Corporate Drop-out TurnedĀ Self-Employed ConsultantĀ TurnedĀ Consultant's Coach
Hi! I'm AJ
After getting my MBA from UCLA, I worked in product management and marketing at General Mills, Nabisco, Reebok, and Phillps, all Fortune 500 companies. I was product manager on such well known brands as Wheaties, Grey Poupon, and Norelco.
After 10 years, I decided to drop out of the corporate rat race because I did not want some gray haired old guy in the corner office controlling my career destiny.
I founded a market research company that specialized in the housewares industry. My clients included well known brands such as Cusinart, Calphalon, and many others.
I earned more than $2 million in my consulting career.Ā
Over my 35+ years running my own company, I was regularly featured in trade and business publications, and was a frequent speaker at the Housewares Show and other industry events.
I was in business for over 35 years which made my company one of only 10% of sole proprietor consultancies that defy the odds and are still around after the 5 year mark.
In late 2018, I closed my consulting company because it no longer fulfilled me. I longed to transform the lives of individuals rather than help manufacturers make more money.
So, in early 2019, I embarked on my next career.
I tried and failed to start my business for 3 years straight. Every year, I'd start out the year all pumped up. I'd tell myself "This is the year!" But a few months in, I'd get discouraged and quit.
In 2022, I knew I couldn't keep doing that. If I failed again, I didn't know if I'd have the energy to try again. And if I gave up on my dream, I knew I'd regret it forever.
I realized my Inner Critic was totally holding me back from starting my biz just as she had held me back in my consulting company. My self-talk was suuuper negative and my self-doubt was off the charts. Imposter Syndrome was kicking my behind. And I couldn't just flip a switch to be more positive - I needed help!
That's when I found mental fitness. I was like "Eureka - this is the solution!" I found out that my mind was sabotaging me over half the time - no wonder I was stuck!
So for the past 2 years I've been obsessed with mental fitness - doing the mental workouts, rewiring my brain, all of it.
And let me tell ya...it worked!
- Now my mind is my friend instead of enemy most of the time.
- I finally got my coaching biz of the ground. I turned my dream into reality!
- I spend my time feeling grateful, joyful, curious and optimistic instead of depressed, anxious and frustrated. I'm happier than ever!
Now, I've taken everything Iāve learned about building consulting and coaching businesses, marketing and messaging, and mental fitness, and combined it with my personal experienceĀ to create the Thriving Consultant Academy.
