Nicole Mixdorf, Chief Wellness Officer of Balance by Nature, enjoys designing and presenting inspiring material to corporate audiences through workshops and keynote speeches as an entrepreneur leading an award-winning employee wellness firm. She is the driving force behind the company’s program and technology design, as well as being extremely involved in day-to-day operations.
Nicole worked in the corporate sector for a big international travel firm before founding Balance by Nature in 2012. She worked her way up the sales ladder as a sales leader, pushing people to reach their full potential while leading by example as a high-performing salesperson.
Below are the highlights of the interview conducted between World’s Leaders and Nicole Mixdorf:
What was the idea behind starting Balance by Nature?
Balance by Nature was born out of a need to bring wellness into the workplace and to help companies create award-winning cultures of health that attract and retain top talent. It’s imperative to give employees a toolbox of techniques and strategies to reduce stress, build resiliency, shift into a growth mindset, and heal their bodies. People are struggling, and the organizations that offer proactive support will reap the benefits of a healthier, more engaged, innovative, and collaborative workforce.
How do you diversify your company’s cutting-edge services/solutions for people, entrepreneurs, and business leaders?
Balance by Nature offers a wide range of services to support the mental, emotional, physical, and financial needs of different populations. Our newest program, Balance by Nature TV, is an amalgamation of our most successful programs, incorporating mindful leadership, work life balance, holistic healing, fitness, nutrition, and personal development into an easy-to-use TV and mobile app that users can access anytime, on any device, from anywhere in the world. We have a diverse group of instructors and speakers creating content that speaks to the needs of different groups.
What are the three things you would like to see improved in the organization?
We are continuing to grow our team and are finding ways to best utilize everyone’s talents and unique brilliance. As such, we have been implementing new tools, changing some roles, and bringing in new talent to support our growth. The technology piece was a huge area of opportunity for expansion, so we are thrilled to be launching our new Balance by Nature TV platform, which will allow our users to engage with our award-winning content in a whole new way. We are developing strategic partnerships with organizations that offer complimentary services and see that as a tremendous opportunity for growth.
Have you been exposed to competition in the industry? If so, tell us what makes the company different from its competitors?
Over the last 9 years that I have been running Balance by Nature, the employee wellness space has gotten very crowded. There are countless providers offering meditation, fitness, personal development, and leadership training. It’s imperative that we stay focused on what we do best, which is inspiring people to improve their lives and heal their minds and bodies. We are unique in the market in the expansive list of services that we offer. The introduction of holistic healing modalities takes our programs beyond wellness and well-being into wholeness, as we are not only teaching employees how to reduce stress and develop coping skills, but how to truly heal the imbalances in their bodies so they can step into a better version of themselves. On top of this, we are giving leaders strategies to integrate wellness into their daily operations and team cultures, providing a toolbox of resources they can use to support their staff and encourage greater creativity, collaboration, and innovation.
Tell us about your vision for the company. How do you ensure a culture of integrity and innovation in the company?
Our vision is to positively impact the lives of 100 million people. That’s a massive goal, and a little scary to say out loud, but creating a global movement that awakens people to step into their best lives drives everything that we do. We know who we are and stand in the truth of our purpose and value, which ensures a constant connection to integrity. We always embrace innovation, listening to the needs of our customers and audience, and delivering new experiences to stay one step ahead of the curve.
What’s the greatest risk you’ve taken as a professional?
The greatest risk I’ve ever taken in my professional career was quitting my lucrative corporate job to start a wellness business. It was terrifying to let go of the income and security that my previous job provided, but I was deeply connected to the vision of what I wanted to create.
How do you balance work and life responsibilities?
As a thought leader in the wellness space, it’s important that I walk my talk. I need to be a living, breathing, embodiment of wellness to sell wellness; otherwise I’d be a fraud, right? Creating balance is at the core of what I teach. There’s a reason our company is called “Balance” by Nature. It’s all about bringing our lives back into natural balance.
I start each morning with a 15-minute practice of prayer, intention setting, breath work, and dancing! I fit micro-moments of wellness into my workday, taking quick breaks to stand up and stretch, go outside for a few deep breaths, or to hydrate myself. I schedule one walking meeting each day in my calendar, where I suggest to the other person that we both go for a walk at the same time and talk. This allows us both to get some movement in the day without having to “find more time”. I enjoy cooking dinner after work, and then playing with my kiddos until we put them to bed.
What advice would you give to emerging entrepreneurs and enthusiasts considering a career in an industry?
My best advice is to get clear about who you want to be a hero to, and just get started. We hold ourselves back so often because we’re waiting for that perfect moment or for everything to be “just right.” Life is short. Follow your dreams and get a coach or a mentor that has already walked the path and can guide you on the journey. There is no need to reinvent the wheel when you can learn from someone else and skip a few steps.
