National Businesswomen’s Day with our Gym Owner Charlie Friedman!

Did you always want to own a gym, or how did the idea come into play?

C: As a young gymnast I wanted to be just like my childhood coach. He was a gymnastics coach, choreographer, and eventually owned his own gym. As I got older and had to pick a major in college, ‘gymnastics coach’ wasn’t an option so I started thinking about what I could go to school to be and come out on the other end with a profession. Originally I chose biology, thinking something in the medical field, but switched over to education my senior year. I taught in the Chicago Public School system prior to Viking moving to Caldwell Avenue.

How was your experience making the transition from High School Gymnastics Coach to running your own gym?

C: It was a slow process where Viking developed and I coached at Niles North. It wasn’t until we opened up on Caldwell and I coached my final season at the high school that I realized there were just not enough hours in the day to give both my high school athletes and Viking the attention they deserved. It was not my intention for 2013 to be my final season at the high school. Truly, the feeder program (Viking) was created in an effort to make the high school team more competitive, and it was working well. However, when I had my end of season meeting with Karl Costello, the athletic director at Niles North who was also a big supporter of Viking as it’s own business, the words ‘I just don’t think I can continue to do both’ came out of me and Karl completely understood. He had watched me try to do both for a year and while I was making it work, it was clear my health would suffer if I continued to put the needed number of hours and energy in.

How did you begin the process of creating a business?

C: Being a gymnastics coach and elementary school teacher, I did not have the business experience other owners might have so there was a lot of trial and error. My father owns his own business so he was able to connect me to a few different types of lawyers and accountants that helped with the initial ‘creating a business’ tasks. Sue Fosco had mentored me through creating class schedules and connected me to other gymnastics gym owners for guidance. I asked a lot of questions to anyone with some experience that would lend some advice.

As a gym owner, you have a variety of roles that you take on. Which do you enjoy most?

C: There are too many to count. Being out in the gym whether it be coaching, watching a staff member work their magic in a class, or having conversations with families in the viewing area about how life is going are a few of my favorites.

Did you consider yourself a businesswoman before starting Viking Gymnastics?

C: Does selling friendship bracelets outside of my parents condo at 8 years old count?

Is there anyone you look up to in gymnastics, the businessworld, or otherwise?

C: So many people! For sure there are other gym owners that amaze me, but here at Viking I am surrounded by so many amazing people that have so much knowledge to share.

Did you face any difficulties entering the businessworld as a woman?

C: Not that I noticed or chose to acknowledge. 🙂

What is the most challenging part of running a business?

C: For me, the challenge is always how we can do better at whatever we are doing. I am lucky to have a patient, understanding staff who also want to do their best because just when we get some aspect of Viking under control I will come up with an idea that requires a lot of time, energy, and changes. I get really excited now when Viking staff will come up with equally challenging ideas!

What is the most rewarding part of running a business?

C: Being able to see the differences that are made on a large scale. When I taught and coached my own classes, each day was rewarding. But now, I look around the gym and through the dance studios and I see the growth and happiness on a magnified level.

What has been your favorite experience since starting Viking?

C: Watching my children grow up at Viking as their second home, with their extended family. I would have spent all my time in the gym as a child if I could, and they get to live that!