Financial Gym On The Road Recap with Chandra
I spent the good part of the Fall of 2022 traveling across the country and hosting meet-up events with Financial Gym clients and friends and I know a number of you listeners found your way to many of those events as well. It was the first time we had hosted in-person events in almost 3 years and while it took up a lot of my time and kept me away from home for most of the Fall, it was one of the greatest experiences of my life. Over 9 years ago now, I had the idea for the Financial Gym as a physical location where people could create a community around the most taboo topic out there, money. And when we had gyms open, it was beautiful to watch that dream come to life. In early 2022, we needed to close our physical Financial Gym locations, but this Road Trip proved that even though the addresses changed, the unbelievable spirit of the gym was present at every stop. Joining me today is Financial Gym Community Engagement Manager, Chandra Savage, to talk about putting this Road Trip together, lessons learned from the road, and how we’re carrying the community forward into 2023.
What are we drinking?
Chandra - Ph Water
Shannon - Black Cherry Schweppes
Podcast Notes
This Spring, Shannon approached Chandra with her road trip idea. With the pandemic and closing the physical locations, Shannon was yearning to connect with the community in person. They saw this window of opportunity and made it happen. The Road Trip was a huge success.
Even though it was a colossal undertaking, Chandra was excited. The pandemic disrupted our ability to bring the community physically together, but it’s a powerful part of the experience. They partnered with Community Spirit Vodka and visited ten cities.
The greatest gift of the road trip was seeing the community as alive as ever. Chandra was able to attend the New York and Chicago events. The New York events were both sold out. It was terrific to hug people we hadn’t seen in so long. Folks we hadn’t seen in over two years looked tremendous and beautiful. In addition to familiar faces, there were new members who we got to meet in person for the first time.
In March 2020, Chicago was the last event before everything shut down. It was moving to see folks who attended that event come back to this one.
The events were open to everyone, whether or not you were a member. We have one of the most inclusive communities, discussing one of the most challenging subjects. People were meeting for the first time and making friends.
Shannon loved every single stop on tour, but Portland was extra special because Will could attend the event.
We don’t want money to be a stressful or taboo topic. We’re having all kinds of conversations. If you attend an event, you will find encouraging and supportive people ready to talk through any money topic.
The Financial Gym is an affordable resource to help you get where you want. If you’re excited about The Gym and want to share with your community about it, tell them to sign up for a free warm-up call. When you sign up for a warm-up call, you’re speaking with a current Financial Gym client who is not incentivized to convert you. They’re paid hourly to share the information and answer any questions you have. It’s an incredibly positive experience.
No matter where you are on your financial journey, there is value in having a trustworthy third party looking over your stuff. There is always work to do, and there is value in the process.
The Financial Gym is free of fear and shame. No matter where we are, it is a judgment-free zone.
After seeing the engagement at the events, they decided to bring back the monthly meetup groups in 2023. Before the pandemic, there were twelve groups, and we’re beginning to bring them back. Each city has a Gymbassador who is in charge of the meetup groups.
These events will be free. They are a place where folks can come together, talk about money, and make friends. If you’re not a member, don’t be intimidated, it’s an excellent opportunity for people to get comfortable talking about money. Shannon will be popping into these events throughout the year.
If you’re interested in becoming a member, or learning more, sign up for a free warm-up call today.
You can learn more about upcoming events here.
Takeaway: My biggest takeaway is the importance of having a supportive community around you while you’re looking to accomplish big goals and if you’re looking for a supportive money community, then check out the Financial Gym’s page and get started today. You don’t have to be a member to attend. All are welcome, and you never know, you may just catch me at one of these.
Random Three Questions
What is your big bold audacious 2023 goal?
What are your favorite affordable wines for gifting to others?
If you had a million dollars, what would you do with it?
Connect with Chandra
Chandra Savage Level 2 Financial Trainer & Head of Community Engagement
If you have any topics you would like me to cover on this podcast, or if you’d like to get in the financially naked hot seat, I encourage you to email me at Shannon@fingyms.com, or join the private Martinis and Your Money Facebook group, and let me know what you want to hear.
The beginning of the year is a perfect time to set goals and make plans for where you want to go in the next year. You may not actually accomplish all of your goals, but I’ve witnessed amazing results happen over the last 10 years when people set out to make financial health a goal of theirs. A financial health journey can be long and feel lonely at times, but if you or someone you know would like to have a supportive best financial friend along for the ride, please check out financialgym.com. With memberships starting as low as $35 a month, we are the inflation-proof source for financial wellness for anyone. So head over or send friends to financialgym.com and schedule a warm up call today. As a reminder, our warm up call team is staffed with amazing and current Financial Gym clients that can answer any of your questions about our program without any pressure to join. We know that Financial Gym is an investment and we want to make sure that you’re confident in the choice you’re making before you commit.