Evaluating Don Faul: The Future Leadership of CrossFit

n this episode, we dive into the challenges and potential solutions for CrossFit's current CEO, Don Faul. The discussion covers the aftermath of Eric Rosa's tenure, the essential steps Faul needs to take, and the importance of leveraging existing assets like the CrossFit Journal. We also explore how he can rebuild trust and culture while focusing on core products and affiliate growth. With a nod to successful business turnarounds like Marvel, Apple, and Starbucks, this video is a comprehensive look at what it will take for CrossFit to achieve new heights under Don's leadership.
00:00 Introduction and Controversy
00:41 Challenges Faced by Don Faul
02:04 Learning from Marvel's Success
02:44 Leveraging CrossFit's Existing Assets
04:36 Addressing Culture and Trust Issues
06:38 Focusing on Core Products
09:13 Final Thoughts on Don Faul's Leadership

[@modingo21]

Great stuff. Love this new platform.

[@constantlyvariedconversations]

Thank you! Im really excited about it!

[@JeanGlaude]

Great video! An encouraging video is always a nice change of pace 😂 I’m hopeful for the future of CrossFit and don’t think it’s dead in the water by any means.

[@mitchcollins2947]

This is thoughtful and well done. I agree with your take on ER'S tenure, which was damaging. I wish Mr. Paul good luck. 9:34

[@constantlyvariedconversations]

Thank you!

[@StIsidoresFarm]

Why doesn’t CrossFit encourage or sponsor more small competitions for the regular folks, like there are 5ks and marathons? People are happy to pay for those to be part of a group competition and to get a T-shirt or a medal. Seems like they could do more to leverage on social media regular folks posts.

[@constantlyvariedconversations]

Thats a cool idea

[@MrJustinBurch]

One of the two CrossFit spots that are local to me just had a good "regular folk" event, but it was limited to only 3 person teams....and one of the 3 persons had to be a female. It looks like a great event that would draw a lot more individual competitors if it was offered that way instead of the trio requirement.

[@datawod]

Cheers for a Marvel-style comeback!

[@constantlyvariedconversations]

I hope so!

[@BernhardKohli]

Really appreciate the calm business content. My 2 cents: HQ needs to listen to all the podcasts - serously; they have all these free consultants and ignore them. Example 1) Chase/Grundler Power-Ranking is demonstrably superior to that of HQ 2) backfilling post-PED-pop with people who have no chance at the Games instead of audience-favs like Colten Mertens is just a terrible business decision and makes no sense - any of the US /EU bubble athletes would beat the backfills and bring way more eyes and dollars to sponsors. The list goes on - the pundits called it. Where I disagree slightly with your comments: Greg founded CF but no one joined an affiliate because of an out-of-shape founder who seemed more intent on "battling the establishment" than growing the ecosystem - it was the athletes that inspired millions! And that's why the Games are essential - not just "for fun" but to keep people walking into affiliates and inspire competitions and progress everywhere! Getting off my soap box... 😅

[@constantlyvariedconversations]

I agree that the average member didn’t join for Greg. At the affiliate I own I suspect less than 5% could even name a games athlete. People join for many reasons. With that said, when I said Greg was beloved I meant by affiliate owners and their the ones who pay HQs bills.

[@seinsfrage]

Another winner 👍

[@kevintorres5040]

CrossFit can’t control the narrative without a media team. That’s their biggest problem right now. Without great content that connect, attracts, tells great stories, inspires, etc, people will only have the 2010-2015 videos that we all loved like the glassman lectures, the road to the games, the workouts of the day, the barn, etc.

[@constantlyvariedconversations]

Agreed but there is a whole generation of CrossFitters that haven’t seen that content is my point and I agree they’d need to beef up the media team to relaunch the journal successfully

[@Craig-pk5cc]

There’s to much outside media now for them to control the narrative and do there own thing all the major players have there own media teams now and I can’t see them competing with that also those camps wouldn’t want to lose control of there own media teams.

[@user-iw5lj4jq9g]

Any chance Glassman pulls a Portnoy and buys back CrossFit?

[@constantlyvariedconversations]

I doubt it but never say never!

[@kathealy60]

I never thought Rosa would amount to anything. If you look at his resume - he had NO staying power anywhere. He comes across as great energy, has good pedigree - but his resume and LinkedIn profile showed someone that had absolutely no endurance anywhere he was. Plus - he just seemed to have this overly scripted dialogue. My husband called me jaded and cynical - I called it as what I have seen during my tenure in private equity and corporate America. Don may or may not be a good leader - we will never get to see what he is capable of given private equity calls the shots. I would love to support Don and his vision - but I do not think he is fully empowered to get CFHQ to where it needs to go…he answers to Berkshire and the vast number of investors who are involved in the fund that invested in CrossFit. I honestly would have loved to see what he was capable of - but I do not think he has that control. I hope I am wrong.

[@constantlyvariedconversations]

I hope you’re wrong too but I appreciate your perspective

[@kathealy60]

@@constantlyvariedconversations I hope I am wrong, too - with every fiber of my being.

[@lalampen]

🦣

[@lalampen]

🦣 is your 🦇

[@constantlyvariedconversations]

😂 i love that

[@caitlingold4325]

Hillerlite

[@constantlyvariedconversations]

😂

[@constantlyvariedconversations]

I prefer “Diet Hiller” or “Hiller Zero”

[@loerider54]

🦞