Pat Croce

Pat Croce was featured on the cover of Inc. magazine as “The Dale Carnegie of the 21st Century.” He was named “Best Motivator” by Sales & Marketing Management magazine. And he graced the cover of Success magazine with his empire-building secrets. Today Croce continues to fill weekly requests as a nationally renowned motivational speaker bringing audiences – from grade schools to Fortune 500 companies – to their feet.

Through his books, businesses, community initiatives, television appearances and motivational speaking engagements, Croce is determined to continue his mission to motivate the masses to reach their peak of potential and realize their dreams.

Pat Croce was always a fitness enthusiast, beginning in high school with his energetic involvement in gym class and participation in a variety of sports. He attended West Chester University (1972-1974) with a major in Health and Physical Education, and played defensive safety on the varsity football team. After two years, he transferred to the University of Pittsburgh to concurrently obtain a degree in Physical Therapy and certification in Athletic Training, making him one of the rare medical professionals with both degrees.

Upon graduation in 1977, Croce accepted the first physical therapy staff position he could find – at TriCounty Hospital in the suburbs of Philadelphia – but his heart was set on working for the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles as the team’s physical therapist. Unfortunately his requests for employment – specifically, his offer to fill a position that did not exist – fell on deaf ears.

But the combination of Croce’s education coupled with his martial arts prowess (a 4th degree black belt in karate and an international champion) – as well as his drive, determination and entrepreneurial spirit – soon captured the attention of the Philadelphia Flyers hockey team. In 1980, he became the first physical conditioning coach in the NHL. Several years later, the Philadelphia 76’ers called on Croce to bring his physical therapy and conditioning magic to their team as well. The notoriety of healing famous professional athletes like Mike Schmidt, Julius Erving, Charles Barkley, and Bobby Clarke, brought Croce’s name and techniques into the living rooms of thousands of individuals who wanted to be trained just like the pros. In many ways, Croce created the concept of personal training before there was a name for the genre.

With the help of a dedicated, professional and fit staff, Croce built a physical therapy/fitness empire with his company Sports Physical Therapists – starting with one center in 1980 and expanding to 40 centers in 11 states in less than ten years. His empire expanded through his association with the 76ers and Flyers teams and his wildly popular fitness and nutrition segments on radio and television stations in Philadelphia through the 80’s, 90’s and beyond.

To this day, Croce cross-trains using a variety of strength, stretching and aerobic techniques, equipment and systems. Whereas most people require a daily java fix in the morning to jumpstart their day, Croce prefers an early morning endorphin injection via a pulse-raising, mind-stimulating workout.

Pat Croce compares his ability to focus his attention on numerous activities at once to that of a plate spinner. With a multitude of business endeavors, community initiatives, outdoor adventures, personal appearances, and family commitments on his daily action plan, Croce evokes the ubiquitous variety-show entertainer who would wow audiences with his stack of plates and corresponding rods. The plate spinner would start by spinning one plate on the tip of a stationary vertical rod, and then repeat the process until he had up to a dozen disks spinning at the same time. The plate spinner would hustle back to the first plate, then the second, and so on, to ensure that no spinning plate would regress to a wobbly waver and subsequent fall. This amazing feat left an indelible metaphorical mark on Croce, as it demonstrated that you could successfully juggle a dozen “plates” simultaneously by maintaining equitable focus on each one, while never diverting your total focus for any prolonged period of time.

The plate spinner in Croce allows him to successfully focus his laser beam attention at any given time – on one of the companies he has funded, or on one of the charities he has committed to help, or on writing a speech for an appearance, or on attending a family function, or on continually improving his skills and talents (kaizen), or on acknowledging someone’s success with a hand-written note, or on many other endeavors – without ever abandoning any other plate he has begun to spin. He achieves this feat with a disciplined, organized, high-energy lifestyle that is grounded with the gracious support of his family, friends and staff. Croce believes life should be a bold and daring adventure. And his adventures in both his business and personal life have lived up to the billing.

Croce’s tools for dynamic success in all areas of life are available for all to learn, apply, and achieve. So what are you waiting for? Do it now!