About Ken Harris (our founder)
I was supposed to be a lawyer, or maybe a teacher. But my passion for coaching gymnastics led me to own a gymnastics gym.
I’ve been coaching since 1988 and efficiently running my own gym since 2000. Along the way, I’ve become a jack-of-all-trades entrepreneur shaped by endless dedication, vision and goals, macro management skills, and effective delegation.
I was always a gymnast growing up. And when I was old enough to start working, I became a gymnastics coach. It started with a local “park district” rec program in 1988, and transferred to coaching the USA Gymnastics women’s team in 1990. And that is where my passion began.
At the same time, I enrolled in the Political Science / Pre-Law department at the University of Evansville. I felt like I was born to teach kids, and assumed that I could never earn a living as a gymnastics coach.
A few semesters into my degree and more coaching experience under my belt, I realized that I didn’t actually want to be a lawyer. I wanted to coach competitive gymnastics – and I wanted to make a good living while doing so.
I graduated in 1994 with a Political Science and Pre-Law degree. My parents had high hopes for me to be a lawyer. Instead, I accepted a full-time coaching gig at Westside Gymnastics in Nashville, TN.
About Iron Business Solutions
Our team of consultants, has a combined gymnastics experience, of more than 8 decades! In June of 2000, the first gym in our Portfolio was to be opened. In July of 2011 we opened a 2nd, July of 2012 we expanded, and In June of 2021, we expanded again.
In the early years, the hours were long and the work was slow. My (Ken’s) job description, in addition to Coach, included plumber, electrician, drywall guy, janitor, carpenter, etc. Sixty hour workweeks, and “control freak micro-management” for all departments was taking all of my energy.
Somewhere around 2008, I had a breakthrough. I finally realized that I was overextending myself, under-utilizing other people, and knew I needed key systems, and incentives to OPERATE like a “fortune 500 company”, but TREAT PEOPLE as if we were a “mom and pop”.
That key insight revolutionized the way I run my business, enabled our business to begin it’s expansion, and has inspired us to help other gym owners overcome the same problems.
Iron Business Solutions applies the successful business practices we’ve learned to help you lead in your strengths and grow your enrollment.
When you work with us, you can grow your enrollment numbers and lead in your strengths.
Our best feature, is that every single product is 100% custom. No two gym owners, and no two gym towns are exactly alike. We take the time to listen to YOUR GOALS, and YOUR VISION, to help formulate plans that help you define, and reach, success.
Contact us to get started!