Jump in with Both Feet: Interview with Fitness Executive Lou DeFrancisco

Several years ago, I interviewed Lou DeFrancisco in an interview originally published in Thrive Global. Lou was the President of StretchLab at the time of the interview and is currently the President of Franchise Development for Xponential Fitness. In between, Lou served as President of Lindora and Body Fit Traning. Here is an excerpt from our conversation:

Adam: Thanks again for taking the time to share your story and your advice. First things first, though, I am sure readers would love to learn more about you. What is something about you that would surprise people?

Lou: Being in the health and wellness industry for almost my entire working career, when I tell people that I was a Physics major in college, most are a bit surprised. The first question is typically, “why on earth would you do that to yourself?” I’ve always tried to follow my interests and passions, and from a very young age, I’ve always wanted to challenge myself. While early in my college career, I had no idea what I wanted to do for work, but I had an interest in science in general and math came pretty easy to me. I also had fantastic physics professors that made the topic come alive in discussions and labs. It was very challenging, but I definitely enjoyed the experience and know it helped to shape who I am today.

Adam: How did you get here? What failures, setbacks, or challenges have been most instrumental to your growth?

Lou: After I graduated with that degree in physics, I took a job in IT consulting. After five years in that career, I realized I was not passionate about IT, but found myself drawn to the world of business, and started taking MBA classes at night. While taking these classes and seeking out new career opportunities, one of my friends offered me a sales/marketing job at a boutique health club, Train Boston Sports Center. At first, I felt like the offer was a step down from my corporate job, but my friend convinced me it would be worth it. The biggest challenge I faced when entering the world of boutique fitness was that I had absolutely no background in health and fitness. Like I mentioned before, I was a physics guy; I was an IT guy. While I had played soccer for years and enjoyed sports, I didn’t know the ropes of the fitness and health industry. I fell in love with the job and worked my way up to be General Manager at this club, and enjoyed five years there. Those experiences led to a new position as Director of Franchise Support at Get in Shape for Women, a boutique fitness franchise. That was when I discovered a love for the franchising industry. With hard work and a great team at Get in Shape For Women, we grew to over 100 locations nationwide. By the end of my nine years there, I was able to become the President of the franchise company. This combination of experiences led me to where I am today. Some might see all my career changes as setbacks, but in hindsight, they were the best decisions I could have made for myself. If you asked me twenty years ago where I would be today, I never would have guessed leading a boutique fitness franchise into a new niche in the wellness industry.

Adam: In your experience, what are the defining qualities of an effective leader? How can leaders and aspiring leaders take their leadership skills to the next level?

Lou: A few qualities that come to mind when I think of effective leaders are ambition, humility, open-mindedness, and hardworking. Of course, someone who wants to be a leader must dream big and work extremely hard to achieve their goals, but another important piece is staying grounded and keeping an open mind. I think leaders can take their skills to the next level by listening and learning from their peers and their employees. It’s important to have open conversations and open doors for team members. No one knows or can do everything.

Adam: What are your three best tips applicable to entrepreneurs, executives, and civic leaders?

Lou: 1. Jump in with both feet - Sometimes the best way to tackle a project is to go all in, even if you’re not totally sure what you’re doing. Don’t hesitate; just take the leap and you’ll be amazed at what you are capable of. This will help you develop as a leader or entrepreneur because you have to learn to think on your feet, be creative, and come up with solutions. I experienced this “jumping in” to a huge degree twice during my career journey. The first time when I left IT for a job in health and fitness, the second time when I entered the world of franchising.

2. Don’t be afraid to ask questions - Even the best leaders don’t know everything. I was so fortunate to be given chances in areas that I was inexperienced. There was no way I could march into the headquarters of Get in Shape for Women and pretend I knew everything about how to grow a franchise. I had to ask a lot of questions at first. It can be tough to ask for help, but it’s good to always be coachable and teachable.

3. Be a team player - No matter how hard you work, you can’t do everything by yourself. Build relationships with those around you, because you can push each other to be better and move forward. Every day at StretchLab, I am facilitating, coordinating, and building relationships because when they are happy and motivated, I am motivated to work harder and be better. Sharing ups and downs with your teammates makes you stronger and prepares you to tackle any obstacle.

Adam: What is the single best piece of advice you have ever received?

Lou: It’s actually a Bible verse that I live by – Phillippians 4:13. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”. I have to remember I’m not in this alone and I can do anything I put my mind to. There’s no way I would have made it to the positions I have without believing in something greater than myself.

Adam: How can anyone pay it forward?

Lou: To pay it forward, I think everyone should be kind and open doors for others when possible. Always lift others up and encourage them to pursue their dreams and goals. For example, as a CEO you have to realize that a lot of people are not going to be at your company for life. This job could just be a pit stop for them. Empower them to do a good job where they are now and help them develop the skills to get them to where they want to go. Many of the personal trainers that worked under me at Train Boston now own their own training businesses. Several trainers and general managers at Get In Shape For Women have gone on to become franchise owners themselves. We were able to give them the tools and the skills to evolve and thrive, and realize their own goals and dreams. They are now able to give back because they were lifted up and empowered by someone else.


Adam Mendler is an entrepreneur, writer, speaker, educator, and nationally recognized authority on leadership. Adam is the creator and host of the business and leadership podcast Thirty Minute Mentors, where he goes one-on-one with America's most successful people - Fortune 500 CEOs, founders of household name companies, Hall of Fame and Olympic gold medal-winning athletes, political and military leaders - for intimate half-hour conversations each week. A top leadership speaker, Adam draws upon his insights building and leading businesses and interviewing hundreds of America's top leaders as a top keynote speaker to businesses, universities, and non-profit organizations. Adam has written extensively on leadership and related topics, having authored over 70 articles published in major media outlets including Forbes, Inc. and HuffPost, and has conducted more than 500 one on one interviews with America’s top leaders through his collective media projects. Adam teaches graduate-level courses on leadership at UCLA and is an advisor to numerous companies and leaders. A Los Angeles native, Adam is a lifelong Angels fan and an avid backgammon player.

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