I've been on a publishing hiatus for several months while working to build out the infrastructure and systems for the new Ascent Yoga studio.
The studio itself is the culmination of several years' worth of work, and the integration of various business plans.
More importantly, the studio is a space for individuals, leaders, and yogis to maximize and sustain high performance and well-being.
These are some thoughts on how the studio went from a lease signing on May 7, through build out and other development work, to a soft opening on July 20.
Clarity First
The studio came together incredibly swiftly thanks to a number of factors, but mostly because the vision for the studio was clear. This meant that I could communicate key tasks and needs to the correct party, and make steady, consistent progress toward our main goal: Create Houston's most unique yoga studio, complete with an office space for executive coaching and business advisory services that Ascent Consultants offers.
Ascent Yoga and Ascent Consultants are all about the concepts of high performance and well-being. Whether at the individual level or the organizational level, we have the tools to help you create and maintain the routines and systems that consistently deliver high-performance and well-being.
Get clear on what you want to build, why it is needed, and how you're going to bring it to life.
Teamwork & Communication
Put talented people around you and let them get to work. I was very lucky to have a colleague who had strong project management and organizational skills. She took a tremendous amount of work off of my plate.
This calls back to the concept of your personal board of directors. Simply put, you need to surround yourself with smart, talented, and capable people so that you can outsource, systematize, and tap into new perspectives when needed.
Building out the studio, I consulted the services of a CPA, an attorney, an insurance broker, the building property manager, and my project manager.
Additionally, I hired some very talented instructors who also embody the "performance and well-being" to share their talents and their perspective with the greater Ascent and Houston communities.
Build a strong team that shares your organization's core values, and then leverage their strengths within your systems.
Take Action
Once you have a clear objective in place - when you can see it and describe it in painstaking detail - get to work.
You're not going to feel "ready", but the best thing you can do is take action. Action generates feedback, which provides new opportunities for learning.
Clarify your goal or the incremental step ahead of you, develop your strategy with a reasonable level of risk, and then get to work.
Successful, high-performance systems and organizations are constantly evolving through the action-feedback process.
Why Yoga
Yoga, meditation, and related practices like breathwork have helped people perform at their best and reach new levels of well-being for over 10,000 years. Simply put, the practice will help you transform body, mind, and spirit.
Increased energy & stamina
Pain relief
Improved mobility & flexibility
Improved mental clarity
Improved concentration
Yoga is about creating greater awareness, which then allows for intentional, focused action.
About the Author & the Ascent Companies:
Matt Beckmann is the Founder & Managing Director of Ascent Consultants and Ascent Yoga. In addition to experience as a former Chief of Staff to the Missouri Auditor and as a Corporate Vice President and General Counsel, he has advanced training and certifications in law, business, coaching, athletics, and leadership. His blog content, inspired by his deep passion for unlocking his reader's best potential, consistently equips business owners and individuals with the knowledge and resources to overcome obstacles that may be hindering growth.
Ascent Consultants provides business and strategy consulting, executive and leadership coaching, and leadership assessments. By converting client growth goals into an actionable "game plan," we help companies and individuals unlock their full potential.
Ascent Yoga is located in Houston Heights. Visit us for in-person coaching, and public & private yoga instruction.
