Cross Kicks Fitness opens in Roselle
An interview with Timothy Patrick, co-owner of Cross Kicks Fitness in Roselle.
Q: Describe your business.
A: Cross Kicks Fitness offers a 40-minute power workout inspired by cross training, boxing and kickboxing. Our workouts are normally 10 stations, which last four minutes at each station, and are led by a certified trainer. There are never specific class times, and workouts change daily.
Q: What made you start your business?
A: In 2009 I was nearly 450 pounds, with high blood pressure, and a 63-inch waist. One day at a doctor visit my physician told me if I didn't change my life I wouldn't live very long. I was told that I would start having health problems, and all that was keeping me healthy was my age. I was 31 at that time. Not being a stranger to fitness I went back to my old routines at my local gym. I started eating lean and green, and eliminating refined sugars, processed carbohydrates, wheat, and some grains. Within no time at all I was losing weight and inches, but I started experiencing the plateau stage. By this time I had lost about 125 pounds, and needed the assistance of a professional. Frustrated and willing to do whatever it took to lose the rest of the weight, I hired a personal trainer. The weight started coming off again, but at price. I was going broke trying to get healthy, so then I started paying for classes, which was more affordable. What I found frustrating about the classes was the class times. The gears in my head started turning, and I thought; why isn't there a facility with no class times, a trainer always included, and for a reasonable price? I recognized a void in the market for this service. I was the target customer, and I started putting a plan together.
In summer of 2013 I enlisted longtime friend and co-founder Brad Goldstein as my business partner. I knew Brad is what I needed to take this to the next level. Initially we talked about our passion for fitness as kids. As the conversations evolved we saw the void in the market place, and how we could make an impact on people's lives by delivering a new concept in the fitness space. While Brad living in Miami, and Tim in the this area it was a tossup of where the first location would be. Eventually we decided to put our corporate location in Roselle. Locations in Florida and California will be next.
Q: What has been the most difficult obstacle in running or starting a small business?
A: Handling the transition from entrepreneur to business owner. There aren't enough hours in the week anymore.
Q: What do you enjoy most about operating your business?
A: Being able to help people, teach what I learned about fitness, and watch them succeed.
Q: Is this what you pictured yourself doing when you were young?
A: Yes. As a child I was an athlete, and extremely competitive. I still have those qualities. I hate losing more than I like winning. When I was young I wanted to play professional golf. I never made to the PGA, but I still found ways to win in other aspects of life. Now I'm helping people reach their goals. That's winning.
Q: What keeps you up at night?
A: I always strive to improve. Weather its personally or professionally, I want to get better.
Q: If you could give one tip to a rookie business owner, what would it be?
A: Plan for error. There will always be unexpected hurdles. Plan for that.
-Kim Mikus
Cross Kicks Fitness LLC
Address: 17 E Irving Park Road, Roselle IL, 60172
Owners: Timothy Patrick & Brad Goldstein
Website: www.CrossKicksFitness.com
Business started: 2014