This read hit me at a different level after coming home from SoulCycle today. If you're looking for another health-focused cult I would check out infrared sauna experiences in Houston, they are typically a bunch of regulars obsessed with "bio-hacking". It's my new guilty pleasure.
Oh my gosh I loved learning this about you Hesam! I laughed out loud at the “never chosen to blow out the candle”. I love SoulCycle and fully understood in your essay how you came to enjoy it as well. Particularly once you find an instructor that really resonates. I enjoy indoor cycling in general, but nothing beats the experience at SoulCycle. Taylor Swift is always a good choice for music. I once did a Punk Rock ride and it’s stayed as one of my favorites!
Thanks, Michelle! I didn't get a chance to do many themed rides, but was always curious how they'd make the playlist for them and how they'd go. Happy to hear you're a fellow fan! Great indoor cycling classes are so much fun.
Which begs the question, have you signed up at Barry's yet?
"Thought leaders" like Pinij often assume that loyal "fans" from prior lives/businesses will follow them wherever they go, and yet ... it's not that easy. The cult experience is fickle.
Looking forward to future installments as you learn more about how and why cults work.
Good post Hesam! And this is one of the complexities of designing experiences. Many times they depend a lot on who is providing the experience. Hence the efforts to select the right people, create strong processes, and carefully listen to your users! And even though Pink Floyd will always be my favorite group, Taylor Swift is pretty good too!
So true, Felipe! I've been curious about how groups like SoulCycle find, select, and train their instructors. How do you make a repeatable process that trains high quality instructors who consistently deliver great experiences while giving them the flexibility and autonomy to express themselves?
This read hit me at a different level after coming home from SoulCycle today. If you're looking for another health-focused cult I would check out infrared sauna experiences in Houston, they are typically a bunch of regulars obsessed with "bio-hacking". It's my new guilty pleasure.
Agree! I've been going to the sauna weekly. Absolutely love it.
Oh my gosh I loved learning this about you Hesam! I laughed out loud at the “never chosen to blow out the candle”. I love SoulCycle and fully understood in your essay how you came to enjoy it as well. Particularly once you find an instructor that really resonates. I enjoy indoor cycling in general, but nothing beats the experience at SoulCycle. Taylor Swift is always a good choice for music. I once did a Punk Rock ride and it’s stayed as one of my favorites!
Thanks, Michelle! I didn't get a chance to do many themed rides, but was always curious how they'd make the playlist for them and how they'd go. Happy to hear you're a fellow fan! Great indoor cycling classes are so much fun.
Which begs the question, have you signed up at Barry's yet?
"Thought leaders" like Pinij often assume that loyal "fans" from prior lives/businesses will follow them wherever they go, and yet ... it's not that easy. The cult experience is fickle.
Looking forward to future installments as you learn more about how and why cults work.
I haven't gone to Barry's. It's ridiculously expensive ($300/mo? maybe more?), and Pinij ended up leaving Houston a few months later.
Have been looking for good cult rabbit holes. Stay tuned..
Good post Hesam! And this is one of the complexities of designing experiences. Many times they depend a lot on who is providing the experience. Hence the efforts to select the right people, create strong processes, and carefully listen to your users! And even though Pink Floyd will always be my favorite group, Taylor Swift is pretty good too!
So true, Felipe! I've been curious about how groups like SoulCycle find, select, and train their instructors. How do you make a repeatable process that trains high quality instructors who consistently deliver great experiences while giving them the flexibility and autonomy to express themselves?
And yes, Pink Floyd is also a classic choice!