Strike Me Down - Mindy Mejia Page 0,5
we developed a line of nutritional supplements and hit the market at the exact moment protein powders were exploding. From there we expanded into sponsorships, apparel, and urban gym experiences. We have over five million email subscribers to Logan’s blog and we’ve trained dozens of youth state boxing and professional UFC champions. Our last year-end showed a net worth of $920 million. Based on our revenue growth, I assume we’ve passed the billion mark now.”
You showed me yours, I’ll show you mine.
“I’ve read numerous articles about Strike’s trajectory, and I can personally confirm your sea salt cashew protein bar is excellent.” Rajesh laughed, enjoying the reflected success of having a billion-dollar company at his table. “We understand Strike is a privately held corporation with two equal shareholders.” He paused and glanced at me.
“That’s correct. Logan and I each own fifty percent. We’re the founders, owners, and board of directors.”
“Has the company ever undergone a formal audit?” This from Jim.
“It’s never been necessary. We’re self-made. We’ve financed every step we’ve ever taken, including the move this year to add thirty new gyms to our portfolio, doubling our physical footprint in the United States and moving into select markets in Canada.”
“An aggressive expansion.” Jim took a sip of his coffee.
I couldn’t help it; I leaned in. “We all have a fight inside us, waiting to be unleashed. Skinny, short, fat, weak, old, happy, it doesn’t matter. There’s an animal within, a highly evolved aggressor that isn’t conference room compatible, and Strike provides a channel for that ferocity right in the heart of the city, amid all the boardroom handshakes and neckties and professional courtesies. I’ve seen sixty-year-old women throwing side kicks that would decimate you, and twelve-year-old at-risk boys with their eyes on fire, like they’re falling in love for the first time. Strike is primal; it feeds the animal and hones the human.”
Each partner reacted separately to the pitch. Most onlookers would see an interchangeable assortment of executives, but there were tiny differences opening like fissures all around me. It was completely unlike the single-minded drive we had at Strike, the common goal we held supreme among us. These people were four islands who happened to be sharing a sea. Rajesh seemed like he was going to burst into applause, bobbing his head and smiling, although I’m not sure if he absorbed anything past the one billion in net worth. Corbett swirled his coffee and nodded, while Jim leaned farther back in his chair, acting the benevolent audience to the sales pitch. Nora was the only one who seemed unaffected. Her back was straight, a perfect stack of vertebrae. They didn’t arch with false confidence or bow in intimacy, but sat easy and natural one on top of the other, a tower built of balance and grace. She set her pen down, a careful diagonal across the meeting agenda, then met my eyes squarely and spoke for the first time since the meeting began.
“The business model seems successful, Mr. Abbott.” (A pat and a shoulder together.) “So, what is it that brings you to Parrish today?”
This was it—the point of no return. I could simply get up, excuse myself, walk out of this office suite and try to find another solution, another way to save Strike. The urge was so strong my legs tensed, ready to stand. But that wasn’t the plan. Our mission statement was for the company to win at all costs. It’s what we’d all worked toward for so long. The company was the most important thing.
I swallowed and returned Nora’s look. “Strike is in trouble.”
“How?” she asked, the first real curl of emotion flicking behind her eyes.
“We’re hosting an event next week, a kickboxing tournament called Strike Down. Fighters from all over the world will be competing for twenty million dollars in prize money.”
Jim cut in. “We know. We’ve got a box, don’t we, Nora?”
She looked down and played with a corner of the paper. It was her first self-soothing gesture of the meeting and I didn’t entirely understand it. She was embarrassed to be a fan? Or was it something else?
“We organize partner outings,” Nora explained. “Plays, Broadway shows, cooking classes. I suggested the tournament as our entertainment for this quarter.”
“You won’t be disappointed.” I smiled. “Strike Down is going to be unlike anything the martial arts world has seen. In addition to the professional and amateur fights for both men and women, we’ll have live technique demonstrations, meet and greets, a full range of exclusive