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Pattijean McCahill was literally roped into starting her own business.
But when she was presented with the opportunity to take her consumers products background and go into business for herself, she jumped at the chance.
The 32-year-old McCahill is president and CEO of Athletic Advantage Inc., an up-and-coming small business that is marketing -- and improving upon -- what is known as the Heavyrope, an aerobic conditioning device similar to a jump-rope.
McCahill was introduced to the Heavyrope business opportunity by her brother Ray McCahill, a former basketball coach at Catholic Central High School. Pattijean McCahill said her brother had used the Heavyrope as a training tool for his players.
Former Los Angeles Laker great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar used the Heavyrope during the latter stages of his NBA career.
In July 1992, McCahill left her job as a product manager for Sara Lee Corp. in Chicago and purchased the Heavyrope company through funding provided by Ray McCahill and his wife, Peaches. They are the three principal partners of Athletic Advantage.
"We purchased it because (Heavyrope) was a cutting-edge training tool for athletes in 1985, but was never understood or marketed in a way that would be accessible to the general public," McCahill said.
"The rope had been used to train world-class athletes, high school teams and collegiate teams, but the general public was not made aware of it on a broad-scale national level and international level."
Following two years of development and product research, McCahill is ready to unleash a new and improved version of the rope called the Heavyrope CrossTrainer. It is a patented multipurpose training rope that combines high-intensity aerobics with resistance strength training, she said.
"You can jump it, but also train every major muscle group in your body, "McCahill explained. "There's a major trend in fitness, which is called balance fitness. No longer are you considered physically fit with just cardiovascular conditioning. You need strength, as well as good flexibility.
"Fitness has changed so much in the past...