Pros
The straight commission structure and pressure makes you stronger. Sales training provided at the beginning of your career in Minnesota and continuous monthly 'real-play' sharpens your ability to think on your feet with prospect discovery and club presentation. The sales training teaches you how to think better and ask the right questions, which I feel is an ability that can be applied to many careers in sales and business. If you are good at self generating business and close company leads, you can make good money, which keeps most people in the job. You have the ability to make $50K to $90K and sometimes even more if you are in Onyx to Diamond level clubs; especially if you are able to go to a pre sale. Life Time Fitness aims for the top 20% of the population to use their clubs. Being an MEA allows you to network with many successful business people that can help grow your book of business with referrals and network with people doing well in many industries.
Cons
The company changed connectivity pay and eliminated retention pay. The 14-Day money back guarantee window still stands, if someone cancels within that period, your commission is taken away. Now if a membership is cancelled within the first 30 days resulting in the lifespan of a membership being less than 60 Days, your membership/connectivity commission is taken away and your are left with $10, but still get credit for the unit on your stats. Makes it stressful to lose your commission with that extended period of time if something out of your hands makes them cancel especially when you are a straight commissioned employee. Average unit payout can vary from 30% to 60% depending on club level. You make money on one month of unit dues, while the club makes over $2K a year on that member just in dues. One of the core values is being servant minded, which sounds outdated for the 21st century. This value conflicts with pulling back retention pay while your focus is on acquisition. A member comes into your office to go over their account; you are expected to be servant minded/handed off correctly. The type of affluent members if not serviced immediately can complain about you and result in being written up. MEA handbook states only the last day day of the month is bell-to bell. Handbook also states the middle of the month (15th) and the two days prior to the last day of the month are normal 10 hour shifts and that last day of the month is mandatory bell-to-bell (12 hour shift) but when it comes what is communicated verbally those are bell-to-bell days. Expect to travel throughout your region for different meetings or sales trainings at a minimum of twice a month, but at least your expenses are reimbursed. Mandatory non-paid early sales trainings/meetings prior to your shift can result in your day being 14 hours if you end with the late shift.
