Goals. They are something we are faced with daily. From the minute we wake up: don’t hit Snooze 3 times… during our workouts: I can make it two more miles…with our children: Less TV, more reading.

It is interesting to think about how much we push ourselves daily in order to achieve a goal, no matter how big or small. It is a constant battle to achieve the feats that we dream, until we make them reality. When I heard about the opportunity to host the very first AzUrbanrace race in Arizona, I figured it would be an opportunity to test all of our goals of strength and endurance! It is a challenge that everyone can attempt and triumph.

I am excited to announce that Mountainside Fitness will be the Presenting Sponsor of the 2011 AzUrbanrace, a 5k race with 10 obstacles. What better place to host the AzUrbanrace than the 5th largest city in the US? Don’t let the word “obstacle” deter you, this race is made for anyone willing to set goals and own their challenge… and the best part, no clean up! This race is unlike other races in the valley because we are not jumping on the bandwagon and having just another mud run. Save the mud for the farm animals and come back to the city!

This will be just another great event to be a part of and another reason to set goals and follow through with persistence. With all great accomplishments, it is the desire to do better… jump higher, run faster, make it further…that drives us to greatness. So I challenge you all to participate. Jump over cars, climb police barricades and hurdle traffic barriers, then have a beer or margarita or just sit and watch the Chadwicks concert.. It’s all there – You are the action film star of your life…. I will see you all out there.

Good Luck!

I know this seems like a weird topic from a person who owns fitness centers, but it is something that has been bugging me for a while now. However since the mid term elections just completed I feel this time is as good as any.
In professional sports we have salary caps, so that all teams have a level playing field in terms of what they can spend no matter what market they are in and how much they make. Yet in one of our most important American rights, running for public office there is NOT a level playing field. Sure they have enacted legislation limiting how much one person can donate to a particular candidate, but how does that affect how much the candidate can spend.
I have an idea; each particular race should have a cap. The larger the race the higher the cap for example; State Senate race = X, Governor race = Y, Congressional race = X+Y. However, the caps would be low by today’s standards allowing more viable candidates to run.
It is mandated that all television networks must give candidates the lowest possible rates during the election period. If that can be done, then I think a salary cap should be doable. In a country where all its citizens are created equal it seems hypocritical to avoid the “campaign salary cap”. How many great public servants are passed by because they simply cannot afford to run? With so much media available, it seems that if you can “outspend” your opponents you stand the best chance of winning. I believe that it is too difficult for the American public to discern if what they see on television or read in the paper is fact or fiction.
Getting elected is about bringing across your beliefs and ability to lead to your constituents. With more town hall meetings, debates, and good old fashioned volunteers the message will get out there, equally. Close the check books down open the front doors and get out there on the same playing field. Really what are you afraid of Congress, America finding out without the limitless spending warding off the competition you really aren’t that smart? If there was more competition you might not be relevant? Come on step up, enact the Campaign salary cap! I know it’s easier to hide behind a commercial rather than a podium but let’s do what’s best for the land of the free home of the brave with justice for ALL!

The year was 1989; I had just been cut from a junior college baseball tryout. Crazy, I had received several out of state Division 1 scholarships but decided to stay in state to play at a junior college. No big deal play there for 2 years then go to the school I always wanted to go to – Cal State Fullerton. The Coach who cut me, said I was better than who he had there, but not so much better he’d eat another scholarship since I was a walk on. Stunned just like that the boyhood dream was over!  I came from a long line of baseball players, all the way back to the days of the Brooklyn Dodgers. To not make a junior college team was unthinkable a complete failure to me.

Fast forward two years, I was in my third year of college and woke up one morning with the craziest dream. As clear as I am sitting here today I saw the health club, gray carpet, white equipment with black pads, the front desk, aerobics room and even a small childcare.

Have you ever had one of those dreams that seem so real you felt like you were there? Well for me it was stronger than that. I said to my girlfriend at the time I think I am going to start a health club. That was in June of 91′.  And sure enough in November of that same year, as a 22yr old kid with $2,000 to my name, I signed my first lease. A 4,800 sq. foot empty box in a shopping center named “Mountainside Plaza.” Hmm wonder where the name came from.. Guess what, I built it exactly like that dream!

It was at this time I used my failure to play college baseball as complete motivation to not fail at this. I liked working out, and had learned some business ideals running a house painting company while in college. But I quickly learned it didn’t matter at all that I liked working out, I had to LOVE owning a business and the roller coaster rides that go along with it.  I was married to it, good times and bad. Working long hours was the norm, there were even a few times before we opened I stayed awake working for 36 straight hours trying to beat a deadline. Hint, don’t try to do any electrical work on that little of sleep. I  probably should have electrocuted myself 30 times over. I often remember thinking, “if I would have worked that hard at baseball  I would never have been cut.” Funny how life works, the best thing that ever happened to me was getting cut!

Stay tuned… you won’t believe the crazy stories from the past 19 years.

Coming Soon — Pizza, Beer, and Fitness how to keep your members!

Hi everyone! My name is Tom Hatten and I am the founder and president of AZ’s largest locally owned Fitness Center chain, Mountainside Fitness.  What once started as an idea to open a small “gym” way back in 1991 as a junior at Arizona State University has blossomed into 10 fitness centers in two states each totaling about 40,000 sq. ft in size. We are now home to over 42,000 active members! 

My blog topics will range from my experiences as an entrepreneur these past twenty years which includes  finance, marketing, politics and sports. I believe the more I can share from my experiences may help anyone that might be contemplating starting their own business. Some might be serious, some funny, OK and some might be just plain dorky but all based on experiences and thoughts from everything I have seen and done  these past two decades. Look for my blog on the first Tuesday of every month.

Sincerely,

Tom Hatten; President Mountainside Fitness