Chapter One - Lucas

I always think the gym looks best this time of day. I’m biased, of course: it’s my gym. I built it from the ground up. Still, there is something about the sun creeping up through the windows as I wake my body up that appeals to me. Maybe it’s the way the bright light hits the machines, making them glisten, the weight racks slowly being lit up by the rising sun and the cardio machines reflecting the rays back out the huge front windows. I wanted windows like that on purpose. I wanted to make the space feel bigger and brighter than it already is.

It’s early morning, just after 5:00, and I’ve got the place almost entirely to myself. Only a few other dedicated early risers are here with me. There’s a woman sweating on a nearby elliptical, typing into her cell phone as she does. There’s a man reading the newspaper on a stationary bike, an older guy in the corner lifting weights, and there’s me. I’ve always been an early riser, even before my days started keeping me busy enough that this time of day began feeling like the only window there is to have time to myself.

This time of day, the gym is self-check-in. My desk staff’s shifts don’t start until 7:00, so the usual commotion at the front desk hasn’t started yet. My personal trainers set their own hours based on client needs but never start before 8:00. Paul, my general manager and close friend, is the only staff member in the building this early. He keeps it low-key before 8:00: the music is much softer than the heavy pumping bass that will come on later, the lights are a little dim, and all of the TVs are off. It feels like the gym is waking up, too – greeting the day.

Of the two locations, this one, the original, is my favorite. I’m proud of the second location and visit it often, but my office is here and I find myself doing most of my personal workouts here. I wonder if that will change once my new, third location opens. I’m thrilled about the expansion and even more thrilled about the new location. It’s an ideal downtown spot: on the waterfront and close enough to the business district to be perfectly situated to catch the before- and after-work crowd. The building is an all-new development – my gym will take up most of the bottom floor, and luxury apartments will fill the rest.

I’m thinking about buying one of the new apartments myself. My current apartment is fine, but the idea of having waterfront views out one window and views of the downtown skyline out the other – combined with state-of-the-art stainless steel appliances – is too good a package to turn down. Plus, I’d literally be on top of my newest location, which would really help me get it off the ground. I’m counting on it being my biggest opening yet.

My second location has been such a success that my growing chain is getting national attention. I’ve been featured in magazines across the country, both fitness and financial. Last year, my gyms were ranked among the best conceptual and business models in the area. I was ranked as one of the most promising entrepreneurs under 35, and my gyms won several national-level fitness and health awareness awards. Our membership numbers keep climbing and climbing, and people seem really excited about there being a third location.

I’m anticipating that the new location will bring in more clients than ever before. It should expand my revenue and my brand by huge amounts – something I’m really looking forward to.

My treadmill beeps at me, signaling that the cooldown portion of my run is starting. I slow my pace, gulp some water, and take some deep breaths, planning out my day as I end my run.

Across the gym, Paul waves to me, and I wave back. I need to run some numbers with him before I head back out. I have meetings with investors later this afternoon, but I think I want to head over to the site of my third location before that. I’ve already met with the realty company in charge of the new apartments, but I want to walk around the neighborhood itself and get a feel for it. I’d like to see what else is nearby – what shops and businesses are on the surrounding blocks and what my potential new neighbors are like.

I step off the treadmill and wipe it down before heading to the showers. The sun is even brighter in the sky now, making the gym seem more vibrant and more awake. To my left, the woman who had been on the elliptical heads off to the sauna room and the older guy re-racks his weights and moves to start cardio on one of our new intense stair-climber machines.

After my shower, I head back to the offices and find Paul again. He’s writing today’s training appointments on the large whiteboard in the personal training suite, and I grin at how packed the schedule is. There’s a waiting list to get time with my personal trainers. It’s been full for months.

“Looks busy today,” I say, glancing at the board.

Paul turns around and grins at me. “Every day,” he says.

Paul and I have been friends since college. We were both business majors with a passion for fitness and athletics. I had a full scholarship for track and field, and Paul had been on the baseball team. We’d started a campus intramural sports program together and it was so successful that it still runs today, more than ten years later.

“That’s what I like to see,” I say.

“Looking good out there this morning?” Paul asks, nodding toward the main floor of the gym.

“Looking great,” I say. “How much longer are you staying today?”

“I’m heading out around nine, and Victoria’s in after that. Why?” Paul asks. Victoria is one of my assistant managers. She’s a fairly recent hire, and my clients and staff all really like her.

“I wanted to go over some budget things before we both head out,” I say.

“No problem,” Paul says, nodding. “Just let me just finish this up.”

“Is Molly getting the kids off to school today, then?” I ask. Molly is Paul’s wife. We were all friends in college, and Paul and Molly started dating in junior year. They got married a few months after graduation and have three kids – all girls.

“Yeah, I’m on pickup duty today,” Paul says, laughing. He tells me all about his youngest daughter’s upcoming play as he finishes the board.

The budget looks great when we go over it. Payroll came in under budget and our membership numbers have jumped again. Even with the funds going to the new location, we’re well ahead of where we were last year at this time.

I’m feeling pleased and confident as I head out and get in my car to drive over to the new location. This is going to be our best year ever as a business, and I can’t wait to jump in and get our new club up and running.