Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Atoya Hodges. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Atoya, thanks for joining us today. Being a business owner can be really hard sometimes. It’s rewarding, but most business owners we’ve spoken sometimes think about what it would have been like to have had a regular job instead. Have you ever wondered that yourself? Maybe you can talk to us about a time when you felt this way?

As a business owner, the journey is a blend of exhilaration and challenge, and the question of happiness often intersects with the realities of entrepreneurship. There’s a palpable sense of freedom in steering your own ship, driving toward your vision and purpose with unwavering determination. Yet, it’s crucial to acknowledge that this path isn’t a walk in the park.

I often say: Every day feels like a hunt, where you’re either the lion or the gazelle. It’s a perpetual cycle of striving to survive, facing aspects of yourself you never knew existed. Unlike a conventional job where you punch in, do your duties, and head home with a paycheck in hand, entrepreneurship demands a constant balancing act. You’re tasked with mastering time management while relentlessly pursuing avenues to sustain your livelihood.

Just over a year ago, my world was rocked by a family tragedy. My son was caught in a devastating accident, and for six agonizing months, my role as his primary caregiver took precedence over everything else, including my business. During that time, my income dwindled, as I could only manage to teach classes one night a week, shifting from one-on-one sessions to group instruction. The stark reality hit hard – my business, once thriving, now took a backseat to the urgent needs of my family.

This experience underscored the importance of adaptability and resilience in the face of adversity. It’s during such trials that the true essence of entrepreneurship reveals itself. While the financial strain was undeniable, the flexibility and stability built into my business model provided a lifeline during those turbulent times. It reinforced the necessity of contingency planning and the value of creating robust systems to weather unforeseen challenges.

As a business advisor, I often guide fellow entrepreneurs through the introspective exercise of a personal SWOT analysis. It’s a crucial step in identifying strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats – a roadmap for navigating the treacherous terrain of entrepreneurship. By leveraging strengths, addressing weaknesses, and capitalizing on opportunities, we fortify ourselves against potential pitfalls, empowering us to forge ahead with confidence.

Indeed, being a business owner is a liberating yet daunting endeavor. It requires donning multiple hats, embracing uncertainty, and confronting fears head-on. But amidst the struggles lies a profound sense of fulfillment – the knowledge that every hurdle surmounted, every setback overcome, brings us one step closer to realizing our dreams. So yes, while there are moments of doubt and apprehension, the pursuit of entrepreneurship remains an unparalleled journey of growth, resilience, and ultimately, self-discovery.

Atoya, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Certainly. My journey into entrepreneurship and counseling began at a remarkably young age, marked by challenges that shaped my resilience and determination. Growing up in an environment overshadowed by domestic violence and homelessness, I was thrust into the role of caretaker for my family from a tender age. With my mother battling MS and limited access to medical resources at the time, the responsibility of managing household finances fell upon my shoulders at just fifteen years old.

Tragedy struck once more when my mother passed away, leaving me to navigate the complexities of life as the provider for myself and younger sister. Driven by necessity, I immersed myself in work, juggling multiple jobs while simultaneously pursuing education and personal growth opportunities. This relentless pursuit of knowledge culminated in a Bachelor’s degree in Business and Accounting, followed by an MBA, a Master’s in Education with a minor in Counseling, a Master’s in Health Service Administration, and certifications in fields ranging from Hypnotherapy to Counseling.

My professional journey has been as diverse as it has been rewarding. I’ve had the privilege of establishing multiple seven to eight-figure businesses, each venture informed by my unwavering commitment to mental health and addiction advocacy. Today, I specialize in guiding entrepreneurs and leaders through the intricate terrain of business ownership, and leadership offering bespoke solutions that blend strategic acumen with spiritual insight.

At the heart of my practice lies a holistic approach to personal and professional development. Through individualized coaching programs, business operations consulting, Business Advising, Corporate Workshops, Retreats and a suite of pre-recorded courses, I equip my clients with the tools they need to thrive in both their personal and professional lives. Furthermore, I’ve established an coaching school that integrates holistic, spiritual, and mental health modalities, empowering a new generation of practitioners to effect positive change in their communities.
What I am most proud of, however, is the transformative journey undertaken by each of my clients. Witnessing their evolution from a place of self-doubt and adversity to one of confidence and fulfillment is a testament to the power of resilience and self-discovery. By addressing underlying issues such as stress, anxiety, addiction, and self-esteem, my clients embark on a path towards holistic well-being, reclaiming their lives with newfound vigor and purpose.

In essence, my work is not merely about achieving business success; it’s about fostering personal growth and self-empowerment. Through a blend of strategic guidance, emotional support, and spiritual insight, I strive to create a ripple effect of positive change that transcends the confines of conventional success. My ultimate goal is to inspire others to embrace their inner strength, overcome adversity, and live a life of purpose and abundance.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Reflecting on my journey, there’s a defining chapter that exemplifies the resilience I’ve cultivated over the years. In 2017, after investing a decade of my life into building two businesses, I found myself confronted with a gut-wrenching decision: I had to walk away. The weight of personal struggles was taking its toll on the organizations I had painstakingly nurtured.

It was a difficult period, fraught with uncertainty and emotional turmoil. Yet, amidst the chaos, I found the strength to persevere. After prioritizing my well-being and regaining clarity, I embarked on a new entrepreneurial venture. While the road ahead was far from easy, I was determined to forge ahead.

This experience underscored the critical importance of adaptability and resilience in the face of adversity. Through the lens of hardship, the true essence of entrepreneurship emerged. Despite the financial strain and emotional upheaval, the foundational principles instilled in me from a young age served as a beacon of hope.

Growing up in the shadows of domestic violence and homelessness, I learned the value of tenacity and resourcefulness early on. At just fifteen, I shouldered the responsibility of providing for my family in the absence of adequate support. Working two jobs to make ends meet, I navigated the complexities of adulthood with unwavering determination.

My pursuit of education and personal growth became my lifeline amidst adversity. From obtaining multiple degrees to honing my expertise in various disciplines, each milestone reinforced my resilience and fortified my resolve. Armed with a diverse skill set and an insatiable thirst for knowledge, I ventured into entrepreneurship with unwavering conviction.
In essence, my journey is a testament to the indomitable human spirit and the boundless potential within each of us. Through resilience, adversity becomes an opportunity for growth, and hardship becomes a catalyst for transformation. As I continue to chart my course forward, I remain steadfast in my commitment to inspire others to embrace their inner strength and unleash their full potential.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

In my life journey there’s been a profound lesson I’ve had to unlearn—an dance with chaos and self-sabotage that once defined my existence. Allow me to shed light on this transformative journey and the profound shift it has brought forth. From a tender age, chaos was a familiar companion, woven into the fabric of my daily existence. Growing up in an environment fraught with unpredictability, I found myself perpetually navigating turbulent waters, never knowing what awaited me beyond the threshold of my home. Each day seemed to unfold as an unpredictable saga, characterized by emergencies and upheavals.
In the crucible of chaos, I unwittingly internalized a myriad of coping mechanisms—time management skills dulled by perpetual crisis, boundaries eroded by the ceaseless demands of circumstance, and a pervasive sense of overwhelm that became my constant companion. Confronted with the relentless onslaught of chaos, I unwittingly assumed the role of its unwitting orchestrator, subconsciously perpetuating situations that mirrored the discord within.
Yet, woven into the fabric of chaos lay an even more insidious adversary—self-sabotage. Like a silent saboteur, it insinuated its tendrils into the very core of my being, whispering insidious falsehoods that undermined my every endeavor. Whether through procrastination, self-doubt, or the insidious allure of self-destructive patterns, I found myself ensnared in a labyrinth of my own making.

In relinquishing the mantle of chaos and self-sabotage, I discovered a newfound sense of liberation—a profound shift from victimhood to empowerment. No longer beholden to the whims of circumstance or the shackles of self-doubt, I embraced the transformative power of agency, charting a course toward inner harmony and self-actualization.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.atoyahodges.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/iamdratoya
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/atoyahodges
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.co,m/in/atoya-hodges
• Youtube: www.youtube.com/atoyahodges