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/

Welcome back to the Thriving Through podcast. In this episode, host Aj Riedel sits down with Raina Gandhi, founder of Rising Tide Consulting, for a powerful conversation about self-advocacy, limiting beliefs, and what it really takes for women to thrive in their careers.

Raina shares her non-linear career journey from investment banking and microfinance to higher education, motherhood, and entrepreneurship. Drawing on her experience as a career relauncher and senior leader, she explains how deeply ingrained narratives like “I’m not enough,” “I should just be grateful,” and fear of being seen as bossy or aggressive can quietly hold women back at work.

This episode dives into how women can recognize and rewrite limiting beliefs, build confidence, and create a new self-concept that supports growth and leadership. Raina also opens up about the challenges of starting her own consulting business, pricing her services, overcoming scarcity mindset, and reframing sales as service. She discusses why so many women struggle with visibility, promotions, and self-advocacy, especially in male-dominated industries like tech and STEM.

You will also hear practical insights on managing imposter syndrome, advocating for promotions and raises, navigating workplace dynamics, and why investing in personal development can be career changing. Raina explains how her clients consistently achieve tangible results like promotions, raises, and high-visibility projects, even when the benefits feel hard to quantify at first.

If you are a professional woman feeling stuck, questioning your value, or struggling to move to the next level in your career, this conversation offers clarity, validation, and actionable guidance.

Key topics discussed:
• overcoming limiting beliefs and imposter syndrome
• self-advocacy and career visibility for women
• navigating workplace narratives and bias
• transitioning into entrepreneurship and consulting
• pricing your value and investing in yourself
• supporting women in tech and stem careers
• redefining success and thriving at work

Learn more about Raina Gandhi:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rainabgandhi/

Subscribe to Thriving Through for more conversations on growth, resilience, leadership, and building a career that truly fits your life.

#thrivingthrough #womeninleadership #careercoaching #womenintech #impostersyndrome #selfadvocacy

What actually holds most consultants back from success? It’s not lack of skill, talent, or hard work, it’s following outdated, conventional advice.

In Episode 2 of the Thriving Through Podcast with executive coach and entrepreneur Stever Robbins returns to break down why traditional consulting models no longer work in today’s world. With over 26 years of experience as a self-employed consultant and a career spanning Harvard Business School, MIT, startups, and executive coaching, Stever shares the uncomfortable truths most professionals avoid.

This episode dives deep into why the conventional path of “do great work and clients will come” is flawed, how discomfort stops consultants from standing out, and why being different is now your biggest competitive advantage. Stever explains how old-school corporate thinking keeps consultants invisible and what it really takes to build authority, credibility, and a thriving independent career.
You’ll discover why differentiation matters more than ever in the age of AI and sameness, how embracing your uniqueness can transform your positioning, and why breaking away from traditional consulting rules is essential for growth.

If you’re a consultant, coach, freelancer, or entrepreneur struggling to stand out, get clients, or build a powerful personal brand, this episode will challenge your thinking and push you toward a bolder approach to success.

🎧 Listen now and rethink everything you’ve been told about consulting and success.

👉 Learn more about Stever Robbins:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stever/

🎙️ Hosted by AJ Riedel
✨ Keep Thriving Through

What does it really take to succeed as a self-employed consultant, coach, or entrepreneur? In this episode of the Thriving Through Podcast, executive coach and entrepreneur Stever Robbins challenges everything we’re taught about hard work, meritocracy, and success in the corporate world.

With over 26 years as a self-employed consultant and a background that spans Harvard Business School, MIT, startups, and executive coaching, Stever shares why doing great work is not enough and why visibility, relationships, credibility, and differentiation matter far more than most people realize. From being mistaken for a waiter at a CEO conference to discovering that self-promotion can be the difference between success and invisibility, this conversation is packed with real-world insights for consultants who want to be taken seriously.

Stever also dives into what success truly means beyond money, sharing a powerful framework for evaluating your life, your work, and your impact. He explains how embracing what makes you different not trying to fit the corporate mold can become your greatest advantage, especially in the age of AI and ChatGPT, where sameness is everywhere.

If you’re a self-employed consultant, executive coach, freelancer, or entrepreneur struggling with positioning, authority, sales, or standing out in a crowded market, this episode will fundamentally change how you think about success, credibility, and growth.

🎧 Listen now and learn how to stop blending in and start being chosen.

👉 Learn more about Stever Robbins:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stever/

🎙️ Hosted by AJ Riedel
✨ Keep Thriving Through

What does it take to build a consulting practice that is both sustainable and personally fulfilling?

In this episode of Thriving Through, host AJ Riedel sits down with Kit Friday, an independent marketing consultant with 15 years of experience, to explore her journey from paralegal and private investigator to creative entrepreneur and strategic marketer. Kit shares the challenges of stepping fully into self-employment, overcoming self-doubt, and realizing the value of her innate talents.

Throughout the conversation, Kit opens up about:

How she blended analytical skills and creative passions to define her career path

The long road to confidence and believing in her own value as a consultant

Learning to differentiate instinct from anxiety and make strategic decisions under pressure

Structuring a consulting practice around tailored marketing, authenticity, transparency, and goal-setting

Building repeat clients and maintaining long-term relationships through clarity and communication

Developing prospecting systems to escape the feast-or-famine cycle

Expanding her practice through workshops, speaking engagements, and teaching

Kit also reflects on the personal lessons she’s learned from early client experiences, including the power of self-reflection surveys and the importance of setting boundaries to deliver high-quality work consistently. She shares practical strategies for consultants who struggle with imposter syndrome, inconsistent revenue, or finding the confidence to scale their businesses.

In this episode, we cover:

Kit Friday’s path from paralegal and private investigator to marketing consultant

The creative and analytical duality that shaped her career

Overcoming self-doubt and finding professional confidence

Tailoring consulting services to clients’ needs and budgets

Goal-setting and measuring consulting impact

Prospecting, repeat clients, and stabilizing income

Transitioning toward workshops, teaching, and speaking engagements

Lessons from early projects and self-reflection practices

If you’re a consultant, freelancer, or small business owner seeking clarity, confidence, and a sustainable approach to client work, this episode offers actionable insights to help you thrive through your consulting journey.

👉 Learn more about Kit Friday:
Website: kitfriday.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kitfriday/

🎙️ Hosted by AJ Riedel
✨ Keep Thriving Through

What does it take to build a consulting practice that drives both growth and client impact?

In this episode of Thriving Through, host AJ Riedel sits down with Andy Sherman, an experienced consultant and former CEO, to explore his unique journey through self-employment three times over. Andy shares how he transitioned from leading sales teams and running companies to building a consulting business focused on helping owner-operated small and mid-sized businesses scale their sales and operations.

Throughout the conversation, Andy opens up about:

Re-entering self-employment after corporate and entrepreneurial experiences

Leveraging his sales background to build a referral-driven consulting practice

Systematically nurturing referral networks and identifying high-potential partners

Creating strategic partnerships, including fractional CFO and MSP consulting initiatives

Incorporating AI tools to accelerate clients’ go-to-market strategies

Defining success through client impact, scalability, and improving quality of life for business owners

Learning from early mistakes and the importance of client qualification

Staying ahead in a rapidly evolving market and technology landscape

Andy also reflects on the personal lessons that shaped his consulting approach, including the value of a multi-pronged business development strategy, selective client alignment, and continuously evolving his practice to provide measurable value.

In this episode, we cover:

Andy Sherman’s journey through multiple phases of self-employment

Rebuilding a consulting practice and regaining momentum

Referral networks and systematic business development

Strategic partnerships with Whitman Advisory and Strategic Impact Partners

Using AI to drive real client revenue and operational impact

Success metrics beyond revenue: scalability, independence, and owner impact

Lessons learned from misaligned projects and client selection

Planning for the future while enjoying ongoing professional growth

If you’re a consultant, entrepreneur, or small business owner looking to build a high-value practice, scale operations, or integrate AI into growth strategies, this episode offers actionable insights to help you thrive through the consulting journey.

👉 Learn more about Andy Sherman:
Website: apexgrowthadvisors.net

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andysherman2/

🎙️ Hosted by AJ Riedel
✨ Keep Thriving Through