My company & title is… I am the head coach and owner of MIXFIT Phoenix, a one-of-a-kind gym located in North Phoenix (19th Ave. just south of Pinnacle Peak Road).
A typical day in my life includes… Kids, coach, manage business, eat, sleep, repeat. Ha!
After I get my twin girls off to school, I head to the gym where I spend most of my time training clients and coaching group classes. Nutrition coaching is also a big part of what I do to help my clients reach their individual health and weight goals.
My favorite thing about living/working in the Deer Valley area is… All the great people I have gotten to know and get to work and workout with every day. We have great commercial, medical and community resources in the area as well, which is a bonus from a personal and professional perspective.
My family… is BIG! We are loud and crazy fun! I have six kids (not medically recommended) and nine siblings! Which translates to all family gatherings, holidays, etc. always being a symphony of chaos, love and laughter! We don’t always get along, but I wouldn’t have it any other way!
The business lesson I learned the hard way is… people really only value what they’re willing to pay for, so don’t discount your skills. Don’t underestimate or sell yourself short. You really have to value yourself and be confident in what you do if you want others to value you.
I’m currently working on… learning how to be a successful entrepreneur. That term is thrown around a lot and some people (like my husband, CEO of SmarterTools Inc. & Parkside Tech) are natural born entrepreneurs, but I’m not one of them. I’m good at what I do, which is health and fitness training. However, managing a brick and mortar business and all that comes with it – sales, merchandising, marketing, billing, accounting, scheduling, client relations, communications, personnel management, building maintenance, equipment maintenance, taxes, licensing, certifications, etc. – falls far beyond my comfort zone. So, getting better at all that is what I am currently
working on.
The one person who motivates me is… I find inspiration from so many people but setting a good example for my children is probably my strongest motivator. Besides that, I love a good motivational speech or TED Talk. Tony Robbins, Gary Vaynerchuck, Tim Farriss, Simon Sinek, Jeff Cavaliere, Hannah Eden, Ashley Horner, and Massy Arias are all some of the athletes and entrepreneurs that I follow. Hardworking, passionate, and selfless people from all walks of life motivate me.
The last thing that made me laugh out loud was… My daughters – Sophie and Isabella – with our dogs. Together, they’re pretty hilarious. And Asian Ellen.
The best gift I’ve ever received was… My gym! My husband built it for me. Aside from raising my children, it’s the most challenging and rewarding thing I’ve ever done.
One thing I cannot live without… 7 to 8 hours of SLEEP – EVERY NIGHT! Sleep is so incredibly important to our physical and mental health. Without enough sleep, we are cranky and moody, achy, and in pain. We make poor choices about what we eat and drink, we’re less likely to exercise, and lack of sleep ages us. If I don’t get enough sleep, I’m a hot mess. Trust me, nobody wants that.
When I was younger, I wanted to be… A dancer… but by the time I was 12 years old I was 5’10” with the grace of a giraffe and flexibility of a #2 pencil, so that wasn’t gonna happen.
What is something most people don’t know about you… I was born in Japan.
The song I would sing at Karaoke night is… I don’t sing. You’re welcome friends.
My first job was… Babysitting. I mentioned I have nine siblings, but I didn’t mention I am the oldest! So, I’ve been taking care of kids my whole life!
My words of wisdom to aspiring business owners… Everyone says you should love what you do, and I think that’s a given. Who would start a business doing something they hate? That said, the saying “Sometimes love just ain’t enough” is true. Most small businesses fail within the first few years, so you really have to know what you’re getting into. Having a strong support team is vital. No one can do it all alone. I’ve had the support of some really great people, (specifically my “partners” Tim and Bob) who have helped me keep going when things have gotten tough. Ultimately, what keeps me going is the fact that I truly love what I do. Helping people get healthy and change their lives for the better is infinitely rewarding.
