Blake Burnard, founder of Grindhaus Gym in Bakersfield, California, joins the show to break down how he grew Grindhaus from a 400 square foot garage into a 6,500 square foot facility serving both athletes and adults.

We dive into why his adult program stalled out as a large group model, the decision to shut it down completely for a year, and what he learned in that time off about what adults are actually buying. Blake breaks down the handful of things they truly care about, none of which have anything to do with X’s and O’s, and how addressing those turned the adult program into the flagship product that now brings in double the revenue of his athletes.

Blake also delivers a masterclass on launching a gym in a brand-new city with zero connections and getting it profitable in 90 days, something he’s charting out in real time right now. We get into how he forces community into every session, the three pillars behind a coaching product people won’t leave, and why starting out as a high school English teacher became one of the biggest drivers of his success.

We also talk about stewarding your schedule to create margins for what matters most, finding his purpose again inside his own gym, and the relationship he’s working to build between his kids and the business.

🔗Check out more from Blake 👇

Instagram: @grindhaus_sc @blakeburnardcoaching

Email: blake@grindhausgym.com

This podcast evolved from my book, Strength In Numbers — the ultimate mentorship guide for coaches.

Featuring insights from 100+ ELITE coaches across every level and sport, it’s an encyclopedia of coaching wisdom built to help you grow your career, navigate failure, and find long-term coaching success.

👉 Grab your copy of Strength In Numbers [by clicking here].

Chapters

00:00 Intro

03:26 The Story Behind the Grindhaus Name

05:38 What Teaching English Taught Him About Coaching

10:01 Holding a High Standard With Empathy

12:03 Building Curriculum and Systems for Your Staff

13:44 Communicating in the Simplest Way Possible

16:14 The Creative Value of Limited Resources

18:45 Why the First Adult Program Failed

24:05 What Adults Actually Want From a Gym

26:55 Turning Adults Into the Flagship Program

28:36 Shifting the Marketing Message to 40+

33:33 Forcing Community in the Daily Session

39:01 Three Pillars of an Elite Coaching Product

41:45 Weekly Wins and the Power of Social Proof

48:07 Starting a New Gym With Zero Connections

56:02 Creating Margins and Stewarding Your Time

01:03:29 Integrating Family Into the Business

01:09:30 The Armory and Finding Purpose Again

EP 75: Blake Burnard | Adults Don’t Buy X’s and O’s

The Strength In Numbers Podcast

EP 75: Blake Burnard | Adults Don’t Buy X’s and O’s