When Barry and Beverly married, they were the first of their families to be born in the U.S. – their parents having emigrated from Poland, Czechoslovakia, and Hungary. The family’s combined heritage, closeness and religious beliefs would all have a big impact on Barry and Beverly’s daughter Mayim, born in San Diego, California on December 12, 1975.
Mayim’s religion – she was raised as a Reform Jew – would become a significant element in her life. Her parents were both teachers. The family led a somewhat conservative lifestyle – especially by Southern California standards. However, that didn’t get in the way of Mayim pursuing an acting career. She was able to earn several roles, starting when she was only twelve-years-old. Her first role came in 1988 when she had a small part in the movie, Pumpkinhead. Soon after, she had guest roles in two television series, which allowed her to obtain her Screen Actors Guild (SAG) card. Soon after, in 1988, she had a role in Beaches where she played Bette Midler’s character as a young girl.
In school, Mayim was studious but was quiet, socially shy and slow to develop physically. That resulted in some teasing and difficult times, but Mayim would not allow the unpleasantness to derail her pursuits. At the age of 15, Mayim landed a major role in a television series Blossom – in which she played the lead character of the same name. Blossom, the character, was a spunky, intelligent teenager living with her divorced father and siblings. The show was a hit – Mayim became a star. After five years, the show’s run ended – as did Mayim’s acting career.
Mayim decided that she wanted to go to college, full-time. She gave up acting, enrolled at UCLA and began her college career. After five years, in 2000, she graduated with Bachelor of Science degrees in Neuroscience and Hebrew & Jewish Studies. She loved learning. She loved science. She loved her religion. Mayim continued her studies, entering the Neuroscience PhD. program at UCLA. While pursuing her doctorate – which she completed in 2007 – she married, had her first child in 2005, wrote music for a Jewish a Capella group and started a Women’s Rosh Chodesh group.
Her professional aspiration was to become a research scientist. When she determined that would keep her away from her child more than she found acceptable, she began teaching home school classes. After she and her husband had a second child, in 2008, money became tight and they feared losing their insurance coverage. With that, Mayim decided to revisit her acting career, thinking that landing the occasional role would eliminate the financial concerns.
She answered a casting call to play a character who was, of all things, a neurobiologist. Mayim was the perfect actress for the role, which was introduced on the show in the final episode of Season 3. The show, The Big Bang Theory, already a hit, would become even more successful in the years to come. Mayim’s character, Dr. Amy Farrah Fowler, quickly evolved into one of the main characters on the show.
In her ‘spare time’, Mayim would write two books – the first on the topic of Attachment Parenting, the second a vegan cookbook. She travels the world speaking for Jewish organizations, charity organization, colleges and universities. Her extensive list of accomplishments is very impressive – the type of results that can only occur because Mayim Bialik is a fearless brand.
Fearless Brands won’t be limited to one pursuit
Mayim Bialik is an exceptional person – and extraordinary woman. She has pursued each of her interests, refusing to be deterred by any challenges – real or perceived. As an actress, she is true to herself – her upbringing. Mayim will not be seen in revealing outfits on the red carpet, or anywhere else for that matter. It’s not her style and she won’t submit to any of Hollywood’s stereotypical expectations.
Mayim pursued her education, despite a widely-held perception that science is a field best left to men. She is open and passionate about her faith, she is now a Modern Orthodox Jew. Her practice of and commitment to alternative parenting is foreign to many and they deem it unacceptable. Having reached a point of irreconcilable differences, her marriage ended in divorce. Raising her children as a single mother is just fine with her – as well it should be.
Mayim Bialik is not defiant – rather, she is determined. She is not arrogant – she is convicted in her beliefs. Mayim has embraced all of her passions – her drive. She has identified, honed and expanded her skills and talents. Her efforts in every aspect of her life are relevant to her and to those she wants to serve. Mayim Bialik is the epitome of a fearless brand.
Be comfortable with who you are – The world is filled with pressures to act, think, behave, speak and look a certain way. Mayim seems to have learned early on who she is and become very comfortable with herself as a person. She doesn’t pretend to be perfect – actually, she probably doesn’t give herself as much credit as she deserves. Recognizing her blessings and her faults allows her to pursue a life of happiness and contentment. That is a powerful gift which we can all give ourselves.
Advocate for your beliefs – Being a sort of ‘activist’ is one way to be an advocate – speaking on or writing about topics matter to you. Another form of advocating is to merely act on your beliefs. Either way, advocating for things about which you are passionate can help others benefit from your efforts. It also provides positive reinforcement for your own pursuits. Mayim advocates on behalf of her parenting choices, her religion and definitely her gender. She has recently published her third book, Girling Up: How to Be Strong, Smart and Spectacular, which is devoted to empowering teen girls to pursue their interests, disregarding gender bias or other roadblocks.
Be grateful – Mayim is grateful for what she has received as the result of her talent, hard work and yes, a bit of luck. Her gratitude has allowed her to live a happy and contented life. Importantly, her being grateful fuels her interest in sharing her ‘secrets of success’. It may seem counter-intuitive, but the more we give, the more satisfaction we receive.
Mayim Bialik is a well-known celebrity. She loves neurons and admires Albert Einstein as a scientist who was able to accept God. She loves her religion and spiritual life. She plays the harp, writes a popular blog and is known to be a magnificent parent. Yes, she has great talent. Yes, she has accomplished more than most. It’s important to keep in mind, however, is that you can take the same approach to life as has Mayim. Embrace your passion. Build your skills. Be relevant. Be a fearless brand.
Friday's Fearless Brand Personal Branding
Coach, International Speaker and Thought Partner - Bill’s mission is to add value to the world – one brand at a time. Bill guides individuals and companies alike in building what he refers to as a ‘fearless brand’. This is the process of discovering, embracing and delivering their greatest value – which allows them to realize greater profit. Read More
