Discover the inspiring journey of Nathan Stadler, who transitioned from truck driver to successful self-employed bookkeeper in this powerful episode of the Thriving Through Podcast hosted by AJ Riedel.

In this conversation, Nathan shares how a life-changing family moment led him to leave the road and build a home-based bookkeeping business that supports solopreneurs, consultants, and small service providers. He opens up about learning bookkeeping from scratch, building persistence through tough years, and how consistency and availability brought unexpected clients and long-term success.

You’ll also learn how Nathan built a smart referral system using ChatGPT and GoHighLevel to automate networking, manage connections, and create meaningful business relationships. From intentional coffee meetings to structured CRM tagging and landing page workflows, Nathan explains how authentic networking can generate consistent leads without sounding salesy.

This episode also highlights lessons from Daniel Ruke, focusing on relationship-driven sales, discovery conversations, and turning casual meetings into strategic growth opportunities. Whether you’re a freelancer, consultant, coach, or small business owner, this discussion offers practical insights on building a sustainable self-employed career through service, systems, and genuine connections.

Connect with Nathan on - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathan-stadler-bookkeeping/

In this episode of Thriving Through, leadership consultant George Sample shares how he spent 8–9 years building a profitable side hustle before going full-time into consulting and the exact strategies that helped him scale sustainably.

From starting as a computer science graduate to becoming a global leadership coach, speaker, and founder of Blue Streak Consultants, George reveals what it really takes to transition from corporate employee to successful self-employed consultant.

You’ll learn how to stay visible, generate consistent leads, and position yourself as an expert even while working a full-time job.

This episode is packed with practical insights for consultants, coaches, freelancers, and entrepreneurs who want to build a thriving business with long-term impact.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

- How George built his consulting practice on the side for nearly a decade before going full-time
- The biggest mindset shift required to move from employee to entrepreneur
- Why staying “top of mind” is critical for consultants and coaches
- Simple lead generation strategies using speaking, writing, and direct outreach
- How to manage time, clients, and marketing as a solo consultant
- What it takes to grow into a national speaker in a competitive market

George also shares tools and platforms that support his business development, including using LinkedIn for visibility and HubSpot for managing relationships and outreach.

If you’re building a consulting or coaching business or planning to start one this conversation will give you a realistic roadmap to grow without burning out.

To connect with George - https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgesample/

In this powerful episode of the Thriving Through Podcast, AJ Riedel sits down with neuroscience-based sales coach Shannon Smith to explore how solopreneurs and professionals can overcome fear of selling, silence self-doubt, and build a business with confidence.

Blending neuroscience with modern sales coaching, Shannon shares how understanding your brain can transform the way you sell, communicate value, and connect with clients. From escaping corporate burnout to navigating toxic bosses and impostor syndrome, this conversation dives deep into mindset, self-talk, and the psychology behind successful selling.

You’ll hear Shannon’s personal journey from traditional hard sales to neuroscience-driven coaching, including how the pandemic pushed her into deep research on anxiety, habits, and mental resilience and how that led to a completely new approach to sales and personal growth.

If you’re a coach, consultant, freelancer, or solopreneur who struggles with charging what you’re worth, showing up in DMs, or confidently selling your services, this episode is for you.

Discover:
How neuroscience can rewire your relationship with sales
Why most solopreneurs fear selling themselves
The mindset shifts needed to charge what you’re worth
How to handle self-doubt and negative self-talk
Ways to communicate your value clearly to ideal clients
How to escape corporate burnout and build meaningful work

This episode is packed with practical insights for entrepreneurs, coaches, and professionals ready to grow their business without feeling pushy or inauthentic.

To connect Shannon - https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannonsmithjdms/