Leading With Purpose, with Dave Mortensen | (Fitness, Leadership, Franchising, Partnerships)
episodePreviously titled “Leading With Purpose, with Dave Mortensen (Fitness, Leadership, Franchising, Partnerships)” — renamed by the publisher on Aug 2, 2026
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What is the significance of execution in great ideas?
80 to 90% of any great idea, it has nothing to do with the idea in itself. It has to do with the way you execute it. I don't know if there's a day we've ever looked at an idea that's failed and looked at each other and said, told you so. There is no told you so. There is, man, we screwed that up. What do we learn and how do we improve it for the next time?
top leaders meaningful conversation actionable advice bulldoze complacency ignite inspiration create impact produced by southwestern family of companies this is the action catalyst
This episode is sponsored by Southwestern Coaching. Southwestern Coaching has helped over 12,000 people increase their incomes by over 25% on average. As a successful salesperson, you know the importance of increasing your sales, but sometimes you might just need a little extra push and accountability to meet your goals and grow your business. Southwestern Coaching will help you increase your income through one-on-one sales and leadership coaching tailored specifically to your needs. Together we will elevate sales. Today's guest is Dave Mortensen, the president and co-founder of self-esteem brands, now Purpose Brands, which includes wellness and fitness brands like Anytime Fitness, Orange Theory, The Bar Method, and more.
Co-founded alongside Chuck Runyon, another Action Catalyst guest, in episode 220. You know, it's great getting both sides in partnership, like the one you guys had and how you've grown, what you've built over. How many years has it been now? Like how many years ago was it?
Well, May of 2002 is when we started Anytime. But Chuck and I have been business partners for 35 plus years. 35 plus years. Yeah. If you met Chuck and now you'll meet me, you'll go, wow, can these guys be any different? So we are it's it's funny. We've been 35 plus years, but yet in any business scenario, we'll probably land in the same spot. But we come at it at a completely different direction.
You guys met through just working at gyms?
It's kind of a funny story. So I literally came out of college, dropped out of college, knew I wanted to be in the fitness industry. That was my passion. Chuck was doing it because he got free basketball. Okay, so... Let's be clear on the difference between the two of us. I was a little bit more intentional in coming into this industry. I wanted to be in it. Chuck was in it because he liked to play basketball and he got a free, he could play anytime for free, right? During that period of time, I actually got recruited by this chain of clubs he was already working at to go manage one of their clubs. And Chuck and I met and shortly thereafter, about a year later, we started our consulting firm and the kind of story was written after that.
What makes Chuck and I work is that we will challenge each other every day. Like there isn't a day. Chuck has an idea. It is my job to tell him that's a bad idea. And if I have an idea, he's going to tell me it's a bad idea, not in the intention to break down my idea, but to strengthen it. What Chuck and I have learned really early, we have zero egos on whose idea we're going to go with. We'll typically pick the idea that the person that's probably most passionate about it and whatever that may be and has has can articulate what they're trying to accomplish with it. Now, that isn't the secret. The secret is once we choose an idea, no matter if it's Chuck's or it's mine. Now, what is the role of the person?
So if it's Chuck's idea, what is my job? And almost everyone, I won't put you on the spot because everyone says the same thing. Support the idea. And that's not the answer. The answer is actually lead the idea to success. So if it is Chuck's idea, then it's my job to go make it work. In the essence, we both have to lead it to success because 80% to 90% of any great idea, it has nothing to do with the idea in itself. It has to do with the way you execute it. Rarely will Chuck and I ever, and I don't know if there's a day we've ever looked at an idea that's failed and looked at each other and said, told you so.
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4 chaptersSpeakers
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