Fitness Expert Succeeds in Creating Her Own Brand
Although the fitness arena is already crowded, Mindy Mylrea (www.mindymylrea.com) has succeeded in creating her own niche. This busy professional has a long list of credentials, including 2004 Can Fit Pro Presenter of the Year, 1999 IDEA International Fitness Instructor of the Year, World Aerobic Champion, Creator of Gliding (www.glidingpro.com and www.glidingdiscs.com), and a PowerBar Sponsored Athlete. She's also the proud mother of three boys.
"I have always been a "think out of the box" kind of person, finding opportunities by offering services and programs that no one had thought of before," says Mindy. When she was only 17 years old, she "started a mother /daughter disco dance class at a local swim club. I was always looking for ways to work for myself. My mother was a huge influence. She was a leader, a mentor, and a gift to other woman striving to have a meaningful career that had service to others and substance."
Mindy established high standards for herself with regard to her career: "I was determined to work in a field that I was truly passionate about, that touched the lives of others because of my actions, and where I could make my own living doing what I loved. I thought that it would be acting but a funny thing happens when you stray from the path. You may find something even better," she reflects.
Initially an acting student in New York City, dreaming in her early 20s of performing the role of Peter Pan on Broadway, Mindy arrived in California one summer to perform with a theatre company, "with every intention of returning to school and following my dream. My acting gig didn't quite pay the bills, so I convinced a local health club that they needed an "Aerobics Instructor". At the time Aerobics was just in its infancy and no one really knew what I was talking about."
Mindy loved her aerobics work, and acquired "the reputation as the fiercest fitness instructor on the planet. My acting skills came in quite handy as I knew how to motivate and entertain the crowd. I then went back to school to attain the education requirements and I never looked back."
She began to compete in fitness competitions and, in 1991, became "the World Aerobics Champion.In this role I had to travel. I had three small boys and a busy household. I wanted to combine my career with my family. By setting up my travel schedule for weekends only, I was able to tag team with my husband and be home with my children during the week. I wanted to combine my love for teaching fitness, acting, and motivational speaking into one viable business model. I began creating fitness videos to accompany my convention presentations so that I was more marketable and so that I had more income opportunities.
Diversity is the key to my business success. I am a teacher, dvd producer and star, infomercial host, and program and product creator."
Mindy gives credit to her "wonderful supportive husband. My husband allowed me to travel and generate my "brand" awareness. This past year my dream came true. My husband was able to transition over to my world. We have formed FitFlix Productions - our own dvd production and consulting company. Bruce is also the corporate sales manager for my fitness product Gliding."
Her goals for the future include positioning "Gliding as a fitness staple not only within the fitness industry but also for the home exerciser, as well as "to continue to offer cutting edge fitness programming and products for both the home exerciser and fitness professional." Mindy hopes to "motivate and inspire our families and our youth to embrace fitness and healthy lifestyle habits."
