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For the last three years Fearless has been housed in an office complex. Although our space was not ideal, we made due with what was available. At the time we moved in, the economy was doing well and space was at a premium. Three years later, our lease was up and we found ourselves in the happy situation of being in a renter's market.
Our landlord wanted us to stay where we were, but much of the space was wasted as the perimeter of the area we used to teach class was lined by offices. Ten offices in fact, plus a kitchen and a conference room that we let the kids use as a playroom. Because the space was available to us, four of us coaches had our own office and two of the offices were used as changing rooms. We had a room set aside just for exercise equipment and one used just for measuring our FFIT students. One room was set aside to let our students keep their own equipment at the school. Another room was filled with our personal stuff from when we had our backyard studio remodeled. And the kitchen? That was filled with items accumulated over three years of throwing parties at the school, including Dante's first birthday.
Our landlord offered us another available space in the same complex that is "almost" perfect for us. Although the footprint of the school is quite a bit smaller than the original (and consequently, our rent is now quite a bit lower as well), there is actually more mat space for our classes. There are three roll up doors that allow us to expand our classes into the back parking lot. Instead of four offices, we share one, which is far more efficient. Instead of five toilets and two urinals to clean, there is just one toilet each for the men and women's bathrooms. I have to admit to being thrilled that there is no longer a kid's room. I spent a great deal of time picking up toys after my own son as well as the other kids.
The one sacrifice we did make is the changing rooms. We may decide to build out changing rooms in the coming months, but for now, our students are making due.
I didn't realize how inefficient our previous space was until I got ready to go home on the first night in the new space. Previously, it would take me 15 - 20 minutes to walk out the door once I decided it was time to leave. I would shift back and forth from my office, the kitchen and kid's room as I put things away and did other end-of-the-night tasks. The first night in the new space I finished logging in the attendance, grabbed my purse and gym bag and walked out the door. I have gained 20 minutes a day of my life back!
As we spent Saturday and Sunday packing up and cleaning out the old school I was reminded of one of the Laws of Clutter. The more space you have, the more junk you will find to put into it.
I am reveling in the simplicity of our new space and am looking forward to spending the next five years concentrating on the business, rather than the building.
* The photo is of Dante in my sparring gear at the old school.
