Why 'Work Hard, Play Hard' Is Killing Your Studio (And Your Soul)
Wed Feb 04 2026
On This Episode:
What if everything you've been told about building a successful fitness studio is wrong?
In this raw, unfiltered episode, Jemima Steinhart pulls back the curtain on her darkest year as a studio owner—when her own brother betrayed her, stole her client data, and opened a competing studio down the street.
But this isn't just a story about betrayal. It's about the breakthrough that changed everything.
You'll discover why opening more locations when your first isn't at capacity is sabotaging your success. Why "fake it till you make it" and "work hard, play hard" are toxic mantras that keep you busy but broke. And why the studios crushing it right now aren't working harder—they're working smarter.
This episode will make you uncomfortable. It might even make you angry. But if you're ready to stop repeating the same exhausting patterns and finally build a studio that works FOR you (not the other way around), this is your wake-up call.
You'll Learn:
The 3 critical numbers that reveal if you're actually successful or just busyWhy comparing your prices to competitors is slowly killing your businessThe pre-trial nurture system that skyrockets show-up rates (that 95% of studios ignore)How to make prospects run through your doors instead of ghosting appointmentsThe psychology of gifts vs. selling (and why your prospects need to feel this difference)Real talk: What to do when you realize you've been building wrong from the start
This Episode Is For You If:
You're considering opening a second location but your first isn't at full capacityYour trial bookings show up less than 70% of the timeYou're exhausted from working 60+ hour weeks but your P&L doesn't reflect itYou've been burned by competition and need a new strategyYou're tired of chasing the next shiny thing instead of fixing your foundation
Key Quotes:
"F*ck work hard, play hard. F*ck fake it until you make it."
— Jemima Steinhart
"You have so much more when you have less operations, but the operations that you run actually work."
— Jemima Steinhart
"People hate being sold, but they love to buy."
— Jemima Steinhart
"The most expensive thing is the time that you give that single person."
— Johann Cabrera
Timeline:
[00:00] The provocative opening you won't forget
[02:30] The 3 indicators showing if you're successful or just pretending
[06:54] Jemima's darkest year: family betrayal and business theft
[10:26] Why giving more beats competing on price every single time
[20:00] The pre-trial nurture sequence that changes everything
[30:00] Why your prospects are ghosting (and exactly how to fix it)
[36:00] The gift strategy that makes clients feel safe instead of sold to
Resources Mentioned:
Custom meal plan prompts and shopping list generators3D body scanning assessment toolsVideo sales letter frameworksAutomated confirmation systems with urgency triggers
Connect with us:
Let's connect on InstagramBook a 15 min call with JemimaGet the only EMS Business Growth Book on the planet now on Amazon
Ready to stop working harder and start working smarter?
This episode will either confirm you're on the right track—or completely change how you run your studio. Either way, you need to hear it.
Share this with a studio owner who's grinding themselves into the ground. They'll thank you later.
New episodes drop weekly. Subscribe so you don't miss the systems, strategies, and real talk that separate thriving studios from surviving ones.
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On This Episode: What if everything you've been told about building a successful fitness studio is wrong? In this raw, unfiltered episode, Jemima Steinhart pulls back the curtain on her darkest year as a studio owner—when her own brother betrayed her, stole her client data, and opened a competing studio down the street. But this isn't just a story about betrayal. It's about the breakthrough that changed everything. You'll discover why opening more locations when your first isn't at capacity is sabotaging your success. Why "fake it till you make it" and "work hard, play hard" are toxic mantras that keep you busy but broke. And why the studios crushing it right now aren't working harder—they're working smarter. This episode will make you uncomfortable. It might even make you angry. But if you're ready to stop repeating the same exhausting patterns and finally build a studio that works FOR you (not the other way around), this is your wake-up call. You'll Learn: The 3 critical numbers that reveal if you're actually successful or just busyWhy comparing your prices to competitors is slowly killing your businessThe pre-trial nurture system that skyrockets show-up rates (that 95% of studios ignore)How to make prospects run through your doors instead of ghosting appointmentsThe psychology of gifts vs. selling (and why your prospects need to feel this difference)Real talk: What to do when you realize you've been building wrong from the start This Episode Is For You If: You're considering opening a second location but your first isn't at full capacityYour trial bookings show up less than 70% of the timeYou're exhausted from working 60+ hour weeks but your P&L doesn't reflect itYou've been burned by competition and need a new strategyYou're tired of chasing the next shiny thing instead of fixing your foundation Key Quotes: "F*ck work hard, play hard. F*ck fake it until you make it." — Jemima Steinhart "You have so much more when you have less operations, but the operations that you run actually work." — Jemima Steinhart "People hate being sold, but they love to buy." — Jemima Steinhart "The most expensive thing is the time that you give that single person." — Johann Cabrera Timeline: [00:00] The provocative opening you won't forget [02:30] The 3 indicators showing if you're successful or just pretending [06:54] Jemima's darkest year: family betrayal and business theft [10:26] Why giving more beats competing on price every single time [20:00] The pre-trial nurture sequence that changes everything [30:00] Why your prospects are ghosting (and exactly how to fix it) [36:00] The gift strategy that makes clients feel safe instead of sold to Resources Mentioned: Custom meal plan prompts and shopping list generators3D body scanning assessment toolsVideo sales letter frameworksAutomated confirmation systems with urgency triggers Connect with us: Let's connect on InstagramBook a 15 min call with JemimaGet the only EMS Business Growth Book on the planet now on Amazon Ready to stop working harder and start working smarter? This episode will either confirm you're on the right track—or completely change how you run your studio. Either way, you need to hear it. Share this with a studio owner who's grinding themselves into the ground. They'll thank you later. New episodes drop weekly. Subscribe so you don't miss the systems, strategies, and real talk that separate thriving studios from surviving ones.