AO’s 10…

Hey AO family I can’t believe I’m writing this ❤️

Ten years absolutely flew by. I’ve been thinking about some of the funny, scary, wild little moments along the way.

When I think about AO’s ten years, it’s really just a lot of regular days stacked on top of each other. Thousands of early mornings. The same old dumbbells. Entertaining stories. Music complaints. Impressive dance moves. Our favorite people walking through the door, on time or not, over and over again.

When Pat and I started AO, we had no clue what we were doing. No systems. No playbooks. Zero experience hiring, marketing, or running a business. We were figuring things out as we went, blindly.

And let’s be honest, we lucked out.

Opening a gym in Austin ten years ago was unknowingly great timing. We didn’t plan that. We just got lucky.

For months, we coached classes that were small … like too small. One person on a Thursday evening. Week after week. I remember who you are, and I’m pretty sure you do too. 🤣

But once we got going, our clients stuck with us. Some of you personal trained twice a week for ten straight years. Some of your kids grew up here, from six to sixteen. You built homes, had babies, started families, moved away… and thankfully moved back.

We’ve watched people survive cancer. We’ve watched people move through loss and grief. And we’ve celebrated alongside you: weddings, promotions, milestones, and some really memorable workouts I’d love to take full credit for, but I won’t. Don’t worry, Pat.

None of this could have been planned with a business plan.. thankfully, because we didn’t have one. We just pulled in the right people at the right time and somehow built something that a community came back to. On normal days. On hard days. On days when traffic is terrible, it’s 105 degrees out, and life feels exhausting.

You showed up through COVID with your cameras on. Turned your living rooms into gyms and your wine bottles into weights. You tolerated us when we turned the gym into tiny cubes and still wore masks through sweaty muggy sessions. In all of the uncertainty during that time, you still showed up. Thanks for sticking with us during an absolute shit time. It still means a lot.

And then there’s the team.

AO doesn’t work because of certifications, onboarding docs, or how good someone looks on paper. Those things matter … but they’re not why this place feels the way it does.

What makes AO work is the stuff you can’t teach.

Mari, Kylie, Chance, Emma, Lilli, Blake, and Pat - you constantly show up for people in ways that go far beyond the gym. You support members and each other in and out of this space. You adapt. You roll with my half-formed ideas. You work harder than I ever could. You babysit our kids (minus Chance, because you teach them bad things). You show up when things are messy or uncertain. No amount of training or SOPs can teach that.

AO is AO because of you all.

And to the incredible coaches who’ve come and moved on- we’ve loved watching you be successful in your own adventures. Thanks for participating in the fun & chaos with us. The old happy hours, photo shoots, and holiday parties will always make me laugh.

Why we still do this.

After ten years, this is still the best job.

We get to build something meaningful. Work alongside people we trust. Be part of a community willing to grow, adapt, and stick together. Our kids play here. They swing on the TRXs and grow up surrounded by such awesome humans.

Some days we think, how is this real life?
Other days we think, anyone else need a nap?

AO became more than a workout because of the people in it. Because of you, our staff gets to build real careers, this stays a place where people can show up exactly as they are, and we get to keep creating something that’s a blast to be a part of.

So whether you’ve been here for ten years, ten months, or ten classes - thank you. For showing up. For sticking around. For choosing us when you have so many other options.

Ten years is wild. Thank you.

One more thing… We’re celebrating!

Block off your calendars and join us for the best night of all time!

Live DJ. Drinks of all kinds. Snacks. One-night-only merch. A few surprises you’ll have to attend to experience. 🙂 

Bring your friends.

Where: Marlow E. 6th St
When: January 31st
Time: 7:00 PM

With so so sooooo much gratitude,

- Britt & Pat ❤️