commoditises - had to read that word twice. Basically, it seems to me that opensource billionares are simply reaping the same sort of profits once belonging soley to writers and publishers of ideas. The use of new technologies (the "because of" effect) simply makes the exchange of ideas occur at a much more rapid pace than ever before, and also allows the open source to be adapted much quicker based on feedback. Hmmmm....black box business model, anyone?

no rest on this rest day.

off to idaho to play rugby. pacific coast domination is on the line. wish us luck.

Best of Luck, Greg. Go kick some butt with all of that hard won CrossFit competence!

If the Glassmans & crew weren't so darn generous, they could become "opensource billionaires." BECAUSE OF the internet, they're able to allow thousands of us daily access to their knowledge, skill, creativity and energy. Fortunately, they don't appear to be into making money through advertising or memebership fees, so the billions are their loss and elite fitness (someday) is my gain. Thanks!

My comment on the opensource billionaires article:

"Where are the Intellectual Piracy billionaires. In similar ways to Opensource, I think there's money to be made in encouraging the piracy and dissemination of one's own intellectual property... I think that's a big part of what Crossfit has been doing..."

Now, think about the potential benefits of having your own music or books or movies pirated...

Good luck Greg, I understand the sentiment - I played in BC and the farther inland you got, the worse the teams were. I remember an Albertan tour that had us got 4-0 with 0 tries against and about 20+ for.

#4 -- you don't have to charge end users to make money or build a business. Google is still free to use for searching -- in fact it would fail if it were not, as the information being indexed is copyrighted in most cases. However, the service is so good, and the eyeballs of Google users so desirable for other businesses, that a billion dollars in revenues were realized for the service of matching up motivated sellers (advertisers) with interested buyers (search engine users).

The Glassmans provide a service that's widely used and valuable to many. Those who are implementing it as part of their business model can purchase credentials and training from the Glassmans, which is not free. It's a skillfully executed opensource business model in the same vein as Google.

Wow... I am amazed. I've been doing CrossFit workouts for a little over a month and been amazed by the workouts, the sense of community, and everyones hard work on here.

But the last thing I expected was a link to a blog posting about opensource. I work in the IT field and I am a proponent of opensource software. This made my day, just another thing for me to love about CrossFit!!

#6 Well put, Tim

If Crossfit is opensource fitness, then maybe our coach is asking: can he be an opensource billionaire, or will someone else reap the rewards because the Crossfit method works ?

Surely anyone can dream up randomized sequences of metcon and strength workouts, put it on a website and sell value added content (journal/seminars) with it. Heck, I can roll the dice myself and pick&mix those WODs.

But then I realized I am on the wrong track. I should be asking - how can _I_ become a billionaire _because of_ Crossfit ? Here are some scenarios...

1. Buy crossfit.com shares on the day of the IPO, due to my "insider" knowledge
1a. Pose as venture capitalist and buy 40% of the equity in crossfit.com for peanuts before the IPO
2. Become the next Brad Pitt/David Beckham and melt the world with my hot, toned, athletic xfit body.
3. Join the army and capture arab bullion a la "Three Kings"
4. Start buying up property next to Crossfit gyms as prices will skyrocket in that area
5. Marry & divorce a billionaire's daughter and claim half the estate (after she fell in love with my hot, toned, athletic xfit body)
6. Start a Chinese crossfit.com. Charge $1 lifetime membership to each of them.
7. Go back in time, and show the Spartans some advanced Xfit workouts. Slaugther the persians and conquer the world.
8. Start a fight club and challenge people for $1000 a fight. Kick ass a million times.
9. Start a fashion of pushing cars, instead of driving them and incidentally save the world from "global warming".
10. Start a class action suit against crossfit.com after the IPO on grounds of advocating polygamy. Provide evidence of multiple dates with "Barbara", "Cindy" and "Diane".

#9...Tamas...

Brilliant Post!

I like #7 best, because if you've already conquered the world (assuming you still control it from 456 BC) then the Glassmans would be employees.

Simply Brilliant

I wish I could play some stateside rugby right now. I am playing in Morocco during my semester here and these people are the biggest pansies in the world. Thanks to crossfit for building me up so I can hit/hurt them more.

#9 Tamas: Thanks for that, I'm about to write a final on 'electronic devices and circuits'.
I especially liked #10.

#7 Bryan: I see CrossFit as kinda like Linux. It might be hard to get used to/learn, but it's so much more effective than Windows ;)

This isn't exactly a new concept. You didn't have to invent the book to become a billionaire as a writer or invent some sort of trading system to make millions in the stock market.

#9 Tamas

Great post, I thought it was hilarious!

Thinning the herd indeed...

I posted "off topic" late last night about something completely unrelated and it got "SPACED"

Fair enough

Left...Right...or NutCase, you need to have an on-topic take.

We were warned...

On Topic:

Open source appears to me to be the most "generous" profitable capitalistic endeavors.

CrossFit (owners/affiliates/users) are reaping the benefits of this method, and it would be safe to say that this method is spreading the prosperity.

Perhaps the uniqueness of open source is that if you play your cards right with true sense of giving to the community, you gain an extremely loyal following.

Out of that following emerges other leaders and personalities which turn your philosophy into a movement. Bring with it alternate methods and philosophies that enhance.

The Zone
Black Box ME
Starting Strength
to name a few...

I would wager that Coach Ripptoe has sold more books because he has given to the community in comments and articles expecting nothing thereof, than he would expect otherwise.

Speaking of which...who else is attending the PowerLifting Certification in San Diego??

Making up for missed WODs

CFWUx3

some double under practice - up to 3 in a row. 50 feels like a long way off!

first time doing snatch so tried it a bit with the bar, then worked up to 67#

3 rounds:
800m row
21 hang power snatch at 67# (broken)

30min according to wall clock.

ugly form but once in a while i busted out a good rep and it felt great!

post: some walking lunges with 45# bar overhead, and a few sets of situps.

love open source - used to use linux exclusively, now using OSX b/c i share a computer with my family :/

Went for a bike ride this morning and got a flat... that's what I get for active rest... I'm golfing later and I'm going to be hell bent if I shoot over an 84.

36/m/175/5'4"

Bench:4 reps on all sets
Pullup:15;10;15;8;11(varied grips/hand orientation)

This was fun.

the whole time i was watching the background parkour drills. i wish we had that at my gym...

My schedule is different, so tomorrow will be my rest day. Today, I made up my own WOD.
I called it the 'filthy 45'

5 full squat cleans
5 push jerks
5 back squats
5 deadlifts

4 exercises, 5 reps x 3 rounds or whatever, using any weight you want. The kicker: Once you start the first clean, you cannot let go of the bar until the last deadlift. I like this WO because I don't have to move to different stations. As a warmup I suggest 3 X CFWU - 15 reps

Maybe you won't like the WO, but I had fun making it up and then working hard to complete it.

Rest day comments: I read the article, not much to say because I just thought it was an interesting observation. I think it would be great to be a billionaire!!

i am a day behind and this is my first go 'round with Lynne.

30/f/158
CFWU x3 (5 rep pu, 5 rep dip)
scaled bench to oly bar, should have done more.
17/17/14/15/13
jumping pullups
10/12/10/8/8

so weird to be so tired from my chest up. i am so used to exhausting my legs.

beautiful day in michigan so decided to go run
approx. 3.3 miles according to g-map-pedometer
time 28:28 (not my best but i figure not bad for a rest day)

Day behind. "Lynne", details posted there.
Total 115

I've commented previously on the subtle elegance of the Crossfit adaptation of Open Source/viral marketing, as well as the virtue of doing well while doing good. This is a sophisticated little enterprise producing some tangible benefits for the owners. We who are late to the dance should not underestimate the time, effort, and expense that preceded this particular chapter of the CF saga.

#15 CCTJOEY,

I will be at the Powerlifting Certification in July, looking forward to meeting you.

#20 Mark R,

That is almost identical to the WOD from 5/5/06 except that it used push press instead of push jerk.

# Mark R

It is one of my favorite WOD's and it's funny I call it "Quatro Cinco Cinco".

"When you dominate a market, you run the risk of becoming part of the infrastructure." I don't think this is true, or at least is incomplete. When you dominate, you have a monopoly, which is what every true blue capitalist wants, because making money in a competitive environment is a pain in the neck. This is why, in my view, business always needs a tad bit of regulation.

Now, if you take something like PC's, that is a market where the product is easily knocked off, and the maintenance of market dominance is quite difficult. That, as this person says, is where you say "OK, we'll accept sub-optimal margins on the product--as everybody else is about the same--but we'll make it up with superior customer service, or better warranties, and make our money there."

To be a proper businessperson--which is basically what I am--you have to think hard every day. There's always somebody gunning for your market, and the stupid and slow get taken over by the smart and fast. It's brutal, but it keeps you on your toes.

With respect to Open Source, I think it all depends on the implementation. If you want to think of it as a loss-leader that draws people in--like Kroger selling products below cost to get people in the store, who then buy other things they can make money on--then you can make money with it. If money never changes hands, then of course you can't make any money.

As I understand the Glassman's business model, part of it is pure generosity because they sincerely want to make a difference in people's--and especially Mil/LEO/FF people's--lives, and part of this is generating interest in the CrossFit Journal, which they do in fact make money on.

Everyone here who uses the posted WOD's should subscribe to that publication. It is economical, high quality, and darn it it's the right thing to do.

That's about all I had to say about that. I get tired of capitalism sometimes. I just don't think I would be happier as a socialist drone in Apt. E450, eating rice and beans and watching the Worker's Council talk about pork production (BTW, the German movie "Other People's Lives" is outstanding).

Did the Secret Service Snatch test. Made 140. I think the way to do that test is to do X on the minute, in this case 14. I'll do 15 next time.

Three rounds for time of:
Row 500 meters
75 pound Hang power snatch, 21 reps

12:23

#6 - Tim T - Excellent post.

So let's see if I got this straight.

Opensource - Crossfit.Com.
Opensource billionaires (well... maybe not billionaires.. but profiters) - Affiliates.

It looks to me that the creators of the model, in order to make a profit would have to become an affiliate themselves of the model. Creating their own gym, with their own loyal clients.

Giving back to their community is essential for their survival.

Does that sound about right?

The question I have is many people have used the crossfit mold to create businesses. Does the affiliation fee required allow the branding of the Crossfit name/logo?, Or is it more... which also requires adhering to its standards of fitness? And those that do not conform to the standards are merely "Crossfit-like"? .... Or "Crossfit-Lite" as I have heard it called before.. ? :)

(I am referencing Mac OSX, which is Unix-like, not quite Unix)

CrossFit Total for me today
Warm up 400M
15 air squats

BW 125 age 44

Back Squat 175
Shoulder press 100
Deadlift 205

480- last total was 400 about 8 weeks ago
Thanks to Coach Jeff for the all of the help.

The word's "commodify" not "commoditise." Chimp!

76 degrees in Chicago = no way am I taking a rest day!

A friend wanted to try Crossfit this morning and the track outside my apt. is closed due to filming a movie, so we did 4 rounds of:

-15lb. Overhead walking lunges, 50 feet
-21 Burpees

I kept pace with her for motivation and ended up at 14:26. Then got together with my friends to catch up and do "Michael" about an hour later.

Nick- 22:28
Master Lee- 22:54
Cory- 24:28 (20 seconds more than last time)
Terry- 24:49
Kerry- 23:57 (did crunches)

I guess I was more tired than I realized from burpees. the good news is my friend loved the first workout this morning and will begin drinking the Kool-aid officially tomorrow.

here's a video link that I think is very crossfit-y. Work and family safe but probably not out of shape friends safe.

It's a "drink milk" video.

http://www.dvo.com/newsletter/monthly/2007/april/jest3.html

We have a saying here when we go surfing and we think there may be sharks in the water...I don't have to swim faster than the shark to be safe - just faster than you :)

Good deal Ben, I'll see you there!!

I am in my 40's and have always been embarrassed by my fear of attempting a cartwheel (a source of much teasing in the early years). The same fear has applied to handstand pushups, though I've managed to find a way to get into them without throwing myself to the floor. Not possible with cartwheels. I would like to say thank you for the cartwheel instruction video. I tried the "pad" approach today and, after much ado, got my legs to almost completely overhead. After even more effort and panic, I got a semi-decent cartwheel going from the other side. There's more work to be done, but thanks CrossFit for helping me overcome my childhood trauma of being the only little girl who couldn't cartwheel. ;) On a more serious side, I think this video is going to help me turn a corner in certain areas of my WOD's. Thanks, seriously.

I think CCTJOEY touched on an important point here. The generosity has to be inherent in the system. If, in the beginning, someone told me I had to pay for CrossFit I would have said get stuffed. But after doing the WODs for awhile and seeing the results, getting a little taste of the CF Journal from the free articles, I decided to buy a subscription (and subsequently rings and a copy of Starting Strength).

a few more cents from me...

Posting a little late, Saturday's workout at Brand X was a strenght focus with heavy deadlifting.

Big Dawgs:
5 rounds
400 M
5 Deadifts (1.5 X bdywt)
3 Maniac Muscle ups

Pack, Puppies, Buttercups
Deadlift Skill work

Team races
Tire flips
Pull ups
Rope climbs

I did a modified Big Dawg - subbed 120# and 185# DL instead of 1.5BW (1 round @ 120, 3 rd @185, 1 rd @185) and seated muscle up transition + assited dips. It was a long workout but I was not going for time. This was basically strength + skill work for me.

Swam ~ 1300m, a mix of freestyle and CSS. Wore fins about half the time. Great thing to do on a rest day.

I'm two days late, so nobody will see this but...to reference another author on the blog Crossfit follows the NEA principles. (Nobody owns it, Everyone can use it, Anyone can improve it).

Following that principle. Because of CF, I can use exercise to make money. does this make sense?

Well, no one will probably see this, seeings as that it will soon move off of the page cycle, but ...

Of all the things that CrossFit and Coach Glassman offer, I think what I am most greateful for is the opportunity to turn something that I was already good at into a vehicle to help others while at the same time establishing my own business. I am co-founder of CrossFitMarin along with Roger Harrell. (Yeah, the guy teaching the cartwheel in the video.) In some ways I've always been a natural CrossFitter but I didn't really have a complete grasp on how you could turn that into a system that would have a broad enough range to include anyone from any age group and fitness starting point and turn it into a great bussiness that could be used to help people and make a good living at the same time. The coaching is extraordinary but I am even more greatful for the avenue profided to be able to maximize my talents and employ myself and others in something that we love to do! Thanks, Coach!

-Andres De la Rosa