Love Work

Wake Up a Disengaged Workforce

Do your employees jump out of bed in the morning and look forward to going to work, or do they have to hit the snooze button five times and chug a 20-ounce latte just to face the day? The sad truth is, most people live in the second category. When it comes to work, 70 percent of Americans are disengaged, and this scourge of nonproductive Undertime is dragging down everybody's performance.

Chuck Runyon and Dave Mortensen have made it their life's mission to change this. Successful entrepreneurs who could have cashed out after seven years at the fitness franchise they co-founded, they instead decided to roll the dice, roll up their sleeves, and reinvent the culture of work. For two blue-collar guys with high school educations, it was a bold move and a huge financial risk. But it has paid off in multiple ways not only for them but also for their employees, franchisees, and members.

Anytime Fitness is now the world's largest co-ed fitness club franchise, arguably reaching a bigger international market penetration more quickly than any franchise in history. More impressively, the Anytime Fitness logo has been tattooed on the bodies of more than 3,000 employees, franchisees, and gym members - a symbol of passion most brands can only dream of.

By shooting high, working hard, and trusting their guts, Chuck and Dave have inspired individuals, families, and entire communities to become healthier, happier, and more successful. Now they share their secrets for the first time. Their hope is that leaders of all stripes can follow the roadmap outlined in this book to create more purposeful, profitable, and playful work environments and to inspire others to love work as much as they do.

Co-founders of the world's largest and fastest-growing fitness franchise, Anytime Fitness, Chuck Runyon and Dave Mortensen have distinguished themselves as authorities in the fields of fitness and leadership.

Runyon and Mortensen revolutionized the fitness industry when they created an alternative to big-box gyms - secure, 24-hour facilities featuring only the equipment members use most.

During their 15-year journey as leaders of Anytime Fitness, Runyon and Mortensen have built a work culture that is truly remarkable. Central to their leadership philosophy is the concept of ROEI : the return on emotional investment characterized by an emphasis on people, profits, purpose, and play.

The first Anytime Fitness gym opened its doors in Cambridge, Minnesota, in May of 2002. In the years since, Anytime Fitness has quickly become an international powerhouse with more than 3,500 gyms located in all 50 states and nearly 30 countries on five continents, serving 3 million members.

Under Mortensen and Runyon's leadership, Anytime Fitness has earned numerous industry accolades, including the #1 Franchise in the World, according to Entrepreneur magazine; One of America s Most Promising Companies, according to Forbes; and the Fastest-Growing Fitness Club in the world, according IHRSA. Additionally, Anytime Fitness has been honored as a Top Franchise for Minorities and The Best Place to Work in Minnesota four years in a row.