Meet CJ Cooper, owner of Fit4Lincoln and Three Pillars Performance, co-owner of The Driven Academy, and executive director/co-owner of Ambassadors Sports.
Tell us a little about your businesses. – Fit4Lincoln (www.fit4lincoln.com), located at 1359 S 33rd St., is a high-intensity interval gym that is passionate about helping people achieve their health, fitness, and fat-loss goals. We’re on a mission to expose and engage 20% of the city’s population to a healthy and fit lifestyle by the year 2025—through not only our workout facilities, but through the numerous community programs we are involved in. Three Pillars Performance (www.threepillarsperformance.com) is an extension of the Fit4Lincoln brand, offering multi-week sports and performance training sessions throughout the year. We recently purchased The Driven Academy (www.thedrivenacademy.com), which is an 11,000-squarefoot training facility at 445 N 66th St. Three Pillars Performance will now operate within The Driven Academy facility, bringing its structure and philosophy along with it to replace what was has been known as Driven Power. The Driven Academy also offers one-on-one coaching, a membership so athletes can access the facility 24/7, and recruiting advice to help navigate the process. Finally, Ambassadors Sports (www.abasportsacademy.com), previously Ambassador Basketball Association (ABA), is a faith-based sports club that organizes basketball, baseball, and eventually soccer tournaments in Lincoln and beyond. I’ve been involved with Ambassadors Sports as a coach for about seven years, and I was excited to become a part owner in August 2021 when the opportunity arose.
How did you get started in the business? – I recently left a 20-year professional career in banking to pursue my calling for entrepreneurship. I get to work with people every day in their faith, health, and fitness, all while leading various sports and ministry opportunities. Each organization we own/operate has a range of start dates for people, from 9 months to 20 years old, and they all fit together extremely well.
What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally? – Work-life balance. Being a business owner is more than just a “full-time” job. It becomes part of everything you do. Making sure to spend time at home and still be a good husband and father is difficult when you are trying to build businesses. I’m still working on prioritizing, and I’m better than I started…it’s about progress, not perfection.
Tell us a little about your family. – I’ve been with my amazing wife for over 20 years. We have four kids—a 17-year-old son, 15-year-old daughter, 13-year-old son, and 1-year-old daughter. We also have two dogs, two cats, and a guinea pig.
What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? – Spend time with our family. We like to vacation, go hiking, be active, play games, or just have time together with nothing on our calendars….which is rare.
Who inspires you? – My wife and children. My wife is the glue that holds us together. She is the calm in my chaos. My faith and my family are the reasons I do everything. I also surround myself with a great “Band of Brothers” that keep me accountable and focused.
What is your favorite quote or the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? – I have two, both are from scripture: “A man may plan his way, but the Lord directs his steps.” – Proverbs 16:9. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not in your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your path straight.” – Proverbs 3:5-6.
What is your favorite book or the last good book you read? – The Bible, specifically the book of Proverbs and the Gospels.
If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so? – (402) 413-2113; fit4lincoln@gmail.com / ccooper@thedrivenacademy.com; www.fit4lincoln.com / www.threepillarsperformance.com / www.thedrivenacademy.com / www.abasportsacademy.com.