Yana Fry stood up for her dreams and aspirations. She now has it all, a family, successful business and her good health.
What’s your story?
I was born in Soviet Union and grew up in New Russia in the 90s. I decided to pursue my dreams and left the country at the age of 20 with a one-way ticket out and USD300 in my pocket. An unexpected young love and marriage at 21 and my husband’s cancer diagnoses, made me a full-time caregiver for 5 years. After a vivid experience of poverty, death of loved ones and depression, I rediscovered a new meaning in life and found my deeper calling in sharing my journey with people from all over the world and inspiring them to stand up for their dreams and aspirations. This has brought me into the industry of coaching, inspirational speaking and TV shows.
What excites you most about your industry?
How quickly people can turn their lives around and achieve massive results. I am equally excited and moved when I can touch people’s lives and help them to take a quantum leap into a happier and more successful life. Coaching and inspirational speaking provide a much-needed education and life-skills for adults that are so relevant in a modern world, where everybody can become anybody and success often comes down to your mindset and ability to leverage your strengths.
What’s your connection to Asia?
I moved to Singapore from New York six years ago and since then, Asia has been my home. Here I started my coaching business, launched a TV show and created a new family. My husband is Asian, most of my clients are Asians, my spirit is Asian. I have already achieved such a great level of success in Asia that I started largely identifying myself with being more eastern than western. Daily yoga, attitude of gratitude and hunger for success – this is my Asia.
Favourite city in Asia for business and why?
No doubts – Singapore. I have travelled all over the world, but Singapore remains my favorite city to do business, because of its entrepreneurial spirit, mix of cultures, variety of unlimited opportunities, government support for small and medium businesses, ‘silicon valley’ youthful attitude, natural curiosity of Asians for cutting-edge tools, methods and approaches, highly supportive entrepreneurial communities, strategic geographical location and easy day-to-day living.
What’s the best piece of advice you ever received?
Never give up! Each step forward brings you one step closer to success. There is always a way. You just have to find it or, if you have to, invent it.
Who inspires you?
My mom and my husband are my two biggest inspirations. My mom taught me how to live life to the fullest and be happy every step along the way. She showed me, leading by example, that the best leader is the one who can build and inspire other people to take a leading role.
My husband is my daily inspiration and the “go-to-person” for advice; especially when it comes to big scale global business ideas. He has helped me understand how to do business with the ‘big boys’. His tips always come handy, as often, I am the only woman in business meetings!
What have you just learnt recently that blew you away?
Success = Team. An entrepreneurial journey often starts solo, where you – as a founder – have to wear multiple hats at the same time and do everything from A to Z to get your business going. One of my mentors is Blair Singer, and I love his team approach to business. You can only do so much on your own and it is always much more effective (and fun!) to work with a high performing team! In the spirit of my Tanzania and Kilimanjaro experiences, my favorite African proverb is: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”
If you had your time again, what would you do differently?
Nothing. Have you seen the movie “Butterfly Effect”? When you change something in the past, you do not know how it is going to affect your future. I am very happy where I am today in business and in life and I am a strong believer that everything life put me through made me who I am today; a happy person with a fulfilled life.
How do you unwind?
Yoga, walking in solitude, meditation, reading, having fun with my family and of course – travelling. A change of scenery and breaking the routine is the best way to calm down my busy mind and rejuvenate my spirit.
Favourite Asian destination for relaxation? Why?
I love going to Kamalaya in Koh Samui. It has everything I need for relaxation: incredible spas, tasty food, a healing environment, a variety of daily activities, beautiful architecture and plenty of time to spend alone on self-reflection.
Everyone in business should read this book:
“Seven Spiritual Laws Of Success” by Deepak Chopra. You might think it is not your usual business book, but I ask all my students to read this book as part of the program to quantum leap their businesses and lives. Success in life depends not only on what you are doing, but more on how you behave in relationships with yourself and the world around you. I attribute both my personal and business success largely to following these 7 rules.
Shameless plug for your business:
Yana Fry Coaching offers highly interactive and truly transformational workshops, powerful in-person coaching and in-depth group mentoring.
My team and I bring out the best in people and guide them to connect with their true selves, so they can develop a successful mindset, learn how to leverage their strengths and finally lead a life of authentic purpose and success.
We work with young, dynamic, creative and success-hungry individuals who want to have it all and they want to have it now.
YanaTV is a socially interactive wing of our business, where we share inspirational and educational interviews with people who have remarkable life stories and diverse business experience.
How can people connect with you?
I run two very active Facebook pages with a lot of daily tips and free resources:
YanaTV: www.facebook.com/YanaTVdotcom
Yana Fry: www.facebook.com/YanaFry
And of course here are the websites:
www.yanatv.com – you will love our inspirational and educational videos!
www.yanafry.com – my blog is well read by people from all over the world!
Twitter handle?
@Yana_Fry
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This interview was part of the Callum Connect’s column found on The Asian Entrepreneur:
Callum Laing invests and buys small businesses in a range of industries around Asia. He has previously started, built and sold half a dozen businesses and is the founder & owner of Fitness-Buffet a company delivering employee wellness solutions in 12 countries. He is a Director of, amongst others, Key Person of Influence. A 40 week training program for business owners and executives.
Take the ‘Key Person of Influence’ scorecard <http://www.keypersonofinfluence.com/scorecard/>
Connect with Callum here:
twitter.com/laingcallum
linkedin.com/in/callumlaing
Get his free ‘Asia Snapshot’ report from www.callumlaing.com
