We recently had the chance to connect with Jessica Flores and have shared our conversation below.
Jessica, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
For the past 6 years, I have been an active competitor in endurance races such as Ironman Triathlons. Swimming, cycling, and running keep me fit, but also keep my mind and spirit captivated. I love the competitive aspect of sport, and I thrive when I have a goal. Being part of the triathlon community has helped me to overcome certain fears, look deeper inward to find my strength under pressure, build confidence, and make many new and wonderful connections with people. I spend between 15-30 hours weekly training for these long distance events, and I am often a top ten finisher. I take my training very seriously, and it’s a huge part of my life outside of work. Not surprisingly, it has also made me a better coach, as I take many lessons I learn in training and racing and pass them along to my students at Aerial Revolution.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Jessica Flores and I am the founder and CEO of Aerial Revolution in San Diego. We offer classes in aerial arts, and ground acrobatics in our spacious and lively Kearny Mesa studio. Our classes have been wildly popular because we offer something for everyone. We have a welcoming, friendly atmosphere that really feels more like a family than a business. We make our classes accessible to anyone who wants to learn, no matter what your athletic background may be. For students who are advancing and interested in performing, we created our Student Showcase as a safe, fun, and enriching way to show off the skills they are learning to family and friends. Our students look forward to our bi-annual shows each year, and they have become a tradition in San Diego for the performing arts community. We recently moved and upgraded our studio space especially to house our large youth competitive program. Aerial arts has grown immensely in recent years, and a huge part of that is because of the popularity of circus competitions nationally and internationally. AR coaches have developed a strong team program that is producing winning routines at large events such as Viva Fest in Las Vegas. We are extremely proud of our accomplishments with our youth team programs.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
The world told me who to be, but I never really listened anyways. Since I was a young child, I was often dreaming, creating, and living in a world of my own. I loved to play dress up, perform for my family, and write stories or poetry. I was always up for an adventure-hiking in the forest, riding bikes, skiing, or flipping off of things in the park. I developed a strong desire for athletics, and found the way to deal with stress was through exercise. I have always found my own path, and although that may have taken me the long way around, eventually I figured out what I was meant to do,
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
If I could say something to my younger self, it would be about staying focused and to not fear failure. The failing part is important, because it’s how you learn. I was often very worried about how others would view me. I feared getting hurt, starting over, or losing. In reality, I’ve done all of those things many times now. Although some of the choices I’ve made throughout the process make me feel regret, most of them have become the building blocks of my success.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
The biggest piece of misinformation is that you have to be born with a natural talent, or a certain body type to be successful. While these things are important, hard work, dedication to your craft, passion, and innovative thinking are often the most important. Natural talent can provide an advantage and make learning easier, but consistent effort is necessary for improvement and mastery. In the context of performing, we often value the higher level skill or body types over actual entertainment quality. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve watched someone do something absolutely incredible, but I have not found it overall very entertaining.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope that I was able to inspire people. I care about sharing everything I learn in life and in my work. I love my coworkers and students. I want deeply for each person to do their best and to find happiness and a playful spirit in their lives. I try to be the best version of myself, and I give my best effort to everything I am a part of. I hope that when this is all over, I will be remembered for the love I gave to others.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://aerialrevolution.com
- Instagram: aerialrevolution
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aerial-revolution-628b27305/
- Twitter: @sdaerialists
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/aerialrevolution
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/aerial-revolution-san-diego-3
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@aerialrevolution3464
