn’s childwatch was the big differentiator for me. I could soak in that 45 minutes for myself, I wasn’t running to the room to check on my little one. I trusted them.” –Roni Lewis

“Having the forums we do as Franchise Partners, and being able to connect with other owners in the system is huge. We can all learn from one another and grow as a collective to make each Burn location even stronger.” -Shambrey Walker

What do you attribute your success at Burn to?

“My passion. I know I’m in the right place. When I heard Devan’s speech when the lockdown started, and he encouraged all of us to hold the line, I just knew I was right where I was supposed to be. I texted Roni and she felt the same way in the same moment” –Shambrey Walker

For more information on how to impact your community click here.

Click to listen to the full interview on Coffee & Kettlebells with Morgan Kline, Roni Lewis and Shambrey Walker here.

OWN YOUR OWN BURN BOOT CAMP. BUILD YOUR EMPIRE TODAY. Visit franchise.burnbootcamp.com

Carey and Karen are incredible examples of risk being worth the reward. They share a bold and vulnerable look behind the scenes at what it looks like to partner with a new friend and take major leaps in life knowing that being “ready” isn’t a real thing! These powerhouse women started off as most of us do, strangers, when they walked into Burn Boot Camp. They had worked out near one another on the floating floor for months, but officially met when they showed up at a holiday party in the exact same outfit – a perfect conversation starter and the rest was history! Carey and Karen became fast, and fierce, friends. They both felt so at home with Burn Boot Camp, and quickly with each other. They made the decision to go into business together while still getting to know each other!

Through bold leaps of faith, holding each other in a place of grace, and overcoming struggles with grief, these women have been through it all. They’ve carved out a piece of the Waukesha community that they are proud to call their home. Listen along as these women open up and share their personal journeys that not only led them to one another but to opening a Burn Boot Camp just months after their first official meeting.

How did you guys meet and what was the path to open a Burn together?

“We warmed up near each other for 6 months and never interacted more than just high fives. Our Burn had a big holiday party that year and we showed up in the exact same outfit and it was an easy lead-in to spark up a conversation! We talked about everything that night… From both recently getting our PT certifications, work, being a Burn member. Something about our friendship just clicked right away.” -Karen

“We set our first date after that holiday party to grab a cup of coffee that quickly turned into another date for a glass of wine. We were both going through traumatic times and came to the realization that we needed to create a safe place for women who were going through something fierce the way we were. We wanted to give women what was given to us. We all need each other.” -Carey

You both left the security of corporate jobs. What was that like?

“I was contributing greatly to the household income so that was a tough conversation to have and ultimately a decision to arrive at. My husband and I both have a passion to make a difference in this world and that was not happening through my corporate job so that ultimately steered us in the direction of Burn. Quitting my corporate job was getting rid of the clutter in my life.” -Karen

You mentioned that nothing happens for a reason, and that beauty can be found in even the darkest of times. Why is that your philosophy?

“My father died unexpectedly. He was my person. It took the wind out of every sail I ever had and within a month of his passing, I quit my corporate job and I was so lost. Something inside me died when he did and it changed the trajectory of my life. It led me to Burn, it led me to Karen, it led me to the Waukesha community.” -Carey

Some have described your partnership and decision to open a business together so quickly as bold. Would you agree with that?

“We’re just two Moms who are passionate about running a Burn Boot Camp. We aren’t investors or business people. We have something different in our hearts” -Karen

“We would absolutely agree. In hindsight, it seems crazy that we went into business together. We met in January and we were talking about purchasing a franchise in May. In that short amount of time we had to convince our husbands to do this and be all in with us.” -Carey

An Analyst and a Sales Person are very opposite. Did you take some time to learn how the other person worked professionally or did it come later?

“We’ve had some growing pains but we’re stronger now than we were a year ago. We’ve learned through trial and error together and with the support from HQ. We have learned to stay in our lanes in our partnership.” -Carey

Want to hear more of this interview? Listen to their full conversation with Morgan on their episode of Coffee & Kettlebells!

BECOME A BUSINESS OWNER. BUILD YOUR OWN BURN BOOT CAMP EMPIRE.  Visit franchise.burnbootcamp.com

Failures make us rethink, reconsider, and find new ways and strategies to achieve our goals. The resilient path can often put us in a position of power in the end. Our Franchise Partner family is made up of a unique and incredible group of people who come from all walks of life. No two paths are the same that led these individuals to where they are. Getting a peek into their stories, hardships and all, humanizes what it means to be a powerful business owner.

Check out their interviews with COO Morgan Kline on the Coffee & Kettlebells podcast – you’ll find the episodes below!

Becky Patterson & Bambi Morris Gantt – A Raw & Unfiltered Conversation on Favorite Failures, Overcoming Hardships, Leaning Into Your Faith, and How To Create the Career & Life You Want

Becky and Bambi had a vulnerable conversation with Morgan where they really opened up about fighting through the pandemic and their favorite failures that have led to incredible outcomes and lessons. All three women share what it means to them to be a leader within an organization that is 90% female-owned. They also cover shifting/sharing identities as Working Mom and Business Owner, tips to win in a male-dominated industry, what keeps them up at night, and how they encourage others. These successful women break down creative ways your business can thrive in the current market and the best advice they’ve ever received. 

Growing a Business as a Mom and Using Failures to Our Advantage With Multi Unit Franchise Partner Amy Passarella

Morgan sits down with one of our Burn family members, Amy Passarella, today and their conversation covers all of the ‘working mom’ bases. They share their journeys and life hacks for how to grow a business as Moms of three, owning multiple locations, working with your significant other, their favorite failures in life, and what they have learned along the way.

Ironman Triathlete, Multi-Unit Franchise Partner and Mom of 2 Maggie Browning on Empowering Women To Lead Their Families, Live Their Healthiest Lives & Achieve Beyond What Seems Possible

Maggie Browning, Burn Boot Camp Franchise Partner (Burn Boot Camp Fishers, IN and Zionsville, IN), joins Morgan on the podcast. Maggie was a busy mom, wrangling 2 daughters and a corporate job when she found Burn Boot Camp. Maggie started as a member, got her CPT, and then decided to become a multi-unit Franchise Partner! The combination of an entrepreneurial spirit that was instilled in Maggie thanks to her family’s culture & a go-getter’s attitude from her life growing up as an athlete, she shares how she started, where she is going and the amazing goals she is crushing along the way! HINT: She’s completing an IRONMAN! Maggie and Morgan discuss motherhood, tough times, great times, life as a business owner, why she decided to open a Burn Boot Camp, and the idea that “it will be better than you’ve ever imagined if you can just get through it.” 

Nicu Mom and Multi-Unit Franchise Partner Teryl Greist on Having a Positive Mindset, Trusting Your People, and Overcoming Hardships

Teryl is a Multi-unit franchise partner in Kentucky and Ohio, alongside her soon-to-be husband Tom. They currently own 5 locations. She has 2 children; one of which who has had to overcome extreme circumstances. Her daughter was born prematurely and is now a healthy, thriving junior in high school! Teryl is an OG Burn Member who has been a part of the family since the parking lot days. She is a member, turned franchise partner, turned multi-unit franchise partner who gets to impact five communities.

Teryl’s family is at the heart of everything she does and an integral part of her story. Teryl delivered her daughter at 27 weeks, who weighed just 1lb 7oz.  She shares her NICU journey and what that experience has propelled her to do with her life. She has been called to help others in similar situations and get involved with charities and foundations to serve others!

OWN YOUR OWN BURN BOOT CAMP. BUILD YOUR EMPIRE TODAY.

 Visit franchise.burnbootcamp.com

Kelly Hall and Shannon Boyer are multi-unit Franchise Partners of our Temecula and Costa Mesa, California locations. They’re a dynamic duo, with a unique partnership within Burn Nation, and have taken the California market by storm!

Kelly was born and raised in Chicago but always felt called to California, where she moved right after college graduation. She has been married for 11 years to her husband Jared, and they have two little girls Rylan (5) and McKenna (2.5). Kelly began her career with Teach For America, which is a leadership program for college graduates who want to serve in inner-city schools. She was recruited from that program for a non-profit recruitment role, where she stayed for a decade impacting lives and making positive change. 

Shannon is originally from the San Francisco Bay area and started her career with Teach for America as well. She met her husband, Robbie, in college and they went on to attend seminary school together. Shannon and Robbie had all three of their children after their Burn journey began; Kase (4) Kaden (3) and Blakeley (1). Their husbands have been best friends for over a decade now!

In our conversation, we cover “doing it all” and overcoming feelings of doubt, fear, and insecurity. The possibility of impacting someone else’s life is the common thread that pulls these women up to the top of their game and is the driving force behind overcoming the challenges they have faced as business owners over the past year.

We also talk through the dynamics of being in business with your best friend, how experience breeds strength, the importance of therapy and self-awareness, identifying opportunities, and optimizing your business. Some of our biggest takeaways from today’s conversation include being open to feedback, partnership communication, growth strategies, and the importance of empathy as a leader!

I sat down with these powerhouse women to ask all the tough questions. Join our conversation below:

[Considering your previous years of professional experience] How have you learned new ways to be a leader through the Burn Boot Camp setting? What you used to know might be different than what you know now.

“My typical communication style is very soft and empathetic. I want to make sure the person walking away from our interaction feels good. In the past, I’ve always communicated that way. It was easier in a ministry setting, but it’s not what people need in a business setting. They need direct communication. They don’t need all the fluff and the emojis. I feel empowered to stand on my own authority as a leader. Before Burn, I never thought people needed to hear what I had to say. I had to get over my fear of being liked. I have become more authoritative and confident. You can be both kind and direct at the same time.” -Shannon Boyer

“I had never been THE boss before Burn. It’s been a big learning curve for me. It took almost a year for that to sink in.” -Kelly Hall

Explain your dynamic as business partners and friends. Do you have delegated responsibilities? Is it personality-oriented?

“The longer we’re in this, the easier it is to see where our strengths and opportunities lie. We both own certain areas in the business, but we both have veto power. Our friendship is the most important thing.” -Kelly Hall

“Friendship first, always.” -Shannon Boyer

Let’s talk about any moments of doubt you may have had, whether collectively or individually. How did you combat any doubt that you had about running a business?

“The way I see it, there isn’t an option to fail if it’s my responsibility. I never felt like there was an option to not do well or to fail. I’m a 1 on the Enneagram and I just look at every circumstance as an opportunity to learn. Every failure is a lesson. I strive to keep feedback loops open with our ownership group, our staff, our members. I’m big on finding blind spots and improving. What pulls me out when I’m feeling overwhelmed is remembering the bigger picture and not getting consumed in the small stuff (or the weeds as I like to call it). We also lean on our mentors and pray, pray, pray, a lot.” -Kelly Hall

“May 17, 2020 was a day that goes down in history for me of thinking ‘are we really going to be able to do this?’ I was sitting at my kitchen table, I had just put my kids down for a nap, I had my laptop open, and I learned that we had to close our gym down due to COVID-19. I lost it. I was an uncontrollable ball of emotion and terrified of what was going to come next. My oldest daughter walked down, saw me balling, and asked ‘Mommy what’s wrong?’ I tried to explain to my 4-year old the best I could and I’ll never forget, she said ‘Mommy just do Burn outside’ little did I know, we’d all end up doing Burn outside! In some senses I’m thankful for last year and what we had to go through because I grew so much in my leadership.” -Shannon Boyer

I always think; “what will happen if I don’t do it?” -Morgan Kline

What would you say is a crucial skill to have to be a good business partner?

“Self-awareness. The longer we have been in this, the more I’ve come face to face with what I’m good at, and what I need help with. Usually, if there’s conflict, it’s because there is a breakdown in communication. So getting to know one another’s communication styles is huge. Shannon and I have been able to meet each other where we are because we are in tune with each other and ourselves. Therapy helps too!” –Kelly Hall

“Yes, yes to everything Kelly said! Also, competence. With competence comes trust and knowledge; both of which you need. Having an equal passion and commitment is crucial. Having both of those things removes any questions or doubts. We both, in our heart of hearts, believe that Burn transforms lives and we are willing to do whatever it takes to transform as many as we can.” -Shannon Boyer

“We both hang our hats on family and faith at the end of the day. When you’re connected like that, at the end of the day, any other differences just become beautiful.” -Kelly Hall

What’s something that your children have done to actually enrich your business, and the balance of work and life. What would you say to those Moms afraid to start and spend that time working?

“I wouldn’t be where I am if I wasn’t a Mom. Our core membership base is a group of Moms that are in the same stage of life as Shannon and I. Our kids have done nothing but enrich the experience. It’s so fulfilling that our kids get to be a part of our business.” -Kelly Hall

“Our kids make us better people. They put our priorities in the right order. They lighten things. Having that perspective, and remembering what’s really important, has enriched our ability to reach real people with real struggles.” -Shannon Boyer

OWN YOUR OWN BURN BOOT CAMP. BECOME A BUSINESS OWNER.

 Visit franchise.burnbootcamp.com

While getting settled into the community and finding their new normal, Tina worked on her 2017 resolutions, which dove tailed from a quote she came across “you can’t pour from an empty cup.” In reflecting on how hard this hit her like a ton of bricks, she took baby steps in realizing that she needed to focus on self-care. “Fitness pours into every part of my life” Tina thought, “my job is to take care of everybody, but I’m not taking care of anybody if I’m not taking care of myself first”. And, being a health enthusiast and a servant-minded person, Tina thought perhaps she could be a personal trainer on the side – and maybe that would sufficiently scratch the itch. The twins were 1.5 years old and she was struggling with the Mom guilt that would inevitably creep in if she took on another venture.

Meanwhile, Tina also noticed a friend regularly posting workout selfies at a gym called Burn Boot Camp – “dare I say, it looks like they’re having …fun? While working out?” Shortly thereafter, at her twin’s birthday party, Tina couldn’t unsee how unbelievably ripped her friend was and how much she raved about her gym! 

She followed the signs. Frankly, they were hard to ignore. She signed up for a 3 week trial at Burn Eden Prairie and thought “even if these workouts aren’t for me, at least I’ll get a tank top out of the deal”. Well, she was hooked after just one week. She had never had a gym membership make her feel this good, this fast. The women working out beside her looked and felt amazing, and she was making new friends left and right. She found it refreshing and inspiring to connect on this level with other like-minded women. A bonus she didn’t see coming was that her young boys would grow up watching what strong women look like! Tina signed up for a 6-month membership.

A few months into her Burn journey, she read Simon Sinek’s “Start With Why” and was on a mission to shine up her own “why”. Meanwhile, she began chipping away at her husband; all while watching episodes of Shark Tank to scratch her entrepreneurial itch. 

Tina and Harlan eventually met in the middle. Tina had supported Harlan in his dreams and ventures for a long time, and it was Tina’s turn to be Batman. Burn had proven success, a well-oiled Franchise Opening Process, and a mission that the Hegnas aligned with. Maybe it wasn’t the out-of-the-box idea that Tina once daydreamed of Mark Cuban investing in, but it was an entrepreneurial power move. They signed for the Maple Grove, MN location in 2018 and opened their Burn Boot Camp in early 2019. It was a long road to find just the right real estate, and they ended up flipping an old IHop location! Check out their opening announcement:

The day they found out their Letter Of Intent was expected was the same day they found out they were pregnant with their third baby. “Well, it’s just like having another set of twins again!” Tina thought, “only this time, one is a gym baby and the other is a real baby!” Their son, Calvin, was born just 2 weeks after their grand opening. The Hegnas love that their little ones get to grow up watching Mom and Dad do what they love, turns out they think donkey kicks are pretty cool too. 

A secret to no one, 2020 presented its own unique set of challenges. Tina was navigating how to lead her team, take care of her business, and nurture her members all while they’re losing their jobs and concerned for their own health. Nevertheless, she persisted, “we want to continue to weather this storm as a unit and come out stronger on the other side.” The Maple Grove, MN location continues to flourish – so much so that making a decision to purchase not one, but TWO more locations was an easy one for the Hegnas. In the Summer of 2020, Tina and Harlan purchased both Plymouth, MN and Blaine, MN, growing their budding empire from 1 to 3 gyms!

What grounded her throughout the pandemic was that she truly believes in what they’re doing. “We believe that if we can, we must. And because we could, we did. No one told us “no,” so we persisted. Because we still can, we still will. Continuing to take care of our community is the heartbeat of what we do” Tina proudly stated, “Because we are so grounded in that, and we believe in what we’re doing — just knowing you can impact one life — it’s always worth it.”

Did Tina’s story resonate with you? Become one of our 400+ franchise partners and create a lasting impact on your community! To learn more, visit us at https://franchise.burnbootcamp.com/.

Little did they know that this would alter the course of their lives in the best way possible.

They both loved the supportive, non-judgmental community and 1:1 training. Lexy was going through a very hard time in her life and needed a place where she could go to forget everything that was happening. The four walls at Burn became her sanctuary. No matter what was going on outside those walls, inside it was always warm, positive, and happy. Lexy fell even more in love with Burn when she moved to a new city (Concord, NC) but still had a home away from home: Burn. It was there that she was able to make new friends and was welcomed with open arms! She had moved to a town where she didn’t know anyone, and Burn continued to be a consistent place of happiness and familiar smiling faces.

Many members at the Concord location are also Franchise Partners, and the closer Lexy became with the community, the further her interest peaked – could Burn Boot Camp be more than “just a gym?”

Soon the Concord community came to feel like family to Lexy, and she went to Carrie to tell her that they should try to open a Burn. One of the greatest feelings is when someone else’s mind is in sync with yours; and that was the case here. At the time, Carrie was working as Burn Ambassador at Brier Creek and was living and breathing the brand’s mission. However, she was also in the process of applying to vet school so she was hesitant about the journey to Franchise Ownership. After conversations with the owner at Brier Creek, realizing maybe vet school wasn’t going to fill up her cup the way Burn could, and her gut talking that just wouldn’t quit — they got on a call with Burn to see what the hype was all about, and the rest is history!

Carrie + Lexy grew up riding horses and traveling all over the country for competitions. They shared a dream of having jobs that gave them the freedom to do what they love while supporting their families.

Owning a Burn has given them that freedom, along with the fulfillment that they were desperately searching for.

Opening a gym during a pandemic has not been easy, but anything worth having rarely is. Hearing from our members on a daily basis about how much they not only love, but need Burn in their lives, makes what they do worth it; and they wouldn’t change a thing.

“We would open a million Burn locations if we could just so that every person on the planet is able to experience and enjoy this unique and special community.”

 Does their story resonate with you? Find out how you can change people’s lives through Franchising with Burn Boot Camp

by Devan Kline

Entrepreneurship is hot right now. The term itself has become a buzzword made popular by business influencers who’ve succeeded at the highest level. The idea of financial freedom, high risk, and disruptive business ideas that change the world make the thought of entrepreneurship extremely attractive to many people, right?

Not so fast. If you asked thoroughbred entrepreneurs how they would define this style of business building, they’ll often have a significantly different interpretations.

What does entrepreneurship take?

As a proven serial entrepreneur who’s turned dumbbells in a parking lot into an $80 million fitness franchise, I would explain entrepreneurship like this:

Entrepreneurship is like building a skyscraper for 15-18 hours a day, using your bare hands.

Entrepreneurs can create a precise vision—the mega-building—knowing that they won’t get paid until the building is complete and they begin filling it with tenants. It takes years to build, with no expectations other than knowing that the building will change the world—despite what others may say.

Entrepreneurship is like building a skyscraper for 15-18 hours a day, using your bare hands.

In America, 96% of small businesses fail after five years. That means only 4% are still standing. Of that 4%, only 10% are standing after the 10-year mark. Keep in mind that “still standing” doesn’t mean they’re making any profit for themselves. Entrepreneurship is a sport where 9.9/10 players end up getting cut.

If you’re ready to take a massive risk, face uncertainty, and put in years of grinding, know that your payoff could be huge!

Commit to being an anomaly, I encourage you to go for it!

If this picture we’re painting doesn’t look as pretty to you as it does on the cover of Forbes, Fast Company, and Business Insider, then keep reading and I’ll make the game winnable for you!

Let me introduce you to a concept called intrapreneurship.

What is intrapreneurship?

If you’ve heard this term before, it often refers to an employee working for a corporation and hustling their way to the top. Although I believe in an entrepreneurial mentality within a corporation, I disagree that this is true intrapreneurship.

By all means, if you’re not willing to eat dirt and deal with problems all day, you belong in an organization as an employee. Intrapreneurship is simply structured entrepreneurship in the form of a partnership with a brand, otherwise known as franchising.

Why intrapreneurship?

Every franchise was started by an entrepreneur—someone who laid it all on the line to bring a product or service to the world. In a franchise brand you’re not working for anyone, but rather partnering with leaders and becoming your very own business owner.

Where does my definition of intrapreneurship come from? You’re an “entrepreneur” who works “inside” of a framework. If you were to ask the most successful investors in the world to sum up their strategy, a large majority would say “asymmetrical risk-reward.” This means getting the maximum amount of upside while reducing the downside as much as possible.

The business starts and stops with you. You have the same opportunity to create financial freedom and live life on your own terms without all of the risk and uncertainty that comes with starting from scratch.

Is intrapreneurship opportunity right for you?

I have few points you may want to consider when choosing a brand to partner with.

1. What is your passion? What would you like to wake up and do every day that wouldn’t feel like a job? For example, if you’re passionate about fitness, investing in a barbershop probably won’t bode well for you long term! Follow your heart first and the money will come.

2. Find a brand with stellar leadership. Take your time, do your research, and get to know the person driving the brand. Often times private equity firms acquire brands and become very cold and sterile to their franchise owners. Instead of going in that direction, look for a brand that has created a family culture for its franchise partners and predicated impact to the world over dollars.

3. Find a brand with a raving fan culture. Eventually, we are all going to go through an economic downturn. The companies that thrive during these times are the ones who don’t just have clients, consumers, or customers, but those who create a culture of raving fans. Falling in love with a product or service is dangerous so ensure they meet the needs of their raving fans rather than their own.

4. Look for a brand that clearly markets themselves across various social channels. Business is two things: marketing and evolution. If you can’t find a large presence on a brand’s Facebook, Instagram, Google, YouTube, and/or blog, that’s a red flag!

If you want to make the move to intrapreneurship and you’re passionate about fitness, health, and impacting other people, Burn Boot Camp would love to consider bringing you on as a Franchise Partner! I have built Burn Boot Camp from one location in a parking lot to over 330 awarded territories in the United States in our first three years, and we exude everything I think a modern day intrapreneurship desires!

Follow your heart, and if it leads you to Burn Boot Camp, fill out this form and we will be in contact with you shortly!