Interview with Emily

...We all have the same 24 hours in a day - what matters is how you choose to spend those 24 hours... 

If one were to label a person within reasonable boundaries, it may very well be safe to say that Emily Mitchell would receive labels like these; wife, mom, small business owner, boss, daughter, sister, aunt, cousin, friend, fitness coach, bikini fitness competitor , fitness model and more. These labels, while accurate, can be difficult to live up to all at once in the eye of the public. Far too often I find the public only focusing on the superficial rather than the bigger picture - the positive message that Emily hopes to instill in others along her path. Perhaps we - the public - should focus less on the labeling, the fancy workout clothing and the fitness photos and more on the common values, beliefs and goals; healthy eating, healthy living, reaching personal goals, independence, etc... I hear people say, "I wish I could go to the gym and get the results that Emily does..." or "I could never own and run a small business AND be a wife and a mom like Emily, it's just too much..." What people forget is the process; building a small, successful business doesn't happen overnight. Winning fitness competitions takes months, sometimes even years. Making a name for oneself in the community takes great effort and endless networking.  Looking at the finished product can be incredibly motivational or it can be immensely intimidating; but according to Emily, "we all have the same 24 hours in a day - what matters is how you choose to spend those 24 hours." When I questioned Emily about her drive and ability to keep going and not give up - in fitness and in business - she stated that she "is tired from time to time but [she] just keeps going and gives 100% of [her] effort into the task." When asked about her road to small and large successes Emily stated, "You don't have to be great to start. You just have to start to be great.... I think Zig Zagler said that and it's always stuck with me." Emily's biggest day-to-day hurdle is accommodating unexpected changes as they come. Emily says, "I just like to be prepared...and when something unexpected comes up my plan needs to change. Sometimes that throws me off a little." She's passionate about a few key points in her life; skincare, healthy living and having a healthy balance in general. Emily has been a clinical Aesthetician for 16 years and she's been involved in fitness competitions for the past 3 years. Like any normal human being she's got her limits and her goals. As the years go by and her experience grows as she continues to further her education in her business industry as well as in the fitness industry those limits are getting higher and her goals are reaching further. Emily stated, "where would I be if I never bothered to start to begin with?" Even if all we choose to do is wake up an extra hour earlier to make time to eat a healthier breakfast or commit to taking the stairs rather than the elevator or even to start taking a few college classes - we must all remember that to achieve our goals we must first start somewhere. The pretty picture can be deceiving - it's not always easy to reach our goals. However, it will be always be worth it. All you've got to do is pick a starting point and begin. 

Photography: Allen Ross Thomas | www.artistxposure.com
Hair + Makeup: Emily Mitchell | Glo Minerals