Steph
Steph opened SPARKCYCLE in La Jolla almost exactly 6 years ago and by doing so has positively impacted so many people’s lives.
Her love of indoor cycling and vision has translated into the ultimate intangible: community. You can feel her support and compassion whether you’re in her class or just around her and we’re so fortunate to have her at the root of SPARK.
Why did you open SPARK?
I fell in love with indoor cycling when I lived in OC; everyday I would count down the minutes until I could leave work and go to the studio. The feeling you get moving to the beat with others in a dark room to killer music and an instructor you love is such a high. Six years ago this experience did not exist in San Diego and I wanted to build a community around that.
So crazy it’s been 6 years! What has been the most rewarding aspect of owning SPARK?
I love seeing the happiness that SPARK brings to riders and watching our staff and instructors grow in confidence and truly love their job.
What about the most challenging aspect?
Learning to find a work-life balance and also a balance of control and letting go.
Any advice for someone wanting to open their own fitness studio?
There is a ton of uncertainty when opening any business. I think trusting the process that lessons learned will ultimately be beneficial in the future even if things don’t always feel like they’re going right. I’ve learned more from setbacks and failures, and those are the lessons that lead to greater success down the road. Also, clone Katie and hire her ;).
What did you do before opening SPARKCYCLE?
I’ve always loved business. In college I was more focused on my eBay business and learning to day trade than studying. I sold clothes, luggage, and coupons and got a thrill out of it! After college I got a job as an analyst at a real estate asset management company which got me into doing home fix and flips on the side. I also had a full time job working for a “serial entrepreneur” which taught me a lot about how to start a business. Somewhere along the way I tried to flip a coin laundromat which definitely was not a financial success but was a win in terms of everything that I learned.
What are your favorite podcasts/books that discuss business?
My go-to is Tim Ferris. I also love Naval Ravikant and his philosophies on work and life. I recently read Atomic Habits by James Clear which isn’t technically a business book but has some good business applications.
SPARK isn’t open for classes but I know you’re still doing a lot. What have you been doing during this time?
My main goal during this time is to make sure our team feels supported the best I can and to manage resources so that we can reopen with the time is right. I’ve been applying for business loans and negotiating with our landlords and other vendors to minimize expenses. I’ve also been working with Katie on strategic projects and marketing, as well as developing reopening procedures.
In terms of non-work quarantine activities, I’ve been making matcha lattes and hanging with my dog and boyfriend. I’m also taking some Coursera courses, cleaning out my closet Marie Kondo style, catching up with old friends, learning to cook, and of course, watching Netflix!
Tell us about your dog!
I’ve had Cody for 12 years… he’s been through all of it with me! He was diagnosed with lymphoma a couple months ago so we’re navigating treatment and I’m enjoying every second I have with him. This time has really been a blessing in terms of having more time to spend with him. I just started feeding him a raw meat diet that is supposed to be helpful in beating cancer and he is loving it!
Any Netflix recommendations?
I just watched Catfish the movie. I’ve seen the shows but the movie is so much better. You have to watch it!!
