We were lucky to catch up with Amanda January recently and have shared our conversation below.
Amanda, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you share an anecdote or story from your schooling/training that you feel illustrates what the overall experience was like?
There have been many important parts of my school and training journey, but one that sticks out to me the most is when I was studying for my undergraduate degree. During this time, I was interested in both education and psychology, and was not sure of where those interests would take me. Looking back, one course in particular changed the trajectory of my professional and person life. That course was Positive Psychology. This fascinating course is the study of human flourishing, and become the groundwork for my own personal development, and eventually, the basis of my own coaching business.
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.
My name is Amanda January and I am the founder of Amanda January Wellness, a mindfulness coaching company. My mission is the empowerment of all through mastery of the mind. I work with individuals through coaching and energy work, and with companies through Corporate Mindfulness training. My career started with training in clinical mental health, where I learned and developed a deep understanding in the psychology behind why we do what we do. I then pivoted, and became a public school elementary teacher in NYC. This role was a challenge in that it led me to meet my edges in self-care and personal development. At that time, I was experiencing severe burn out, and saw the others around me experiencing the same. We began to implement weekly yoga and mindfulness classes for the teachers, and I saw the impact that this had on not only the participants’ stress levels, but productivity, retention, and community. I was hooked and deeply intrigued.
I ended up leaving that position to explore this path, where I obtained a certification in integrative health and embarked on my yoga teacher training in Costa Rica. I returned knowing that this passion was where I wanted to focus my professional efforts.
I have worked with start-ups developing their wellness coaching teams. I noticed a similar effect of burnout in this high-pressure, fast-paced environment, and decided to take matters into my own hands. I founded January Wellness to provide companies with much needed wellness offerings to prioritize their employee’s mental and spiritual health.
Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?
I believe that the most helpful trait for succeeding in this field is having the courage to take the first jump. Starting, for me, was the most nerve-racking and scary part of the journey. There were many stories that I told myself about why I should wait, it wasn’t the right time, if I got X certification I would be more ready. I have learned that we may never truly feel ready, and that is okay. The most important thing is to be fully, enthusiastically strong in your WHY. Why are you starting this business? Who are you serving? What problem are you solving for them? If you are clear on this, the rest can be learned, and will come!
If I could go back and give myself any advice, it would be to “just start!”
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
Really walking the talk and being 100% authentic in my offerings have helped me to build my reputation in this space. Whether they can articulate it or not, people can feel your energy when meeting you, discussing your business, or consuming your content. If your energy is not aligned with the words you are saying, your message will not be clear and people will not buy into what you are trying to share with them.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.amandajanuary.com/januarycorporatewellness
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/januarywellness/