Today we’d like to introduce you to Meredith Higgins.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Meredith. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I started out as a competitive dancer with Kitty Carter Dance Factory and have always loved to dance. It’s honestly the way I release my emotions and, most of the time, communicate with the world. After I graduated from college, I wanted to perform, so I auditioned for anything and everything in New York City and came across BollyX. They were looking for diverse dancers to be in their initial branding and marketing materials. I auditioned and got accepted to participate and had a total blast! I was going through a pretty tough time then and the music, the community, and the team made me feel connected again. Over the past six years, I went from an instructor passionate about the brand and the culture to the Global Community Manager, helping others spread the BollyX love. I work with our leadership team, all instructors, gyms, non-for-profits, and various partners across the world to inspire people to dance, express themselves through movement, stay active and believe in themselves to become a leader in their own community through Bollywood music and choreography: BollyX!
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Absolutely not! Haha. I come from a creative background, so being part of a startup was brand new to me. I’ve always been an open, kind, loving person, inspiring others to take risks, but I had some serious shortcomings when it came to the business side of things. I didn’t know how to budget properly, mass produce marketing initiatives, utilize spreadsheets properly, code in WordPress, I had ideas, but I didn’t know how to really see them through. There was a LOT I didn’t know. I had to learn fast, but I relied on my strengths to help fill the gaps, smooth over my own learning curves, and even work with co-workers/teammates I wasn’t excited to learn from, but I knew they could teach me. I STILL have shortcomings in my own role, but the biggest lesson I have learned is to OWN what I don’t know by asking for help. If it’s going to take me too long to develop, it’s best to offer that project up to someone who is going to be more efficient. OR Try to teach me. Google it. Watch YouTube videos. There are too many FREE resources out there to build the skill set you might need for your job. Get creative! Which is where it all began for me. The next biggest reminder for myself was time versus money. I put my heart and SOUL into everything I do, but that doesn’t mean I should abuse myself by putting too much time or too much money into either. Work smarter, not harder. Thinking about the return on all investments is important, so the value can be properly assessed and I can make the best use of my skills within that time.
Please tell us about the business.
BollyX, the Bollywood Workout, is incredibly unique in so many ways! We have found a way, is the only country that doesn’t actually know Bollywood, to make it approachable for everyone and tie it to physical health, mental health, and emotional health. When I describe BollyX to someone who knows nothing about dance, fitness, and Bollywood, I do say “it’s the Bollywood version of Zumba,” but it really isn’t. We’ve developed something incredibly unique.
We unite communities through choreography. We are ACTIVE learners. We inspire people to take that first step into the fitness world. We make dancing approachable, and yet challenging for all levels of dancer and fitness. Our culture is what drives our strongest leaders, instructors, and even at home workout users. Those who really embody the message, the mission, the purpose are flying. They are becoming more confident, more connected, more balanced, and I would dare to say kinder to the world around them. We are inclusive.
What I’m proud of is the incredible amount of progress we have made over the last seven years. We have faced rejection, frustration, complete organizational changes, we have tested hundreds of ideas and failed, we have built amazing tech and seen it copied (although that’s the best form of flattery), we have fought, we have cried, we have almost all given up, but we never gave up that drive to learn. Because of that, we have carved new pathways, built new programs, new teams, become smarter with our own work, and really hit adversity and our own individual challenges head-on.
Big picture: I specialize in nurturing our community in putting it plainly. I look for peoples’ strengths and find roles, goals, or pathways to help them achieve what they are looking for at BollyX. I open the lines of communication within communities. I try to inspire everyone to listen more, forgive more, and dance bigger! Haha. I am a performer, but I’m a performer who loves to connect with my fellow dancers AND the audience. This is an All-Skate!
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Patience. Change takes time. Being open-minded takes time. Learning something new takes time. Becoming stronger takes time. Time is something you cannot fight. It’s there and ticking away and all you can do is shine bright, work hard, love deeper when the sun is up, then recover, reflect, and be grateful when the sun is down. It sounds super hippy-dippy, but when I remind myself to be patient, I can think clearly think through a conflict, I can listen to someone who is telling a story or hurting, I can find a solution to a problem, I can read body language, and I can give myself time to have my own big emotions if I’ve been hurt or offended or even overjoyed with a situation.
You can learn just about any tactical skill to improve your list of assets and trades at any job, but if you can’t be patient, you’ll piss people off unknowingly, you’ll hurt someone’s feelings unknowingly, you’ll rush into a decision too quickly, or you’ll judge too harshly. Patience. Breathe in and out before you say or do anything. You’ll give yourself a bit more time.
Pricing:
- $149 to become a BollyX instructor (choreography and maintaining your certification not included)
- $225 to become a BollyX instructor (first YEAR of choreography and maintaining your certification included)
- $49 LIFETIME membership to our BollyX on Demand at home workouts
Contact Info:
- Website: bollyx.com
- Email: community@bollyx.com
- Instagram: @BollyXFitness
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bollyxfitness/
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