We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Carolann Jones a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Carolann, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What was the most important lesson/experience you had in a job that has helped you in your professional career?

I call this my Benny story.

Years ago, I landed a job in pharmaceutical sales — a job I never applied for, never sought out, and never even imagined for myself. It was one of those divine-alignment moments where the opportunity found me.

They placed me in a territory with negative growth — the kind of territory seasoned reps avoided. And tucked inside my data was an account that looked… suspicious at best. When I drove to the location, it felt deserted. The reception area was dark and unmanned. No signage. No movement. Nothing about it looked like a doctor’s office. But something in my spirit said, Go back.

So I did.

Again and again, I returned. I left marketing materials. I left my card. I kept showing up even though nothing about the situation made sense.

On what I decided would be my final attempt, a man appeared in the lobby. He looked like a maintenance worker — keys on his belt, scuffed boots. He asked what I was doing in the building. I explained my role and that this mysterious office was listed in my territory.

He nodded slowly.

Then said, “Come with me.”

Now listen — he started walking toward a stairwell. Every instinct in my body was evaluating safety versus intuition. But something in me knew to follow. So I did.

When we reached the top of the stairs, he opened a door… and suddenly I stepped into a warm, brightly lit waiting room — the real doctor’s office. He walked me straight back to the main physician.

From that day forward, visits were effortless. Conversations flowed. And that “desolate” office became one of my top-performing accounts.

That maintenance worker? His name was Benny.

And here’s the lesson I have carried into every chapter of my professional and wellness journey:
-You never know who is an angel in disguise.
-You never know which door will open simply because you kept showing up.
-And you never know how your next level is being orchestrated — even when the path looks dark, abandoned, or empty.

In health and wellness — just like in life and career — consistency is the key that unlocks the unseen. Alignment is often revealed through obedience. And the angels, the helpers, the guides… they rarely look like what we expect.
This story still reminds me today:

Keep showing up.
Trust your intuition.
Follow the nudge.


Your “Benny” moment is always closer than it appears.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I often say that life coaching found me first. Long before I had a title for it, I was the person people naturally opened up to. I have always been intuitive, curious about people, and fascinated by what makes us thrive. While I was still in corporate, I was assigned an executive coach. I remember sitting in one of those sessions thinking, I can do this — but in my own way, with my own heart, and with more humanity.

People would say to me, “I don’t know why I’m telling you this…” and then pour out things they had not shared with anyone. I saw that as a responsibility and a calling. That was the beginning.

My journey into health coaching came from a much more personal place. I grew up watching illness shape the women in my family — my great-grandmother losing both legs to diabetic complications, my grandmother injecting insulin into her arm or thigh with the kind of resilience you never forget, and my mother passing suddenly from a massive heart attack.
Health, to me, has never been a luxury.
It has been a lifeline.

Those experiences gave me a level of urgency, compassion, and reverence for wellness that cannot be manufactured. And because morbidity and mortality affect minority communities so heavily, I knew my work had to be both intentional and impactful.

Today, I offer:
•
1:1 Personalized Coaching

• Group Coaching

• Customized Wellness Talks

• Individual & Group Yoga

• Healthy Eating/Cooking Classes & Demos

• Meditation & Breathwork Workshops
• Curated Wellness Events

Clients typically come to me overwhelmed by stress, craving healthier habits, seeking community, or standing at a crossroads between who they are and who they know they could become — while carrying the heavy weight of what no longer serves them. My work helps them unlearn burnout, reconnect to their bodies, create sustainable wellness, and step into their next level with clarity and support.

One of the things I am most proud of right now is my work in senior fitness. As a Certified Silver Sneakers® instructor, I teach weekly cardio and balance classes to one of our most vulnerable populations. My seniors know that I lead with safety, proper form, and a whole lot of joy. These classes have become a true community — a place where they can laugh, feel seen, be cared for, and move their bodies in ways that support longevity. I am honored to make a difference in that way.

What sets me apart is the way I blend everything I have lived — my corporate experience, my intuitive coaching style, my personal health history, my spiritual grounding, and my belief that wellness must be embodied, not just discussed. I teach from life and training. I meet people where they are and help them transform from the inside out with compassion, structure, accountability, and grace.

At the heart of my work is a simple belief:
Wellness is not something you do — it’s something you become-intentionally.

And my purpose is to help people remember that, live that, and experience the kind of wholeness that changes them and those around them.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

I believe my reputation has grown because I lead with transparency and authenticity. I don’t pretend to have a perfect journey — I share the real parts of it. When I talk about wellness, I speak from lived experience, not theory. I am honest about my own challenges, my growth, and the work I continue to do within myself.

People tell me they feel safe with me, and I take that seriously. Whether I am coaching, teaching, or creating community, I honor what is shared in those spaces. I don’t break trust. I don’t rush people. I don’t judge. I show up consistently, I deliver what I say I will, and I create an environment where people can breathe, be seen, and supported.

Over time, I think that is what builds true reputation — not loudness or performing, but showing up with integrity, humanity, and follow-through.

Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?

Beyond credentials, PASSION is everything.

The wellness field requires a certain aliveness — “juice,” energy, vibrancy that can’t be faked. No one wants to learn from someone who is dry, disconnected, or only teaching concepts they are not practicing themselves.

My passion for health and wellness runs deep because I have seen firsthand what happens when it is neglected. I know the cost. And I know the power of transformation. That passion keeps me studying, teaching, learning, growing, and showing up for others with enthusiasm and heart.

In this field, your presence matters as much as your knowledge. People feel your energy, your intention, your commitment, and your belief in them. My passion for helping others live healthier, fuller, more empowered lives is what makes my work meaningful — and I believe it is one of the biggest reasons I succeed.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://wellnesswithcarolann.mycanva.site
• Instagram: @wellnesswithcarolann. and @iamcarolannj
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolannjones1/