Be true to yourself and surround yourself with positive, supportive people.
Payal Kadakia
Every day is quite unique, which is one of my favorite things!
Having challenges in your life open doors for you.
You need to find that thing that's going to get you through your day and that you're excited about. No day should ever be lived without feeling like it was a fulfilling day. You need to set yourself up for that.
I plan my time to a 'T.' I plan when I am going to sleep; I plan when I am going to relax. I obviously leave time to have spontaneous life experiences - I think that's really important. But so much of it is setting up you mental energy in the right way to get the most out of your day and time.
Millennials are a bit more free-spirited, more able to go into new places, to feel more assertive and fearless about trying new things.
If I exercise once or twice a day on vacation and don't want to wash my hair too often. I pack a lot of dry shampoo, like Amika's.
I think, when I see entrepreneurs, they tend to talk about the market and the industry - which is obviously very important, but the most important thing is you're product. What are you selling? And does it really have product-market fit?
I'm not going out there screaming, 'I'm CEO! I'm CEO!' That's not the way to do it.
I think, as a founder and entrepreneur, you just keep hustling through it.
It's OK when something doesn't work. It gives you another data point when things do work.
I remember going out to raise my Series A and ending up with multiple term sheets when I had gone to Silicon Valley probably four times at that point and coming back with nothing.
Sometimes people go to a yoga class and think it's not for them, but it might just not be the right studio or teacher - try a new one!
As we've got more data, and ClassPass has grown, we've had to change rather than have a one-size fits all approach.
I think it's so important to have a great support network when you feel like you can't - I would actually go and talk to the people who tell you that you can.
It's really about if you do the work. Work hard; your results will speak for themselves.
I love barre because even when I'm not dancing, I feel like I'm training those same muscles.
If you feel good, it doesn't matter what you're wearing.
People saw more magic in me than I saw.
In running my own company, I was too busy for a while, and I thought, 'Maybe I'll stop dancing for a bit.' It was the worst decision ever. I just lost my creativity and my drive.
Surround yourself with people who only lift you higher.
Dance has always been the center of who I am. It has given me the inspiration to help other people find a hobby, passion, and activity that fulfills them. It also taught me some of the many skills I need as an entrepreneur: a hard work ethic that takes practice to master and the confidence to persevere through any challenges.
Surround yourself with people who lift you higher.
When it's time to recharge, I don't feel guilty about it.
ClassPass, to me, is people are choosing a lifestyle to live; it's saying, 'Yes, I want to work out and live my healthiest happiest.'
You need to keep having data points of progress, so even if an investor - and we've all had investors say no to us - there are times where you go back, and you keep them in the loop, and you keep telling them the progress and the perseverance you have.
You can always change your branding or hire lawyers, but it's critical that you figure out if you have product market fit, and if you don't, figure out how to course-correct without getting stuck.
I remember, at MIT, we had to write an essay about something mathematical that you do in your extra time. I basically wrote about how dance, to me, was geometry: it was all shapes.
I thought, 'I have ideas. I'm creative.' I just didn't see why I should be pigeon-holing myself in the business world or staying in corporate America when I already knew that I was capable of taking risks.
I never feel bad. You can't feel bad - you have to just make the best decision you can at the time you're in and be like, 'That's the decision I believe in.'
The worst thing you can do is sit there and do nothing, right?
The best thing I could do is build a successful company and continue to innovate and be in the right role I want to be in. If I'm not doing that, I'm inauthentic. That's not a good role model to anyone. That, to me, is the most important thing.
It's about knowing yourself and what you're good at. Females, males - anyone can be anything they want to be.
The impact we have on people's lives, to me, is more important than any title anyone can carry.
I want little girls to believe that they can be CEOs.
To me, I will be a stronger person if I'm moving forward, doing the work I want, and continue to drive: force the purpose that I want to create versus doing what other people think I should be doing, which is never a way to live.
I believe you win the race by looking forward, not behind.
Movement inspires a lot in me.
You make sure to set True Norths for your company. You can't be involved in every decision and every meeting; you have to make sure the mission is very built into the culture, the product, and how you communicate.
I am anal about my Gmail calendar. It's my life. I put everything in there - my to-do list, or even if I want to do things.
I work out once a day. When I'm in a massive dance show mode, I'll probably be active for about 20 hours each week.
I set goals for myself every three months. I write them down.
The only way to do everything in your life is to find awesome people to lean on so you can focus your time.
There are so many times when I think I don't have time to dance, but I force it into my life because I know it's so important.
Every moment you wake up and you want to go for a run, or you want to take a class, you should be able to just go.
We want people to be active so you'll be happier and be more yourself.
The variety and flexibility of ClassPass is limitless, ensuring that you'll never get bored, and neither will your muscles.
When I dance, I go to a different side of who I am. I feel like I can solve a problem without knowing I'm solving one.
I love meeting our users and partners and talking to them about how ClassPass has made an impact.
I travel pretty frequently, but a few things that are routine are going for a run, getting my green tea in the morning, and checking email... well, all the time!
