TOP Story

The Birth of a Dream

As early as 1987 a boy's love for basketball started him thinking about life after competitive ball and how he could turn his passion for basketball into a life long career. Over the years he noticed that the game of basketball seemed to have the ability to gather people of all types and backgrounds together for fun and competition. He remembers jokingly asking his coach, "how do you hang out in a gym all day and get paid?" His coach responded, "Become a PE teacher." But that didn't fit David's overall vision. An entrepreneur at heart, David began to write down ideas of building a sports arena that one day he could call his own. Dreaming is always the first step in propelling a goal into a reality!

Throughout the early 90's while playing college ball his dream began to strengthen. He continued to draw buildings, write down ideas and visit facilities across America. His path seemed to always cross with the right people who taught him the fundamentals of growing money and getting people to believe in their product, no matter what it was. Meanwhile, as a school teacher, coach and part-time entrepreneur he began to practice basic financial principles such as living below his means, investing, budgeting, and debt management. Through the years, he learned persistence, patience and implemented a disciplined investment strategy. Although his dream was very real, he was the only one who knew how real it really was.

The Birth of a Team

Early in 2000, he and his wife took their life savings and risked it all on their first business, a health club. As first time owners, the experienced was exhilarating as they began to find out what it was like to depend on a team of individuals to make a company run effectively. David continued to spend time with successful people learning all he could from their experiences. T.O.P. started on paper as a multi-sport facility into what it is now, his original passion. As the dream began to unfold, he began to share his vision with a few trusted friends that shared in his passion for basketball and youth. They listened and caught the vision, enthusiastically giving their support. Following soon after in 2007 a local bank and The Body Project came aboard to help form the rest of the TOP team. Not totally understanding who or what was around the corner, it was God's leading and blessing in only six short months that would bring together exactly what was needed to make this dream a reality. You must first fully believe, commit and pursue your dream, and then and only then will you find someone to join you on the journey.

The Dream becomes Reality

In September 2006, the decision to make this 20-year dream a reality began to unfold. Of the many outside challenges (too many to list) that face a new start up company of this size, one particular challenge seemed to come from within. The closer one gets to a dream becoming reality, there is always an element of fear that can creep in. There are questions that surface like, "Will others love it as much as I do?" One day, after being reminded of the verse from II Tim 1: 7 which states, "God has not given you the spirit of fear...but of power...", David realized that fear was a normal and real emotion, but it didn't have to derail his dreams. Encouraged by this truth, David proceeded forward with confidence, not in self, not in a plan, not in a team, not in a location, though all have their place, but with submission to His Savior who delivers on His promises. (Proverbs 3:5,6). This once boy, now a father of two, along with his H.S. sweetheart, launched their dream and vision to the world on December 15, 2007. Dreams do come true!

The story continues with you the member. I personally want to thank you for believing most of all that your life matters and for striving to live your life in a manner that others can look to you as their example. It is my hope that your experience at The Orange Planet is inspirational!  I am grateful for your continued support. Now together let's build something noble, that we can all say we're part of something very special.