We recently had the chance to connect with Morgan Kuchynka and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Morgan, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
I love how thought provoking this question is! I think I have a two part answer: relationships and culture. I have worked hard at building and maintaining healthy relationships with those around me – including my family, friends, and co-workers. I have done a lot of introspective work, reading, and soul searching to improve my interactions with others. At the end of the day, I need to be happy with who I am and how I treat others. It takes intentional practice. In my 20s, I was sometimes quick to judge, dismiss, or expect more without knowing more. With age (I am now in my 40s!), I’ve learned to ask a lot more questions. I have gone from “that was rude” to “I wonder what they have going on in life right now”. I am very curious about what charges people to make decisions and behave in certain ways. As I ask more questions, I learn more about the people that surround me and am able to deepen our relationships and trust.
This has also led me to having such an amazing group of staff members at my business, Pinnacle Gymnastics, Dance, and Ninja. Going to work is like being surrounded by friends that all have the same interests and goals. We have different perspectives and life experiences that help us gain insight from one another. It is a safe space where I can be myself and not be worried. I think that authenticity is noticed by our customers and is one of the things that makes us so approachable as a brand. We are masterpieces and works in progress at the same time.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am the owner and founder of Pinnacle Gymnastics, Dance, and Ninja. I opened Pinnacle as an eager college graduate at the age of 20. Pinnacle just turned 20 years old and has grown from a small recreational program to a multi-site brand with expanded programming. We have been named the USA Gymnastics Kansas Developmental Program Club of the Year four years in a row. We believe in safety, positivity, and helping each other and others grow.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
As a child I was super obedient. I think being a competitive gymnast from a young age helped shape that belief. It was also reinforced in the classroom. Getting good grades, pleasing others, became a way to stay out of trouble and receive praise. I still appreciate and respect rules, but I am also looking for the “why” behind them – and I try to teach the “why” when enforcing them with others as well.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
It is so hard to fail and suffer. But I think what I have learned most from those shortcomings is that the fear of failure is worse than failure itself. There is a pressure that is over you when you are experiencing a time of success – as if to not let it slip away. But when failure comes, the pressure is released, and you find your true character. You get back up, ask for help from those around you, and keep pushing forward. Failure causes self-reflection that is easier to recognize than in moments of success.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
There are still many in my industry that think that advancing in level and winning are the most important parts of the sport. Even worse, many are still using methods of obedience and punishment to get results. I built Pinnacle to break those patterns and show that sports are about so much more than winning AND winning can happen through positive motivation. Those pillars together have allowed us to create a safe space where kids can grow and learn as humans and as athletes. We want all of our athletes to make friends, learn resilience, and reach their full potential in the sport.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. Have you ever gotten what you wanted, and found it did not satisfy you?
So many times in life I have had the thought “if this, then that”. It turns out, that rarely is the case. Now I look at what I want as stepping stones toward a bigger intangible. I love the Coldplay lyric “when you get want you want, but not what you need.” I think it is a great reminder that we don’t always know what we really need. Sometimes we think if I have this or do that, then I will be happy. But joy is a way of living. It isn’t tied to an object or task.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.pinngym.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pinngymkcks/ AND https://www.instagram.com/pinngym/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pinnacle-gymnastics-kc/
- Twitter: https://x.com/pinngym
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PinnacleGymnastics AND https://www.facebook.com/pinngymkcks/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/pinnacle-gymnastics-shawnee?osq=Gymnastics
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/pinngymkc
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@pinnacledanceandgymkc
Image Credits
Natalie Carver (group jumping on tumble track)
