Meet Francine McCaughan | Pilates Studio Owner and Teacher

We had the good fortune of connecting with Francine McCaughan and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Francine, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Honestly, I had always thought about starting my own business, but I never thought it would be in the industry that it is in now. I am a trained lawyer, and worked in Entertainment Law in Beverly Hills, California, so I used to think that I would open my own law firm or some sort of entertainment company. In fact, I actually did open an L.L.C. after I graduated from law school and called it “International Media Consulting,” because I was convinced that that was my lot in life. But as they say, “Want to make God laugh? Tell him your plans.” My life took a turn after I moved away from Los Angeles. I went to Cadiz, Spain, traveled Europe soul-searching and practicing my Spanish. From there, I moved to Miami, where I got offered a job at a Latin American TV company. During that time, I realized the career I had worked so hard to achieve, and had already worked in for years, was not for me. A twelve-year Pilates student, I was willing to start a career in that world from scratch. I reached out to every active local studio I could find on Instagram, and started working at the front desk for a mere $9.00/hour while I trained to become a teacher. This is not a joke. Even as a lawyer, I was willing to do anything to get into the door and learn this new industry from the ground up. It paid off. My partner and I ended up buying the first studio that ever hired me and the rest is history. We are now one of the “Top Studios to Visit in South Florida,” with a team, at any given time, of around ten people, including my wonderful super-star assistant and our dedicated cleaning crew.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Code of Life is different – ask anyone who has walked through our door. What sets us apart from others? We have our own teaching approach and vibe. We are not a traditional Pilates studio. Our teaching approach is based on the Pilates Principles from traditional Pilates, but is more athletic and contemporary. It almost has a personal training feel to it. We zone in on our students, paying close attention to their form and encouraging them to reach their fullest potential. We teach fun and creative choreographed classes on the Reformer Machine, Tower, and Pilates Chair. Our teachers are trained to offer modifications and progressions for each exercise in order to accommodate all levels. Our vibe is loving, accepting, and familial. On any given week, we have students visit us from different countries and states who have heard of us from a friend or family member, Instagram, or the internet and are curious about our approach. Most students comment that they have never experienced Pilates in the way that we present it and they love it. Many have tried to find studios like ours elsewhere, but are unable to. Because of this, we are constantly asked if we will open other locations. Stay tuned!

It was not easy to get to where we are today, especially because we purchased the studio just a few months before the Pandemic lock-down. We already had a strong client-base, who stayed connected with us during the lock-down through our online classes and brand-partnerships, so when we opened back up after the lock-down, we hit the ground running. It was a challenge to operate according to EPA standards, but we did it. We were in the studio daily teaching with a new-found passion and purpose, nightly deep-cleaning and fogging, and in the wee hours of the morning at our computers doing admin, fixing tech issues, and coming up with campaigns. It was certainly a challenge to attract more people and keep public confidence during a scary and uncertain time for all, but we rose to the occasion and are so proud of our ourselves and our team for doing so.

I think the biggest lesson that I have learned is to delegate tasks and stop trying to be super-woman. After a few episodes of burnout and a little encouragement from my team, I started delegating work and hiring the right people. Our team is amazing and I am so thankful for them everyday. They call me out when I need to be called out and make wonderful suggestions that help run the studio more smoothly. I think some other lessons I have learned are to be more flexible and to trust the process.

I want the world to know that our business is comprised of our people. No business can exist without a team to run it and clients to help keep it alive. We are so thankful for our students that have our back, and sing our praises to the outside world. They are the real MVPs and we aim to please them everyday. It’s a quid pro quo. We care enough to check in with and serve our people, and they keep coming back for more – supporting us so that we can do so without end. Code of Life is a very happy place and it is so because of the energy that our tribe brings in and spreads.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If my best friend were visiting me, I would take her to the beach in Key Biscayne during the week. I like going to the beach during the week because it is a bit quieter and if you go at the right time – usually in the mornings – you feel like it is all yours. We would rent a golf cart from KB Green and use it to explore the island between beach visits and Pilates at Code of Life. We would stop by D’Lite Bakery or Golden Hog for a green juice in the mornings, walk to the Ritz for some yucca fries and drinks with Gino at the Tikki Hut, and would likely end up at Artisan for a yummy seafood dinner or the Yacht Club to watch the unreal sunset over the marina. We would go to Key to Health to get some healthy snacks for throughout the week and Bill Baggs State Park to ride bikes and see wild life. One night we would go to Boater’s Grill for dinner with a view and The Cleat afterwards for some drinks and live music. On Saturday morning, I would take her to the Farmer’s Market by the Village Green before catching a Hardcore class at Code of Life. And on Sunday, we would go to St. Agnes to praise and thank God for such a fun week on the Key!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to dedicate my shoutout to God, who I believe had this plan for me all along. He made sure that the things I was convinced that I wanted, did not happen and nudged me down the path that led me to where I am today. Always believe that the Universe is working for you. Let go, and let God.

Website: www.code-of-life.com and www.perfectlyfrancine.com

Instagram: @code.of.life and @perfectlyfrancine