Brandy Yearous AGE: 30ish – Creator of the Super Mom Workout app
Tell us about how you chose your career/business and what your responsibilities include?
I created the Super Mom Workout app because I felt the fitness industry was missing a huge demographic. There are millions of mothers who have children that are too young for a gym nursery or can’t afford the cost of a gym membership. There are even more women who are working mothers who simply do not have enough time in their day to fit in a workout.
Instead of suffering in silence, I used my background in Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine to make videos showing these women how to work out while doing every day activities in their home while demonstrating the proper exercise form.
Now, instead of trying to find time to fit in a workout, we work out throughout the day.
Here is a great article about how the Super Mom Workout app got started by Mia Redrick:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mia-redrick/baby-weight_b_1668922.html
Tell us about your company?
A good friend of mine, Stefan Kaczmarek, is a mobile application developer. I brought the idea of doing the Super Mom Workout video’s to him and together we collaborated on the app development.
What are some of the most fulfilling projects you have been involved with so far?
The most fulfilling projects aren’t all the glamour of being on major websites or tweeting with famous people. It’s finding that one person who really thinks there is no way for them to be healthy. The one person who doesn’t know where to start and just tosses out one little note for help. It’s catching that person and mentoring them back to health, helping them plow through the peaks and valleys of good health.
Are there any people in your field you would like to meet and/or work with and have not yet had the opportunity?
I would love to meet Hannah Curlee. She was a contestant on the Biggest Loser who just stole my heart. I identified with her in that she was a collegiate athlete who was injured and it changed the rest of her life. I hope to meet up someday to work together to motivate people into starting a healthier life.
What are some of your favorite ways to network?
I love that I can help people instantly through social media. I even held a workout session LIVE on Twitter! A user wasn’t feeling motivated and had no one to work out with. I gave her exercises to do, and explained to her the proper form. She did them right where she was sitting and she tweeted back how many she did and asked for more!
Do you have a mentor – if so how did you choose one another? If not, is this something you think would benefit your career and is there anyone you would like to have as a mentor?
My fitness mentor is Jillian Michaels from the Biggest Loser on NBC. I know she may seem like an obvious choice, but it is her attention to childhood obesity that really gets me. She had completely left the Biggest Loser show, started a family and was moving on with her life. She found out the show was going to showcase children and she said, “I’m in.” before she even had a contract. I admire that level of passion.
My social media mentor is Dabney Porte. She is the owner of Social Media Girlfriends, Social Media Manners and she is the Social Media Coordinator for The New Ricki Lake Show. She found me on my 4th day on twitter. She has shown me the way! Dabney was instrumental in getting me involved with Friends of Ricki and helping me inspire all of Ricki Lake’s fans to make better wellness choices.
What have you learned from your mentor? What do you hope to learn?
Jillian and I think the same way. There’s no “I can’t”. Wellness is about making good choices. Choosing yourself above all else. It’s not about being the thinnest or the prettiest, it’s about finding the “you” that you can live with.
What’s been the most surprising thing that has happened to you so far in your career?
When Super Mom Workout first launched, we had no idea what to expect. It was featured by the What’s New in Health and Fitness on iTunes and shot to #23 in 24 hours!
I fancy myself as pretty computer savvy, but at the beginning I wasn’t very familiar with Twitter. My partner said that I should give it a try, to be well rounded in social media. I am so glad I took his advice. In my first week on Twitter the producers of The New Ricki Lake Show started following me. In a matter of weeks, I became Ricki Lake’s Friend of the Week. I got to make video’s everyday for her website and facebook page. I engaged with all of the fans and answered questions. It was fantastic! I have made some really great friends through this experience and it was completely unexpected!
I love the instant access that people have to Super Mom. I have been able to help people one-on-one. Having their questions visible on Twitter has also engaged other people who were too afraid to ask. It has helped turn the Super Mom Workout app into a full-scale social wellness program.
I love most when people share their goals and accomplishments or post their before and after photos on our Facebook page. It’s turned into a great way to hold each other accountable.
What do you do for fun/relaxation?
I love to travel! It seems like we are always saving money for a trip. Now that we are passed the car seat, stroller, diaper bag phase, it is so freeing! We’re ready to go anywhere!
I am also a pretty big crafter. I’m trying my hardest to kick my kids out of their toy room so I can have the whole thing for my scrapbooking area.
Any parting advice for someone who would like to follow in your footsteps?
Use your manners! It takes no time at all to respond to emails, comments, and tweets. Let people know you are listening. You are not the only one who wants to be heard!
Do your research! Find out if your idea already exists, who your competition is and where you fit in your industry. When I was creating the workouts for the Super Mom app I couldn’t believe the closest thing to it was a stroller workout at the park. It showed how much my product was needed before I even got off the ground.
What’s the best way for our readers to connect with you?
Website: http://thesupermomworkout.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/supermomworkout
Twitter: @SuperMomWorkout
