Name: Kelley Tyan
Age: 39
Job Title and Description: Owner of Kelley’s Bootcamp for Women and owner of the Salon at Glow Tanning
College/Major: UMass Amherst/BA in early childhood education and Spanish
Website: www.kelleysbootcampforwomen.com
Twitter Handle: @KelleyTyan
What does your current job entail? Is there such a thing as a typical day?
Kelley Tyan: A typical day for me is waking up at 4:30 a.m. every day and heading to the gym to teach my bootcamp from 5:15 a.m. to 6:15 a.m. I usually head to a different gym to do my cardio next and rush home to get the kids off to school. I race back to bootcamp to teach again and get my own weight training in. After my classes and my own workouts are done, I meet with clients to set them up with personal nutrition plans or I get them set up with a workout program to do on their own. Basically, you can either find me in one of three gyms or at a local coffee shop with clients. I also fit in airbrushing clients at my tanning salon.
What is the best part of your job?
KT: The best part of my job is waking up at 4:30 a.m. and heading to class knowing I could possibly change someone’s life for the better. I absolutely love working with women and helping them achieve success in their mind and body. Being a breast cancer survivor myself, I had to make a choice to let that either define me or to overcome it. I decided almost instantly after hearing the news that I was not going to let it get the best of me and nothing would stand in the way of my dreams.
What is one thing you wish you knew about your industry when you first started out that you know now?
KT: I wish I knew earlier about competing in fitness shows. I had no idea about this world until someone mentioned it to me and then I was hooked. I do believe in God’s timing too.
In addition to running Kelley’s Bootcamp for Women, you’re also a champion fitness competitor! How have these competitions influenced your professional life?
KT: Being a bikini competitor has taught me so much about myself. I’ve always been a go-getter in everything I do, but now I have realized I am extremely disciplined, and when I set a goal, absolutely nothing can stop me. I teach this to my clients every day and try to lead by example. If I can do this at 39, anyone can!
Who is one person who changed your professional life for the better?
KT: One person that has so much influence on me is my father. He doesn’t even realize it, but he is the hardest-working man I know, and his dedication and discipline have rubbed off on me in so many ways. I have learned that in order to become successful in life at anything, you must be 100 percent dedicated and disciplined enough to follow through.
What words of wisdom do you find most valuable?
KT: My favorite quote is this: “It takes four weeks for you to see your body changing. It takes eight weeks for friends and family. And it takes 12 weeks for the rest of the world. Keep going!” This is the absolute truth, because fitness is a journey and we can’t stop when we notice one small change. We must keep pushing ourselves.
What is one mistake you made along the way and what did you learn from it?
KT: The only mistake I have made is I wish I started training and teaching women the clean lifestyle earlier in my life. There are so many women that do not understand what clean eating is or what that means. I am so grateful that day to day I am helping one woman at a time.
What has been the most surreal moment of your career thus far?
KT: The most surreal moment in my career so far is winning my first bikini competition as Miss Bikini New England with over 40 women in my class. I will never forget that unexplainable feeling I had that all my hard work paid off, and when they called my name as the winner, I was so overwhelmed and I still am to this day.
What do you look for when considering hiring someone?
KT: I look for people that are honest and hardworking just as I am. I need to be able to trust those I put in charge.
What advice would you give to a 20-something with similar aspirations?
KT: I would tell a 20-something that the only way to succeed in this industry is to be true to your clients and not give them false hope. You must lead by example and remember that all women are different. What works for one may not work for another. You must get to know your clients individually to really help them get to where they want to be and always be a good listener.