Exercising Ambition

Entrepreneur and Springfield High graduate Stephen Hitt finds his passion for fitness and builds a business to inspire others.

By Melina Villegas

Arduous, grueling, and intense is how some people perceive it. Others see it as motivational, lifechanging, and fulfilling. The painful build-up of lactic acid courses through the body and agony rears its head through unexplainable facial expressions. Breathing heavily through a clenched jaw, many try to hold back a cry for help, as annoying droplets of sweat slowly sting their eyes. This is CrossFit.

There are those who shy away from a mental and physical challenge, unwilling to give it a second chance, and those who are determined to annihilate rigorous workouts. Stephen Hitt chooses to take any challenge head-on. Before opening his own gym in Seattle, he always wanted to accomplish bigger and better things, often taking risks for the good of his dreams. He didn’t care about becoming wealthy, knowing that with time and patience financial stability would naturally fall into place. His life motto: “go broke changing lives.”

Hitt was born in Springfield, Oregon and grew up in the Northwest. At the age of 3, Hitt’s parents divorced, resulting in his mom moving the family up to Seattle, Washington. Hitt lived there until his sixth-grade year and moved back to Eugene his seventh-grade year.

Hitt received his diploma from Springfield High School in 1999, but he lacked a clear plan. Having the tendency to hurl himself headfirst into the unknown, Hitt took a risk and with only a couple hundred dollars in his pocket and no knowledge of Arizona, he packed a duffle bag and left.

While living in Tucson, Hitt realized he disliked the person he was becoming, living an unhealthy lifestyle. He wanted to change himself for the better, so he took action on Thanksgiving weekend of 2006. “The workout of the day was a classic CrossFit workout called Cindy, which is as many rounds as possible in 20 minutes of 5 pull-ups, 10 push-ups, and 15 squats,” says Hitt. “I did the workout and got my butt kicked.”

He instantly fell in love with the arduous fitness regimen and began working CrossFit into his everyday routine. He started to see progress in himself as he made better decisions about his wellness, and ultimately felt his improvement reach beyond the gym. “I fell in love with CrossFit and I felt like my life was changed by it,” says Hitt.

Hitt found a new lifestyle and calling. He began his journey in 2008 by coaching at CrossFit Belltown in Seattle, where he moved after college. During his time coaching at the local gym, he crossed paths with the woman he would later spend his life with. In September of 2011, Hitt founded Industrious with his future wife, Molly.

Hitt opened up his gym in a small garage off Highway 99 in Seattle that was once an old auto repair facility. Leasing the place was not the only expense. Security deposits, renovations, equipment, and website set-up were just a few other crucial expenses to get the gym off of the ground. With only $50,000 to get the business up and running, he drained almost all of his savings after a slow start.

The first two years were a struggle. Molly and Hitt were the only coaches on staff. Through hard work and determination the Industrious brand began to grow and, for Hitt, it “became more of a lifestyle brand more so than just a CrossFit gym.” In the first year, Industrious’ clientele grew to around a 100. Hitt takes pride in his successful company, which now has two locations.

Finding his path was taxing both mentally and physically, but just like a workout it was worth it in the end. Hitt loves what he does because he knows that, for both him and everyone who attends Industrious CrossFit, “[life is] much more sustainable when you are doing something that you have a deep emotional connection to and purpose behind.”