Thriving Through

Thriving Through

Hosted by: AJ Riedel

Dive deep into the real-world journeys of successful independent consultants. Each week, host AJ Riedel sits down with a top-performing consultant to unpack their business evolution and breakthrough strategies,...

Episodes

From Hesitant to Thriving: How a Marketing Consultant Built Her Business by Creating Community & Joy

Season #1

Are you struggling to market yourself as a consultant? What if the secret isn't just about selling your services, but about building communities that naturally attract your ideal clients? In this episode, host AJ...
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From Full-Time Employment to Thriving Consultant: Interview with Ryan McGovern

Season #1

What if I told you that a sales director went from a comfortable W-2 job to building a six-figure fractional consulting business in just a few months—and his biggest obstacle isn't the market, the competition, or even...
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80% of Businesses Fail Within 5 Years: How This Ex-Marine Shields Entrepreneurs Through Business Credit Mastery

Season #1

Summary of episode What if I told you that nearly 80% of all businesses fail within five years, with most failing in their first year? As a self-employed consultant, those statistics should make you sit up and pay...
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"Adapt or Die": How AI is Transforming Consulting and Why You Can't Afford to Ignore It

Season #1

In this episode of the Thriving Through podcast, I had the privilege of interviewing David Balbi, an AI consultant who's helping business coaches and consultants leverage artificial intelligence to dramatically...
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From Stress to Success: Pete Cafarchio's Insights on Thriving as a Self-Employed Consultant

Season #1

Are you struggling with imposter syndrome, undercharging for your services, or feeling stuck in your consulting business? Pete Cafarchio shares game-changing advice that will transform how you approach your practice...
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The Joy Test: Why Asking 'Will This Give Me as Much Pleasure as Music?' Changed Rick Maurer's Consulting Practice

Season #1

Ever wondered why some consultants flourish while others flounder? In my recent interview with organizational change expert Rick Maurer, he revealed the transformative insight that changed his consulting career...
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From Layoff to Legacy: How Kit Brown-Hoekstra Built a 20-Year Consulting Empire by Charging What She's Worth

Season #1

Ever wonder why a seasoned consultant would raise their prices when business is slow? Kit Brown-Hoekstra's counterintuitive approach to pricing might just transform how you think about your own consulting business....
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From Project Manager to Value Creator: How Cheri Smith Fills the Gap for Growing Businesses

Season #1

In this insightful episode, host AJ Riedel speaks with Cheri Smith, founder of Crevay, about her journey as a project management consultant and her innovative approach to helping small and medium-sized businesses...
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Episode 8: From Fired to Freedom: Building a Six-Figure Consulting Business with Mike Wood

Season #1

Mike Wood, founder of legalmorning.com, shares his 15-year journey in digital marketing and Wikipedia consulting. Starting after being fired from his job while in law school, Mike transformed his side freelance work...
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Episode 7: From Corporate Chaos to Consulting Success: How Maartje Turned Crisis into Opportunity

Season #1

In this illuminating episode of the Thriving Through Podcast, host AJ Riedel interviews Maartje, founder of The Chaos Games Consulting, who made a significant career transition in 2024 after spending decades in the...
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Episode 6: Connection Before Transaction: How John Losey Builds Consulting Relationships That Last

Season #1

John Losey on Guiding Organizations Through Growth and Change Episode Summary In this episode of the Thriving Through Podcast, host AJ Riedel interviews John Losey, founder of Into Wisdom Group. With consulting...
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Episode 5: From Smartsheet Expert to Self-Employed Success: Darren Mullen's Journey

Season #1

Episode Summary In this episode of the Thriving Through podcast, host A.J. Riedel interviews Darren Mullen, the "Smartsheet Guru." Darren shares his journey from technical user to successful self-employed consultant,...
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