February 13, 2017

Meet Christopher Karen of First Service Tennis in Orange County

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Christopher Karen.

Christopher, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I am the Head Tennis Pro at Chris Karen’s First Service Tennis which is located just off of the Pacific Coast Highway in Seal Beach, California.

Originally from Montreal, Canada, I started playing tennis at the age of 5. At the age of 11, I began playing junior tournaments and continued to play competitively for the next 15 years. I have played tennis in various countries and have taught tennis in Montreal, Canada, Marina Del Rey, California as well as my current location in Seal Beach, California.

In 2012, I decided to get certified by the United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA) in order to become better qualified to teach tennis and soon after having got certified, the opportunity to run my own tennis program at my own facility in Seal Beach arose. The facility has a Pro Shop as well as 4 courts.

February 2017 will mark the beginning of my 5th year as the Head Tennis Pro at Chris Karen’s First Service Tennis.

I find it quite interesting that your article is about gems in the city because I often call my tennis facility a hidden gem within the community.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Prior to having arrived in Seal Beach, I was the assistant instructor at another facility which had very similar characteristics to this one. At my previous location, I had a very good influential figure with experience in the area who warned me that at the very least, the first three years of running my tennis program would be extremely difficult in regards to getting my program going as well as gaining clientele. As a result of this influence, it caused me to be very aware that there would be hardships and it forced me to work to the best of my ability on a daily basis. One can easily take teaching tennis for granted as it can certainly be a very enjoyable occupation, but it is also a profession, one that needs to be respected both by the instructor as well as the student. My first year teaching tennis at this facility, I had 5 days off and those were due to the rain. Even on those days, I still found a reason to be at the shop whether it was to string rackets or to simply be present. In the end, I am pleasantly surprised by how things have gone thus far and would have to say my expectations have been exceeded. I can definitely attribute this to thankfully being well prepared by a great influence.

The main challenge I have noticed is that every week is an entirely new week and there will be repercussions if the gas is left off of the pedal. Especially in the growing phase of running a business, one can not have many other commitments. Being committed is, therefore, an essential component of running a smooth operation.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Chris Karen’s First Service Tennis – what should we know?
Chris Karen’s First Service Tennis is a tennis facility where private lessons, semi-private lessons as well as group clinics are all offered. Ball machine rental and racket stringing can also be provided and there are also tennis related items for sale within the Pro Shop.

Head Pro Chris Karen teaches tennis lessons which generally vary in length between a half hour and 2 hours. Students of all skill levels are welcome, from first time players who have never picked up a racket to advanced juniors and adults of all ages. Students have once again varied in age between 2 years old and 95 years young! The range in age of clients as well as seeing the very same smile on the face of a 2-year-old and as a 95-year-old are truly one of the things that make my job and the sport itself so great.

What is unique about this facility is that students receive a complimentary hour on the ball machine with their private lesson. As teachers, we try to keep the sport simple but in reality, when trying to improve one’s stroke production, there are many foreign concepts which often need to be taught. The ball machine, therefore, becomes an essential tool which can help students improve their muscle memory and understanding of what has been taught within the lesson. Of course, I am always ecstatic with the improvement that can be witnessed within only an hour’s time, but my students grow because they practice.

Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
I genuinely feel as though my student’s feed off of my enthusiasm and passion for what I do for a living. As I continue through the process of running a business, I have learned to embrace the entrepreneurial side of things, since running my tennis program has become my life. With that being said, I get to do what I love every day and call it a job. Being naturally passionate at what I do as well as being very giving has, in turn, led me to run a successful business. These two go hand in hand since I do not feel as though I prioritize the compensation I receive for teaching tennis. People will have varying opinions on what make a great entrepreneur but I have modeled my business around being passionate and genuine as well as being very giving with my time and effort. People feed off this energy and tend to return as a result.

The tennis program itself seems to be quite a hit as well! The atmosphere is very calm and tranquil and since we are located near the beach, the weather tends to be as good as it can get. These are definitely common attributes that people seem to enjoy while visiting.

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