Ninja Kidz founders, Shane and Aly Myler encourage UVU students to build value, embrace failure, and pursue entrepreneurship with purpose.
Together, the Myler family shared their journey building Ninja Kidz and the principles that have guided them as entrepreneurs, creators, and parents. Shane opened by encouraging students to focus on one core idea: make yourself valuable. As Shane explained:
"Value is the foundation of opportunity in any industry."
Throughout the discussion, the family shared several lessons they have learned along the way. Shane encouraged students to either become entrepreneurs or support entrepreneurs, noting that strong teams are built by individuals who understand how value is created. He spoke about the difference between being driven purely by autonomy versus being driven by contribution, explaining that those who act as “architects” and focus on building value often become indispensable members of a team.
They also discussed the reality that many entrepreneurs are not financially compensated early on. Shane encouraged students to ask themselves whether they would still pursue an idea without immediate reward. In the early years, he shared, entrepreneurship is often an investment in skills, experience and long-term growth rather than short-term income.
A central idea was what Shane called the “happiness product.” No matter the industry, he explained, businesses are ultimately offering an exchange of value, time and happiness. Understanding what people care about and why they engage is key to building something meaningful.
Failure was another major theme. Shane encouraged students to reframe failure as a long-term investment rather than a short-term loss. Early in the Ninja Kidz journey, he approached Aly with an idea and explained that it would require time and money they would likely never recover. Aly’s response was simple and supportive:
"Go for it! If you learn something, it is still a success."
Shane shared parts of his personal story, including how he began training in martial arts after a difficult experience in his family. That path eventually led him to open a martial arts studio, where he did everything from teaching to cleaning to bookkeeping. During this time, he and Aly married and navigated uncertainty together while building something from the ground up. Aly shared that one of Shane’s unique strengths is his ability to see everything through a future-focused lens, consistently viewing challenges as opportunities.
The family then discussed the growth of Ninja Kidz, which now reaches more than 30 million subscribers worldwide. What began as a learning project evolved into a global brand, including action figures sold at major retailers, Ninja Kidz action parks around the world and multiple YouTube channels run by their children. Bryton and Jade now manage their own channel and apparel company, while other family members continue to build creative ventures of their own.
They also explored the business side of social media and YouTube, explaining how digital platforms remove traditional gatekeepers and allow creators to deliver value directly to audiences. Content spreads, they noted, when people choose to watch, engage and share. The responsibility lies in creating something worth their time.
As the brand has grown, the Myler family has expanded opportunities for other young creators, bringing in additional talent to join the Ninja Kidz universe. They emphasized that long-term success requires skilled, qualified individuals who are willing to contribute and grow alongside the vision.
The family closed by encouraging students to think about how they can create value in the world. For the Myler family, success is not measured solely by views or revenue but by impact. They shared their commitment to humanitarian efforts and their hope that Ninja Kidz inspires children to stay active, spend time with their families and believe they can create something meaningful of their own.
The Woodbury School of Business extends sincere thanks to Shane and Aly Myler, along with Payton, Bryton and Jade, for sharing their story and perspective with UVU students. Their message reinforced that entrepreneurship is built on value, resilience, learning through failure, and fostering the courage to create with purpose.
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Watch Aly and Shane Myler's full lecture below.
