If you follow Kloots on Instagram, then you too joined the 630,000 others in dancing for Nick’s life and joined in the collective grief when he lost his fight. The devastation was overwhelming and the news of Nick’s passing sent an outpouring love and support to Kloots and their son, Elvis and more recently, Finneas, Billie Eilish’s brother, even wrote a song about her story called “What They’ll Say About Us.”

It’s safe to say, we all came face to face with adversity in 2020 but despite unprecedented challenges and incredible loss, Amanda Kloots became a symbol of hope, light, and love for all of us. Her strength and courage amid personal heartbreak in turn inspired us to seek gratitude and optimism too. “When Nick got sick I felt like it was my duty to share his story because his symptoms were so unlike what the news was reporting at the time,” shares Kloots. “He was the exact opposite of what everyone was saying and yet he was in the hospital with COVID. I wanted to let people know in case they had something similar. I did not think Nick’s story would end the way it did with all the rollercoasters twists in between, but once I had shared I felt that it was important to keep sharing.”

In the end, it was the community that came together to support Kloots, her family, and Nick’s family was the fuel she needed to move forward. “The hope, the prayers, and love that came our way kept me going,” she says. Read on to learn more about Kloots incredible story and how she’s inspiring others through movement.

You continue to inspire so many with your AK Positive Thought of the Day where you share inspiring quotes and messages with your community on social media. How did you #FindNewRoads + switch gears towards your new version of success?

When you can look at your life and find the things you are grateful for, it keeps you positive. You can easily focus on all the things you don’t have in life or you can focus on what you have. Throughout the day and at night when I pray, I thank God for all my blessings. 

You have also continued moving your body and encouraging others to join you. But take us back to the beginning—what was the lightbulb moment for your business and what inspired you to pursue this path?  

I was 32 years old. The Broadway show I was in had just closed and my marriage of seven years was ending in a divorce. I was completely lost and worried for my future. I desperately needed to take control of my life so that I could go for the things I wanted in my future. For me, that answer was to start my own business. I had an idea for a jump rope class and there was nothing of its kind in NYC, the world, at the time. I believed in it and myself so I took a leap, a jump if you will and started my own business.  

Going after what you deserve in life takes confidence and guts. So, I’d love to know, does confidence come naturally to you or did you have to learn it? What advice can you share for women on cultivating confidence and going after their dreams? 

I am confident when I know I can do something or when I am right for something. I think the 17 years I spent auditioning in NYC taught me that and trained me for having the courage to go for what I want in life. When you are auditioning in NYC for Broadway shows it is a tough life. Sometimes you have two to three auditions in a day. You are constantly having to walk into a room knowing who you are and then showing that right away. So, I think I am innately confident but my chosen career helped me strengthen that even more.  

How have you remained true and authentic to who you are and what advice can you share for women who are struggling with that? 

This is something I definitely learned auditioning. You can look around a room and want to be like other people. You can try to copy them, but that never works. You have to be you. No one is you. Own that. Own what makes you unique, powerful and different. The minute you do it makes you more attractive and confident.  

What advice do you have for other entrepreneurs? How can they achieve the same success you've experienced? 

Ask for help. Ask for help. Ask for help! You think, “I’m starting my own business.” Two out of those five words are “I” and “own.” If you try to do it completely on your own it will take you down. Ask the people in your life that you love and trust that love, and believe in you to help you. It will still be your business, I promise, but you’ll be in a much better place with the help. 

What is the #1 book you always recommend and why?

The Bible. I am a girl of faith and have read this book three times. It’s full of love and lessons.

If you could go back to the beginning—with the knowledge you have now—what advice would you give yourself and why? 

Nothing. I don’t like living with regrets.  

Fill in the blanks:

My perfect day begins with…
Elvis and coffee.

I turn bad days around by…
Doing a workout, music, a positive thought.

If I wasn’t in my job now, I would be…
Public speaker.

Three qualities that got me to where I am today are…
Determination, hard work, and humility.

To be successful, you need to be…
Forgiving, giving, and focused.