The first time I went climbing, I hated it. Not for fear of heights, but because it did not come naturally to me. As much as I would like to say I accept defeat benevolently, I do not. I’m fiercely competitive and when I don’t succeed at something, it’s tremendously frustrating. (Admitting you have a problem is the first step, right?)
Unlike the multitude of sports I’ve played over the years, climbing required a set of mental and physical strengths that I did not naturally possess. Climbing defeated me day after day. At the same time, it ignited a fiery passion within me that I had not felt since my days as a collegiate runner.
After graduating from college and leaving the UC track team behind, I tried to find an alternative competitive outlet. I tried distance running and boxing, but neither was as exhilarating as climbing. Climbing was something I could see myself doing for the rest of my life. It was also something I knew would take sacrifice and self-discipline if I truly wanted to be successful.
Flash forward to today, as I explore another set of sacrifices, the sacrifices of an entrepreneur, ones destined to impact not just my physical well-being, but ones that encompass my neighborhood and the community at large. With only three weeks of the SpringBoard course remaining, I reflected on my beginning months as a climber and asked myself if building a climbing gym was something I was extremely passionate about. What could this gym provide for both myself and my community? What sacrifices would I be willing to make in order to see my idea become a successful reality?
At this moment in my life I can honestly say that I do not have the time needed to wholeheartedly pursue my climbing gym. In addition to working at Coffee Emporium, I cater part-time and am the head coach of high school girls track team. When I’m not working or coaching, I’m climbing and going to my CrossFit gym. Though I revel in maximizing every minute of my day, it is a lifestyle that leaves little time for sleep, much less starting a business, which I have realized isn’t something that I can simply do on the side.
In my one and half years of work at Coffee Emporium, I have had the opportunity to see firsthand how much sacrifice is required to create and build a successful business. Whether it’s working year after year with no vacation, or showing up on a busy day to help out with dishes or the trash, Tony and Eileen sacrifice day in and out for the betterment of their business.
While the SpringBoard course has equipped me with the knowledge to start my business, and Tony and Eileen have provided me with an example of how to make it successful, the fruition of my climbing gym resides solely on me and the number of sacrifices I am willing to make in order to devote the time required to bring my dream to life.
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