“You never know what someone is going through. You don’t know if their home life is horrible or if they hate their job. What we do know is that the 45 minutes they come in are going to be the best 45 minutes of their day. That’s why I take this role so seriously – because I know what that 45 minutes can do for someone’s life.”
Holly Strickland joined Burn Boot Camp Naples as the Head Trainer nearly nine years ago. Now as the owner and Franchise Partner of the same location, she gets to live her core values every day and see countless transformations right in her gym. “I couldn’t imagine Burn not in my life. When they say you ‘bleed blue’ I truly do. I love this brand and everything it represents. The core values are so close to mine and I truly believe that when you put people first you win,” she said about the impact Burn has in her life.
Now, Holly is thriving in her life as a Burn Boot Camp Franchise Partner. She received the Single-Unit Franchise Partner of the Year award in 2023 and was the first to receive Burn Boot Camp’s Mark of Excellence award. Her location in Naples, Florida has also been part of the Million Dollar Club and Fire Club, where the top qualifying gyms get to celebrate their achievements on an international trip. “I just feel blessed. I feel really blessed and really lucky,” Holly says about her experience as a Burn Boot Camp owner.
Read our interview with Holly to learn more about what life as a Burn Boot Camp Franchise Partner is like and how it’s changed not only her life but the lives of her Naples, Florida community as well. Learn more about our franchising opportunities or set up a call with our team to talk about what Burn Boot Camp ownership could mean for you.
What is it like to change lives every day in your gym?
Holly: I think that through owning Burn, there’s a fulfillment you get when Members tell you their story and what these four walls have done for them. To be able to experience and provide that for your community, it’s humbling.
Being front row to the transformations is empowering. Some people walk in here and you can tell they have no confidence whatsoever. They would wear baggy shirts and then all of a sudden they would start wearing tank tops and tighter pants. That transformation, for me, is probably one of the most common ones. Our job is to show people that they can be confident.
What is your favorite part about being a leader in your gym?
Holly: I always wanted to be the boss that I never had, but also build my leaders up and continue to show them how they can grow and be leaders to their teams. One of my favorite things in leadership is watching my team grow and how they grow with me. It’s been amazing to see. My Operations Manager started in Childwatch, then became the Childwatch Lead, and then became our Burn Ambassador. Now she’s the Operations Manager and she is an absolute rockstar.
What sets Burn Boot Camp apart from other franchises?
Holly: What makes Burn different is the community. There’s just nothing like it. When someone has something going on in their lives, this community will wrap their arms around each other like I’ve never seen before. When you walk in these doors, there’s no drama. It’s crazy when you have over 500 women in the same space and there’s no drama. It’s just an amazing place where women support women and they’re always there for each other.
What support do you get as a Burn Boot Camp owner?
Holly: It’s been a great journey having a partner in Headquarters. I didn’t join Burn with a degree in business or experience in that field. It’s scary to open a gym, but what makes it a little less scary, or maybe a lot less scary, is to know that you have that support. I love knowing that if something goes wrong, I have someone I can call. Someone who can help me solve a problem and find a solution. Having that partner with the brand just gives you an additional layer of confidence to be able to take that leap of faith and jump into a business like this.
What is one of your favorite parts about being a Burn Boot Camp Franchise Partner?
Holly: One of my favorite things about being a Franchise Partner is the flexibility that it provides. Yes, there are days that I’m here at 4:30 or 5:00 in the morning with the girls, but I also can leave at 3:00 PM to get my son if I need to. That’s one of the best parts of the gig, having that flexibility.
How does Burn Boot Camp align with your core values?
Holly: One of our core values is being authentic. That is one of the most important things in my life, always showing up as who I am. When you look at all of our core values in general, they all align with not only who I want myself to be, but also my son. I want to teach him those core values. I want to teach him that he can do all the things he wants to do in his life. Showing up in your most authentic self is a huge thing we try to make sure we’re encompassing in him.
How do you see yourself growing within Burn Boot Camp?
Holly: I’m always going to challenge myself to mentor and help other people. That’s something that I take seriously. You learn when you help someone help. I’m on the MAC for Burn Boot Camp Headquarters right now, which is the Marketing Advisory Council. That’s just one way that I want to continue to grow.
The second way is that we hope to open a second Burn Boot Camp location to continue to empower the Naples community. One of the reasons that I’m so motivated to continue to grow is because I know the impact that this gym makes on people’s lives. It’s something I’ve never seen before. It may be a mental transformation, it may be a physical transformation, or it may be someone who wants to show up to just be a better mom or wife. I think all those transformations are extremely valid. That’s what continues to drive my passion to grow and have another facility.