Journal entry 1
I began the first week of my internship at Planet Fitness on May 26, 2014. It was extremely vigorous to state the least. Planet Fitness consists entirely of a state-of-the art fitness facility which provides highly advanced exercise equipment and machines. The advanced exercise machines are capable of synchronizing electronic devices, digitally recording calories, mileage, body fat, etc. I've noticed that the wide range of members appreciate the "judgment free zone" atmosphere provided by Planet Fitness; members ranging from teenage to geriatric speaks volumes of the effectiveness of the facility. The Planet Fitness staff has been of great assistance to me, as the supervisors and employees alike have worked vigorously to ensure success. Today was the first day that I started my hours at Planet Fitness of Tri-county. I must say that I was quite nervous walking into the facility but that nervousness went away as soon as I met some of the staff there. I achieved a good amount on the first day as far as experience goes but realize I have a long way to really perfecting the skills that are required for being a fitness professional. I had a brief overview of the Planet Fitness Wireless system that is attached to every machine and was able to input a few exercises for a client. I walked around the floor for some time and had an older gentleman ask me a few questions about exercises he could do to help his hamstrings. Prior to all this I was able to sit in on a few assessments and was able to provide knowledge and input into redesigning a strength program for a client that wanted to switch things up. All in all this was a very good first day and I cannot wait to learn more about Planet Fitness Wireless and spend more time on the floor helping members with their questions.
Journal entry 2
Another intern and I, accompanied by assistant manager Lauren Merriman toured the facility, and learned how to properly operate everything from exercise equipment to electrical circuits in case of emergency. This is how I was able to hastily familiarize myself with the Planet Fitness facility. Ensuing the tour, Lauren then provided me with additional information regarding the operation of the computers and how to utilize the database system. Hence the fact that Planet Fitness has recently installed new database systems, the time consuming nature of learning and understanding how to operate them was abundant. Additional tasks involved electronically synchronizing members into the database, sending emails, and answering telephone calls.
Journal entry 3
We're seeking to exploit Planet Fitness in a positive way, therefore, I've been assigned the duty of creating flyers in hopes of attracting more individuals. Once the member has signed up, he or she receives a complimentary bumper sticker which in turn markets the Planet Fitness brand. In the midst of marketing the facility, we're encouraged to assist future members in gaining important knowledge regarding the facility. The success of promotion stems from the fluidity and effectiveness of the of the promoters; in this case, I sought to educate the potential members on every piece of vital information in hopes of convincing them to join. The success of today has been stringent upon closely monitoring the supervisors' actions, and performing exactly what I was told.
Journal entry 4
I began my second week on a Thursday. Thursday proved to be laborious nonetheless, and I had my work "cut out for me." I was asked to record membership sign-ups electronically into the systems' database. Recording the memberships electronically was difficult in the brink of the process but became a lot more feasible later on. Learning how to computerize specific material into the database is something that enhanced my computer skills immensely. I was able to successfully gain substantial information regarding how to properly apply information internally. The last two weeks have consisted mostly of training. I
have had several meetings with both my Supervisor & my Mentor who have been teaching me the
ins & outs of the job. They have been teaching me about my responsibilities for the summer and how to perform them.
Journal entry 5
On this day, I was advised by my supervisor to file birth certificates for members who sought to compete in the first ever Planet Fitness Lift-a-Thon hosted by Planet Fitness for the benefit of charities in the area. Aside from filing birth certificates, I also filed additional paperwork pertaining to the members overall health, and potential health risks. There were quite a few participants, which brought about great feasibility when it came to checking participants in. As the turnout wasn't as expected, the remainder of the day was easy-going. According to the people who make up the majority of the staff, the Lift-a-Thon wasn't very successful due to marketing strategies. As the day reaches its conclusion, I'm cleaning facility equipment and learning how to properly close out the cash register.
Journal entry 6
This week, I began work on a Thursday, which constantly proves to be the hectic day throughout the week. The completion of memberships and seeking to implement everything into my four-hour shift will be difficult. I was striving to complete these tasks in a timely fashion hence the brief nature of my shift. Pending the completion of said tasks, I was given a new list of orders which included making phone calls, and renewing memberships for members intrigued by the idea of a renewal plan. Hence my above average public speaking skills, making phone calls was definitely easier than I anticipated. I struggled with providing the members with substantial information, although this was expected, I sought to enhance my preparation and capitalize upon my next opportunity. Assisting employees in signing up new members relieved the pressure of making phone calls, temporarily. Assistant manager Lauren Merriman has reassured me, and in doing so, elevated my confidence. I was asked to thoroughly clean and wash the equipment to maintain sanitation of course. With over 2,000 pieces of individual equipment and appliances, cleaning this facility requires great patience and time management skills. The frustration sets in rather quickly when you're cleaning an abundance of equipment within the facility.
Journal entry 7
Thursday and friday were a bit apathetic. I performed my usual duties including cleaning, contacting current members via telephone and email, working the front desk, and assisting co-workers with their tours. Taking the potential new members on tours of the facility acquiesces for greater chances of actually luring the consumer in per se. The tours really assure the consumers that they're receiving their moneys worth. I enjoyed assisting co-workers on their tours because I was able to experience first-hand the consumers' reaction and comments regarding the facility. The charity walk was scheduled to begin soon, and the purpose of this charity walk was to raise money for an adolescent girl by the name of Judith. She's battling an illness classified as RSV, which is widely known as Respiratory Syncytial Virus. This virus is a very common childhood illness. It's even more common than te seasonal flu. Judiths particular case of RSV has worsened at an alarming rate, which required special attention and higher hospital costs hence the fundraiser/charity walk. I've enjoyed utilizing my time to partake in this charity walk because making a difference means a great deal to me.
Journal entry 8
The spa area, which includes massage chairs and tanning beds are amongst the primary attractions for members of the gym. The spa area and the tanning beds are separate from the main facility, but internally connected. On this day, non-members of the gym (probably guests) decided to tamper with the electrical circuit box which is usually locked by maintenance. The tampering led to an internal blackout, and a fee issued by Duke Energy for tampering. The management was furious and the member and his guests were exiled, literally as they were ordered by Planet Fitness personnel and Duke Energy personnel to surrender their rights and benefits as a Planet Fitness member. Hence the contractual obligations with Duke Energy, they decided to separately fine Planet Fitness an undisclosed amount. Management felt as if there was absolutely no way this should have occurred, but mistakes occur correct? I sought to continue on doing what was asked of me; assisting on tours, occasionally working the front desk, and cleaning and sanitizing the equipment. The electrical circuit box would be replaced, rewired, and enhanced with numerous security passcodes, and countless heavy-duty locks.
Journal entry 9
As usual, beginning my work day on Thursday sort of became the weekly ritual. I've grown accustomed to working on what I believe to be the busiest day of the week. This Thursday would differ tremendously from every Thursday prior; although accompanied by a co-worker, I was in charge of and responsible for closing the facility, entirely. I was advised to print a settlement report which lists all income that was entered into the database that day. I had to make sure all of the currency and receipts mirrored the figures on the settlement report. Immediately ensuing that, I manually counted the accumulation of currency from each cash register attained the correct amount for the day ensuing. If there was any excess currency after counting the money, we were to place the remainder of the money into one of our six deposit bags, and Lauren would take the deposit bag to the bank. I was also required to print out a reconciliation page which was attached to the deposit slip and all of the receipts.
Journal entry 10
Working on Mondays is always contrasting in comparison to the other days of the week. This Monday consisted of extending memberships and implementing new package deals that would appeal more to families. Planet Fitness thrives upon offering affordable memberships which acquiesces for individual members to flourish in our setting. Planet Fitness sought to create a family package that features an affordable monthly payment and a limit of up to fifteen family members. The regional managers really believed that this would bring about positive publicity for Planet Fitness and of course an influx in revenue.
Journal entry 11
Today, I was in charge of contacting a local high school in regards to potentially becoming a sponsor for the high school. I was asked to specifically contact the superintendents office in hopes of actually finalizing a deal. The local high school was had already signed on to become the official sponsor for a sports drink company, so we assumed that Planet Fitness and the sports drink would coexist, respectively. After conversing with the high school, the superintendent, and the board of education, we were approved to become an official sponsor of healthy eating and proper weigh training for the institution. I was quite proud of myself for accomplishing such a feat, hence that I was temporary, I wouldn't be employed by Planet Fitness in the future... well, at least I didn't believe so. According to management, the deal was "lucrative" in terms of revenue generation and exposure for the gym. Planet Fitness was expecting nearly a ten percent increase in potential members, and a(n) eight percent increase in revenue. The sponsorship will be unveiled and ready for exposure in the coming weeks, and there will be a billboard style representation of Planet Fitness featured in the stadium. I learned a great deal from my experiences this week, and I've really become enthused and rather proactive throughout my tenure. My experience with giving tours really has heightened my public relation, and human resource aspect of professionalism so to speak.
Journal entry 12
Experience on the floor is by far the best part of the internship so far. I am able to fully assist anyone that needs assistance on the floor and am completely confident in my skills on the Planet Fitness software as well as being able to personalize any aspect of their workout experience. Today I was fortunate enough to run into the member that we helped get setup on Planet Fitness Wireless and help her throughout the entire workout. After completing this, I was able to assist another trainer and help them get twice the amount of work done by taking someone through equipment and Planet Fitness Wireless orientation while their significant other was doing their assessment. The individual did not like all aspects of his prescription so I spoke with him and removed some of the routine and subbed in another routine. Towards the end of the shift we encountered a 'Code Red' which is for fire, however the fire was down the hall in another part of the facility but our doors automatically close until the emergency is assessed.
Journal Entry 13
Nearing the conclusion of my internship, I was delving deeper into the fitness and wellness aspect of exercising and sustaining overall health. Today was intriguing nonetheless, as I was granted the opportunity to partake in pulmonary embolism classes. Assistant manager Lauren Merriman suggested that maybe furthering my learning capacity in regards to overall health would leave other doors ajar figuratively, not literally. I capitalized upon the opportunity and spent three hours of my Thursday enhancing my knowledge pertaining to pulmonary issues. Pulmonary was from 12 to 3 today but it was extremely quiet due to the inclement weather. Upon arriving at 12:00 there were already 2 people there working out and toward the end of their workout. First I had to check all of the oxygen tanks and make sure they were full, most were not, so I had to change them out just in case people were going to show up. I took one blood pressure reading and just chatted with a gentleman due to the fact that only four people showed up all day. I closed up pulmonary by myself at three and went downstairs to the fitness center. I was able to touch base with the individual that had the hamstring problem and I advised him to ice the area where he was having pain and he reported back that it was doing much better. I advised him to follow up with his doctor and told him its better to have it looked at and be sure of what it is. Walking around I have noticed that many of the individuals in the gym are performing strength training too often without rest. Upstairs while in pulmonary I was approached by an individual who was walking the track and told me that he was on a strength program 5 days a week. He indicated that he was sore in certain areas and I advised him to do a Monday, Wednesday, Friday split where he had the days in between to rest and heal. A good amount of time is spent walking the floor and advising people when they are doing stuff wrong and also answering questions about Planet Fitness Wireless. Planet Fitness of Tri-county is making strides in regards to technological advancement.
Journal entry 14
All in all,
My primary goal for this summer was to make each day count. I wanted to learn as much as I could each day about Planet Fitness and about my career aspirations. I have learned that in order to be successful in anything you need to be proactive. In this entry, I would like to reflect what being proactive means at Planet Fitness.
At Planet Fitness, you get as much out of your internship as you are willing to put in. This means attending Planet Fitness sponsored and intern sponsored events. It means soliciting for extra work when you are done early. It also means shaping your career path from day one. Planet Fitness offers options even in an internship to customize your career. Two such options are international internships and rotational internships (BYOIP — Build Your Own Internship Program). The first step in either of these is to accept an internship in the line of your choice. The next step is to apply for the program of your choosing in the spring before you start. The international internship splits your time between the city your offer is for and an international city that you select. In the BYOI program, you spend five weeks in your primary function and three in your developmental function.
I began the first week of my internship at Planet Fitness on May 26, 2014. It was extremely vigorous to state the least. Planet Fitness consists entirely of a state-of-the art fitness facility which provides highly advanced exercise equipment and machines. The advanced exercise machines are capable of synchronizing electronic devices, digitally recording calories, mileage, body fat, etc. I've noticed that the wide range of members appreciate the "judgment free zone" atmosphere provided by Planet Fitness; members ranging from teenage to geriatric speaks volumes of the effectiveness of the facility. The Planet Fitness staff has been of great assistance to me, as the supervisors and employees alike have worked vigorously to ensure success. Today was the first day that I started my hours at Planet Fitness of Tri-county. I must say that I was quite nervous walking into the facility but that nervousness went away as soon as I met some of the staff there. I achieved a good amount on the first day as far as experience goes but realize I have a long way to really perfecting the skills that are required for being a fitness professional. I had a brief overview of the Planet Fitness Wireless system that is attached to every machine and was able to input a few exercises for a client. I walked around the floor for some time and had an older gentleman ask me a few questions about exercises he could do to help his hamstrings. Prior to all this I was able to sit in on a few assessments and was able to provide knowledge and input into redesigning a strength program for a client that wanted to switch things up. All in all this was a very good first day and I cannot wait to learn more about Planet Fitness Wireless and spend more time on the floor helping members with their questions.
Journal entry 2
Another intern and I, accompanied by assistant manager Lauren Merriman toured the facility, and learned how to properly operate everything from exercise equipment to electrical circuits in case of emergency. This is how I was able to hastily familiarize myself with the Planet Fitness facility. Ensuing the tour, Lauren then provided me with additional information regarding the operation of the computers and how to utilize the database system. Hence the fact that Planet Fitness has recently installed new database systems, the time consuming nature of learning and understanding how to operate them was abundant. Additional tasks involved electronically synchronizing members into the database, sending emails, and answering telephone calls.
Journal entry 3
We're seeking to exploit Planet Fitness in a positive way, therefore, I've been assigned the duty of creating flyers in hopes of attracting more individuals. Once the member has signed up, he or she receives a complimentary bumper sticker which in turn markets the Planet Fitness brand. In the midst of marketing the facility, we're encouraged to assist future members in gaining important knowledge regarding the facility. The success of promotion stems from the fluidity and effectiveness of the of the promoters; in this case, I sought to educate the potential members on every piece of vital information in hopes of convincing them to join. The success of today has been stringent upon closely monitoring the supervisors' actions, and performing exactly what I was told.
Journal entry 4
I began my second week on a Thursday. Thursday proved to be laborious nonetheless, and I had my work "cut out for me." I was asked to record membership sign-ups electronically into the systems' database. Recording the memberships electronically was difficult in the brink of the process but became a lot more feasible later on. Learning how to computerize specific material into the database is something that enhanced my computer skills immensely. I was able to successfully gain substantial information regarding how to properly apply information internally. The last two weeks have consisted mostly of training. I
have had several meetings with both my Supervisor & my Mentor who have been teaching me the
ins & outs of the job. They have been teaching me about my responsibilities for the summer and how to perform them.
Journal entry 5
On this day, I was advised by my supervisor to file birth certificates for members who sought to compete in the first ever Planet Fitness Lift-a-Thon hosted by Planet Fitness for the benefit of charities in the area. Aside from filing birth certificates, I also filed additional paperwork pertaining to the members overall health, and potential health risks. There were quite a few participants, which brought about great feasibility when it came to checking participants in. As the turnout wasn't as expected, the remainder of the day was easy-going. According to the people who make up the majority of the staff, the Lift-a-Thon wasn't very successful due to marketing strategies. As the day reaches its conclusion, I'm cleaning facility equipment and learning how to properly close out the cash register.
Journal entry 6
This week, I began work on a Thursday, which constantly proves to be the hectic day throughout the week. The completion of memberships and seeking to implement everything into my four-hour shift will be difficult. I was striving to complete these tasks in a timely fashion hence the brief nature of my shift. Pending the completion of said tasks, I was given a new list of orders which included making phone calls, and renewing memberships for members intrigued by the idea of a renewal plan. Hence my above average public speaking skills, making phone calls was definitely easier than I anticipated. I struggled with providing the members with substantial information, although this was expected, I sought to enhance my preparation and capitalize upon my next opportunity. Assisting employees in signing up new members relieved the pressure of making phone calls, temporarily. Assistant manager Lauren Merriman has reassured me, and in doing so, elevated my confidence. I was asked to thoroughly clean and wash the equipment to maintain sanitation of course. With over 2,000 pieces of individual equipment and appliances, cleaning this facility requires great patience and time management skills. The frustration sets in rather quickly when you're cleaning an abundance of equipment within the facility.
Journal entry 7
Thursday and friday were a bit apathetic. I performed my usual duties including cleaning, contacting current members via telephone and email, working the front desk, and assisting co-workers with their tours. Taking the potential new members on tours of the facility acquiesces for greater chances of actually luring the consumer in per se. The tours really assure the consumers that they're receiving their moneys worth. I enjoyed assisting co-workers on their tours because I was able to experience first-hand the consumers' reaction and comments regarding the facility. The charity walk was scheduled to begin soon, and the purpose of this charity walk was to raise money for an adolescent girl by the name of Judith. She's battling an illness classified as RSV, which is widely known as Respiratory Syncytial Virus. This virus is a very common childhood illness. It's even more common than te seasonal flu. Judiths particular case of RSV has worsened at an alarming rate, which required special attention and higher hospital costs hence the fundraiser/charity walk. I've enjoyed utilizing my time to partake in this charity walk because making a difference means a great deal to me.
Journal entry 8
The spa area, which includes massage chairs and tanning beds are amongst the primary attractions for members of the gym. The spa area and the tanning beds are separate from the main facility, but internally connected. On this day, non-members of the gym (probably guests) decided to tamper with the electrical circuit box which is usually locked by maintenance. The tampering led to an internal blackout, and a fee issued by Duke Energy for tampering. The management was furious and the member and his guests were exiled, literally as they were ordered by Planet Fitness personnel and Duke Energy personnel to surrender their rights and benefits as a Planet Fitness member. Hence the contractual obligations with Duke Energy, they decided to separately fine Planet Fitness an undisclosed amount. Management felt as if there was absolutely no way this should have occurred, but mistakes occur correct? I sought to continue on doing what was asked of me; assisting on tours, occasionally working the front desk, and cleaning and sanitizing the equipment. The electrical circuit box would be replaced, rewired, and enhanced with numerous security passcodes, and countless heavy-duty locks.
Journal entry 9
As usual, beginning my work day on Thursday sort of became the weekly ritual. I've grown accustomed to working on what I believe to be the busiest day of the week. This Thursday would differ tremendously from every Thursday prior; although accompanied by a co-worker, I was in charge of and responsible for closing the facility, entirely. I was advised to print a settlement report which lists all income that was entered into the database that day. I had to make sure all of the currency and receipts mirrored the figures on the settlement report. Immediately ensuing that, I manually counted the accumulation of currency from each cash register attained the correct amount for the day ensuing. If there was any excess currency after counting the money, we were to place the remainder of the money into one of our six deposit bags, and Lauren would take the deposit bag to the bank. I was also required to print out a reconciliation page which was attached to the deposit slip and all of the receipts.
Journal entry 10
Working on Mondays is always contrasting in comparison to the other days of the week. This Monday consisted of extending memberships and implementing new package deals that would appeal more to families. Planet Fitness thrives upon offering affordable memberships which acquiesces for individual members to flourish in our setting. Planet Fitness sought to create a family package that features an affordable monthly payment and a limit of up to fifteen family members. The regional managers really believed that this would bring about positive publicity for Planet Fitness and of course an influx in revenue.
Journal entry 11
Today, I was in charge of contacting a local high school in regards to potentially becoming a sponsor for the high school. I was asked to specifically contact the superintendents office in hopes of actually finalizing a deal. The local high school was had already signed on to become the official sponsor for a sports drink company, so we assumed that Planet Fitness and the sports drink would coexist, respectively. After conversing with the high school, the superintendent, and the board of education, we were approved to become an official sponsor of healthy eating and proper weigh training for the institution. I was quite proud of myself for accomplishing such a feat, hence that I was temporary, I wouldn't be employed by Planet Fitness in the future... well, at least I didn't believe so. According to management, the deal was "lucrative" in terms of revenue generation and exposure for the gym. Planet Fitness was expecting nearly a ten percent increase in potential members, and a(n) eight percent increase in revenue. The sponsorship will be unveiled and ready for exposure in the coming weeks, and there will be a billboard style representation of Planet Fitness featured in the stadium. I learned a great deal from my experiences this week, and I've really become enthused and rather proactive throughout my tenure. My experience with giving tours really has heightened my public relation, and human resource aspect of professionalism so to speak.
Journal entry 12
Experience on the floor is by far the best part of the internship so far. I am able to fully assist anyone that needs assistance on the floor and am completely confident in my skills on the Planet Fitness software as well as being able to personalize any aspect of their workout experience. Today I was fortunate enough to run into the member that we helped get setup on Planet Fitness Wireless and help her throughout the entire workout. After completing this, I was able to assist another trainer and help them get twice the amount of work done by taking someone through equipment and Planet Fitness Wireless orientation while their significant other was doing their assessment. The individual did not like all aspects of his prescription so I spoke with him and removed some of the routine and subbed in another routine. Towards the end of the shift we encountered a 'Code Red' which is for fire, however the fire was down the hall in another part of the facility but our doors automatically close until the emergency is assessed.
Journal Entry 13
Nearing the conclusion of my internship, I was delving deeper into the fitness and wellness aspect of exercising and sustaining overall health. Today was intriguing nonetheless, as I was granted the opportunity to partake in pulmonary embolism classes. Assistant manager Lauren Merriman suggested that maybe furthering my learning capacity in regards to overall health would leave other doors ajar figuratively, not literally. I capitalized upon the opportunity and spent three hours of my Thursday enhancing my knowledge pertaining to pulmonary issues. Pulmonary was from 12 to 3 today but it was extremely quiet due to the inclement weather. Upon arriving at 12:00 there were already 2 people there working out and toward the end of their workout. First I had to check all of the oxygen tanks and make sure they were full, most were not, so I had to change them out just in case people were going to show up. I took one blood pressure reading and just chatted with a gentleman due to the fact that only four people showed up all day. I closed up pulmonary by myself at three and went downstairs to the fitness center. I was able to touch base with the individual that had the hamstring problem and I advised him to ice the area where he was having pain and he reported back that it was doing much better. I advised him to follow up with his doctor and told him its better to have it looked at and be sure of what it is. Walking around I have noticed that many of the individuals in the gym are performing strength training too often without rest. Upstairs while in pulmonary I was approached by an individual who was walking the track and told me that he was on a strength program 5 days a week. He indicated that he was sore in certain areas and I advised him to do a Monday, Wednesday, Friday split where he had the days in between to rest and heal. A good amount of time is spent walking the floor and advising people when they are doing stuff wrong and also answering questions about Planet Fitness Wireless. Planet Fitness of Tri-county is making strides in regards to technological advancement.
Journal entry 14
All in all,
My primary goal for this summer was to make each day count. I wanted to learn as much as I could each day about Planet Fitness and about my career aspirations. I have learned that in order to be successful in anything you need to be proactive. In this entry, I would like to reflect what being proactive means at Planet Fitness.
At Planet Fitness, you get as much out of your internship as you are willing to put in. This means attending Planet Fitness sponsored and intern sponsored events. It means soliciting for extra work when you are done early. It also means shaping your career path from day one. Planet Fitness offers options even in an internship to customize your career. Two such options are international internships and rotational internships (BYOIP — Build Your Own Internship Program). The first step in either of these is to accept an internship in the line of your choice. The next step is to apply for the program of your choosing in the spring before you start. The international internship splits your time between the city your offer is for and an international city that you select. In the BYOI program, you spend five weeks in your primary function and three in your developmental function.