Meet Moli Duy of Molivate

Today we’d like to introduce you to Moli Duy.

Hi Moli, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Like many other people who are looking for a career path, I tried to focus on something that I enjoyed doing. In my college years, I found that I really loved pushing my personal fitness limits, whether it was in sports or at the gym. In 2008, shortly after I graduated with my Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Science, I was selected to compete on NBC’s American Gladiator in 2008. I also competed in the Iconic Venice Beach novice Bodybuilding show and got third place, and several Men’s Physique shows where I placed first in my category.

My initial goal after obtaining my Bachelor’s degree was to pursue a career in physical therapy. However, during my clinical rotations, I realized the pace was slower than I anticipated. I was simultaneously working at LA Fitness and had a robust clientele. I helped so many clients reach their fitness goals and found my job there to be very rewarding.

As a way to showcase the progress, I started posting client before and after photos on Instagram. Though the platform was very new at the time the posts were very popular. My DM’s were full!

I left LA Fitness so that I could book my own clients and grew my customer base even more. After three years of renting out space, I finally got the courage to look for a large space and open my own gym.

With the help of my wife, my number one supporter, I found a space to call my own. The name “Molivate” was crafted from my first name and for my profound ability to motivate people to reach and surpass their fitness goals. People often seek me out to lose weight, but helping people gain confidence & emotional strength far outweighs the number on the scale.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It is often said the road to success is not linear, and that could not be more true. With no experience in the small business realm, it was overwhelming to know where to start. My wife and I found a space to rent out, but it needed a considerable amount of remodeling as it had been vacant for years. With a labor of love and the loyalty of the client base, the doors to Molivate opened in April of 2014.

I was juggling a large client base and learning how to run a small business was a lot to handle. Luckily my wife stepped in to help with the administrative portion of the business so that I could focus all my energy on the clients and managing the constant inquiries.

In the six years since the business started, I added other trainers to help accommodate the amount of customer requests. Business was booming! Then the pandemic hit… and like so many other businesses our doors were shuttered – for six months! Re-opening was challenging too…wearing masks while working out and social distancing made it difficult. Thankfully the reputation of the gym held strong and the inquiry list continued to grow… with over 100 clients still waiting on a list to get scheduled with a trainer.

As you know, we’re big fans of Molivate, LLC. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
My gym offers personal, one–on–one training. I am firm in my belief that everyone has their own strengths and the only way to truly achieve your best physical shape is to focus on one client at a time. I also wanted to create a safe, positive and uplifting environment where people from all ages and different physical levels could feel included and comfortable.

Personal training is exactly that. Every person has a unique goal, and their background often plays a role in that. We want to help empower clients to be confident and prioritize their health above all else.

I have an amazing team of trainers who also work at Molivate: Renato Silvano, George Salas, Paulo Albayalde, Yen Chau and Chris Chung. Together we all work towards a common goal. There is no competition in our gym. We support each other and the clients.

What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
Helping clients reach a better version of themselves is very rewarding. We use tried and true techniques. We incorporate strength training and a healthy balanced diet. There is no secret, just consistency! The trainers at Molivate help to create a specific plan and hold everyone accountable so that the goals are met.

I also practice what I preach. I run a small business, my wife works long hours as a nurse, and I have a young son. We all juggle hectic schedules but prioritizing your health allows you to be the best version of yourself!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.molivate.com
• Instagram: molivate
• Yelp: Molivate

Image Credits
Photographer for team: Chris Baustista. Photographer for my son and myself in push-up: Nola Fontanez