INTERVIEW | Make Money by Understanding What Went Wrong at CrossFit with Calum Marsh

Calum Marsh is a writer, reporter, and editor covering arts, culture, and sports, with work featured in The New York Times, The New Yorker, The Atlantic, GQ, and other leading publications. He is the author of The Glass Box, a narrative nonfiction book exploring the rise and fall of CrossFit and its controversial founder, Greg Glassman. Drawing on years of research and his own experience as a CrossFit athlete, Calum unpacks how a grassroots fitness movement grew into a global business empire—and how the very culture that fueled its success ultimately contributed to its downfall.

On this episode we talk about:

How CrossFit grew from a grassroots fitness program into a global network of 15,000 gyms without traditional investors or corporate backing

How CrossFit used the early internet to build a passionate community and scale its business in ways few companies had attempted before

Why the leadership traits that help founders build unconventional businesses can become liabilities as their companies grow

The dangers of surrounding yourself with yes-men and creating a culture where disagreement is treated as disloyalty

How aspiring writers can build their skills, pitch editors, and create opportunities by putting their work out into the world

Top 3 Takeaways

Your greatest strength can become your biggest weakness. The unconventional thinking and willingness to break rules that help a founder build something remarkable can become liabilities when a business reaches a certain scale. Growth requires knowing when to adapt and bring in people with complementary skills.

Build a culture where people can challenge you. Leaders need people who are willing to question their decisions, identify problems, and provide honest feedback. When employees are afraid to disagree, bad decisions can go unchecked and threaten the entire organization.

Stop waiting for permission to pursue opportunities. Callum's advice to aspiring writers is simple: reach out to editors, pitch publications you admire, and put your work in front of people who can help you advance. Rejection is part of the process, but you can't get a yes if you never ask.

Notable Quotes