kudos and comments from the wnners circle

After every TOUR, I look back on what made it a success. And one big THANK YOU has to go out to my photo journalists, Robbie and Will Richard. They were there throughout the tour, snapping moments and they are the ones that captured all the winners crossing the finish line! Thank you for all the great pictures!

When I created the TOUR, it was to replicate the course of a true GS sales associate. The advancements combined are the attributes of our finest associates. Every time you interact with a client, are you thinking about the advancements and implementing them?

I asked our winners to share their TOUR success secrets and here is what some of them had to say.

Michael Goulet; "I really tried to go after my bigger clients and larger quotes that I have been putting together. I offered them great pricing on excellent condition floor models for a lot of commercial products. "

Rod Ciardullo: "The key for me was to push floor models. As soon as a customer asked abut discounting, I sold them on how they could buy a floor model with almost no usage at a deep discount. I came from the position of, if you want a great price, buy a floor model. Of course I added a mat to every order."

John Geraghty: " The TOURdeSOURCE is a blast!You have to look at it as a goal and a challenge. You set your mind to the task at hand and make it happen. With each customer contact, I made ita point to attempt to complete an advancement with each sale. If you step back with each contact and think, what more can I do to maximize this sale, you will amost always sell more. Train hard, work hard, sell hard! It's that easy!"

Keith Och: "My key in moving along the tour was selling the total gym to customers (cardio and strength combined into one sale advanced me multiple spots)"

2 more cyclists cross the finish line: a photo finish!

Rod Ciardullo and I crossed the finish line just in the nick of time! It was a photo finish so we had to wait for the judges results to make sure we crossed within the TOUR time frame. And I can honestly say, we did! WOO HOO!

What an incredible ride! So as we all raise a glass and toast another TOURdeSOURCE, it's time for the awards ceremony.

If you haven't submitted all of your advances, now is the time to do so. The awards ceremony is tomorrow and once the invitations to the winner circle go out, there's no exceptions.

BREAKING NEWS! Norm Morrison just crossed the finish line!

Norm Morrison just crossed the finish line!

Great Ride Norm!

BREAKING NEWS! JOHN GERAGHTY just crossed the finish line!

CONGRATULATIONS TO JOHN GERAGHTY!

He just finished the

BREAKING NEWS! KEITH OCH HAS TAKEN 3RD PLACE!

CONGRATULATIONS TO KEITH OCH

who just crossed the finish line;

capturing 3rd Place!

Jamie Morrison

Dad, have you read this SNEWS article? You have got to share this with the team. Are you listening to this Dad? This is an important point to make to the team, "SNEWS is the only inter-industry retailer report to be produced" That's a good opening statement. Dad, Dad, don't forget to mention . . .. . .

Say HELLO to Jamie Morrison. GYM SOURCE is in his blood. He's got his Dad's knowledge of product and his Mom's great ability to communicate ; a winning combination. His pre-school reading list consists of SNEWS, Runners World forum, and Curious George. I'm guessing by the time Jamie is 10, he'll have his own store and will be giving Dad a run for Top Producer!

Back to the TOUR, Norm, Rod and I have passed Serena's drug testing with flying colors. There is basically a 4 way race for 3rd place! Will we have a winner today?

MICHAEL GOULET has captured 2nd Place!

WOW! WHAT AN EXCITING DAY on the TOUR!!! Michael Goulet geared up and crossed the finish line, capturing 2nd place!

Congratulations on a great ride!

Back in the ORLANDO WAREHOUSE, Serena has her hands full with a cast of characters and serious riders. Rod, Norm, Matt, John and myself are off our bikes for 24hours for testing. If only I could tell you what is going on here! OH MAN! I don't know who's causing more havok, these guys or Hurricane Irene!

We hit the magical number yesterday and everyone moved forward. With 6 days left to ride, let's keep the energy alive and finish the up the TOUR strong!

There's still plenty of riding time left, just ask Jay Almeida

RHODE ISLAND may be one of our smaller stores but it can produce big sales; just ask Jay Almeida. He just closed a sale that was worth 7 advancements in the TOUR! Team Rhode Island has been training for the TOUR for months and it has paid off!

Rookie Mike Martin and Jay Almeida are spinning away and tell me that we haven't seen the last of them on the road.

While 2time winner Terry Klysz is sipping on his victory champagne, the race for 2nd place is on! Keith Och has successfully passed his drug tests and is challenging Michael Goulet. But watch out boys! Rod Ciardullo has not let up! He just flew by Norm and me and scared me! Rod! You know I am still skiddish on the bike; I thought I was about to get hit again!

Will someone capture 2nd place today?

BREAKING NEWS!

BREAKING NEWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

TERRY KLYSZ HAS JUST WON THE

2011 TOURdeSOURCE!

Congratulations Terry!

WOO HOO!

Rod Ciardullo is on his bike!

Rod Ciardullo got off to slow start with the TOUR because he was

riding out in Colorado. After tackling the altitude and some serious hills out west, Connecticut and New York were a piece of cake to fly through. New Jersey is on his agenda for today and with the lightning speed he is traveling at, he should be to the Mid-Atlantic in no time and riding with the lead pack.

Speaking of the lead pack, Michael Goulet and Terry Klysz are

done with the drug testing in Orlando. Rumor has it, that the tests were brutal and both boys are a bit battered from it. But nothing can stop these two and they are back on the road and close to the finish line! WILL WE HAVE A WINNER OF THE TOUR TODAY????? Stay tuned.

DADDY WANTS A NEW TV!

Meet Nigel Anderson.

The infamous Man in Manhattan. Richard's right hand man. The guy to see in the NY Store. Nigel Anderson is an institution at GS. And yes, Nigel has spent more hours in the NY store than any one else . . ..well, except for Richard.

But what you don't know about Nigel is that his real boss is that beautiful babe he's seen here with. Kaela has him wrapped! And he wouldn't have it any other way. Nigel works hard for his little girl and every year picks TOUR prizes just for her. But this year, the TOUR prize goes to Daddy. Big Daddy Cool wants a new tv for his man-cave. And that desire has gotten Nigel riding in the lead pack.

Now in the TETERBORO WAREHOUSE, Nigel is hoping to power through New Jersey and catch up with his buddies, Michael and Terry. Nigel's mantra this year: DADDY WANTS A NEW TV!

DRUG TESTING IN THE ORLANDO WAREHOUSE

Michael Goulet and Terry Klysz are still tied for 1st place and they just rode into the ORLANDO WAREHOUSE together.

As you all know, everyone must stop at the Orlando Warehouse for 24 hours while Serena Loeber tests for drugs; I mean, performance enhancement drugs . . . . We have all heard the rumors about who's doping and blah blah blah. But I can tell you that now that Serena is in charge, no one and I mean no one, is doping and getting away with it. She's ready to poke and prod and well. . . ..you know. .. . .

So while our leaders, Michael and Terry are off their bikes and are being subjected to the intense testing, let the rest of us take the opportunity to make up some ground . RIDE ON!

Billy Wood is now riding with the lead pack!

WOW ! Can you believe that we are half way through the TOUR already???? 25 people are in the money and we have 3 more weeks to see just how much money everyone will walk away with!

Michael Goulet and Terry Klysz are tied but has their pushing each other pushed them both to exhaustion? Keith Och is in their rear view mirror just waiting for the opportunity to take the lead. This may come down to stategy!

Rookie Billy Wood has joined the lead pack. I hope he knows what he is getting himself into!

Billy joined GYM SOURCE just about a year ago and didn't get to fully participate in last year's tour. But he has been training all year and now that training is paying off. Billy is the only Rookie in the lead pack; rather impressive. Will Billy make a move for 1st? That would be one for the record books. Can a rookie win the TOURdeSOURCE? Stay tuned . . .

BREAKING NEWS! TERRY KLYSZ has taken the lead!

BREAKING NEWS! TERRY KLYSZ has taken the lead. Terry loves

riding on Saturdays; he gives it his all knowing that Sunday is his day of rest. Paramus,NJ still observes the BLUE LAWS and therefore Terry is forced to sit out tomorrow

.

Back in Framingham, poor Ken Kirlis has had his hands full being the hostess with the mostest! The Queen is holding court and as expected, keeping the party alive! Patty and Mike DiSalle are meeting for the first time but since Chris Cesare moved to Sarasota, it's like they have been BFF's forever. Chad Ripley, James Sucato and Patty go way back as well and they are reminiscing about the good ole days of White Plains. The stories they are telling are making poor Ken nervous, to say the least! OK PEOPLE, Let's move it along! Time to get out of Framingham! Ken is trying to catch up to Terry and Michael and win this race!

Keith Och and 3 others have joined the LEAD PACK

Michael Goulet still has the lead but now he is surrounded by 5 riders who want his spot! Terry Klysz, John Geraghty, Keith Och, Kurt Blauberg and Ken Kirlis have separated themselves as the lead pack. Will they be able to keep this pace?

We are almost at the half way point of the TOUR and we already have 16 people in the money! Have you picked out your prize yet? Do I get my sons iPADs or do I splurge on myself??? What is your prize or motivation?
I know Keith's precious little bundle of joy needs diapers. Kurt Blauberg needs a new chimney but a new surf board is far more motivational. Evan Lyons needs gas money for his boat and Nigel Anderson needs AMEX cards . . .don't ask for what . .. .that's a story to be told off line.

Pick out your prize, tag all your eligible floor models at 35pts or higher and ride, baby ride!

CONGRATULATIONS BRIAN AND MARK!

The TOUR is in full swing and vying for the front pack has already begun. Michael Goulet has the lead but there's speculation that he came out of the starting line a bit too fast. Will he be able to maintain this pace? Terry Klysz, currently in 2nd place is a bit concerned about the pace and has pulled back and opted to see the pace of the other riders. Kurt Blauberg and Ken Kirlis are in the same mindset as Terry. Will Michael have the muscle to handle the hills of New Jersey?

Good news went out this week with the appointments of B R I A N and Mark McEvoy to Regional Manangers. We all know the story about Brian Lange physically dragging the delivery truck around to make sure all his clients were taken care of and I am sure he is going to give the same attention to all new position.

Mark McEvoy is new the the GS family but not to the industry. When intereviewed at the TOUR cocktail party, he didn't have much to say and he didn't want to talk about himself or his past . His focus is simply to get on his bike and pedal feverously to Florida where he will meet his new team. Welcome aboard Mark.

And good luck to both Brian and Mark.

BIRTHDAY BASH!

In GYM SOURCE style, we kicked it up and celebrated Bill K's birthday the only way we know how - OUTSTANDING! The party started as soon as our doors opened and it ended . . .. well, that's a story that shouldn't be put in print. Bill was buying the rounds so long as you can find him and amazingly, some of the riders almost did! Terry Klysz loves a free drink and rode from ATTLEBORO all the way to WESTPORT. I did hear that he stopped at numerous pubs looking for Bill and talked his way out of a CUI in Rhode Island. Again, that's a story that shouldn't be put in print. Several other riders went to find Bill but when they got to NEWTON, they decided to sip on Norm's fine wine collection and toast Bill from afar.

And at the end of the day, a lot of miles got clocked, a lot of quotes got converted and a lot of good wishes were sent. HAPPY BIRTHDAY BILL.

The Starting Line: Kirk Derderian, host

This year we all met up in Nashua , New Hampshire where Kirk Derderian
is hosting the Starting Line. NASHUA is one of our newest stores, just about a year old now. Though many of us wasted no time getting on our bikes and starting the TOUR, there are those still hanging out with Kirk. That's what you get for hosting such a great party; you can't get people to leave! But Kirk's store is a bit small so we need to let him get back to selling and move onto our next stop, PEABODY.

Evan Lyons is focused and is right behind Michael Goulet; but he's at the Ridgefield Offices where he has been detained until all of his A/R's are rectified!

Will we have a repeat of 2007?

After and fun-filled cocktail party the TOUR officially began on Wednesday. To no surprise, Michael Goulet wasted no time separating himself from the pack. You could see that he kicked his training up a notch. And of course, in every competition, the rumors were flying during the cocktail party. "Is he natural or is he enhancing?" Well, we will all find out in Florida when the drug testing occurs. But Michael was not the only attention getter at the party. I should have known that Otis Lester was going to call out Mark Revelia. Those two haven't stopped since last year when they were 'the rookies to watch'. John Geraghty showed up with his hog; apparently he thinks that all bikes are created equal; sorry John, no motors allowed. The other big todo was which rookie will make their name known in the TOUR. With 18 new riders the spread is diverse. But Mark McEvoy, Andrew Micherdzinski and Ryan Jones are the strong favorites. But it is too soon to tell and that conversation started after too many cocktails.

It's time to hit the road and allow our skills to show who's best on the GS road.

WELCOME TO THE 7TH ANNUAL TOURdeSOURCE

The 7th Annual TOURdeSOURCE is about to begin

and you can feel the excitement in the air.

The pre-TOUR cocktail hour has started and last year's winnner will kick off the party with a few words.

The toast from last year's TOUR winner, Terry Klysz
"I would like to welcome you all to the 7th Annual TOURdeSOURCE.
It is a race and a game…a money game…a prize game.
Here is how I won last year:
Pedal hard( sell floor models) to get up the hills,

coast when needed (during down time keep track of new accounts and submit the easy stuff)
Keep a good pace(sell consistently and close, achieve your personal sales goals)

and pick out your prize goal and put it in your pocket or hang it on your wall…60”led anyone?
As last year’s winner I can only say that I want an extra 2500 bucks and have put it in my pocket. Let the race begin."

“Success is simply a matter of luck, just ask any failure”