Today we’d like to introduce you to Tonya Echols.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My journey has been a bit unusual; however, looking back I feel it has come together just as it was always meant to happen. I started off my career in finance, and while I’m still a Certified Public Accountant, I knew fairly early on in my career that I would expand beyond being the “number cruncher.” I progressed from public accounting to private industry working for a media company where I had my first major move away from Finance to the world of digital media where I was responsible for business operations and developing partnerships with companies like Google, Amazon, and Yahoo. After over a decade gaining valuable experience, I realized that where I truly felt passionate in my career was in growing leaders and developing teams. That realization led me to take the leap and completely change direction in my career and become a Leadership Development coach, trainer, and speaker and start Thrive Coaching Solutions. Changing careers was the scariest and best move of my life, but I love that I have so much variety and diversity in my background. You could call me a leader, CPA, coach, speaker, writer, trainer, yoga instructor or a world traveler and you’d be right!
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Smooth is all about mindset for me. Has everything gone perfectly without a blip on the radar? Far from it. Walking away from a career I had spent two decades building was one of the toughest decisions of my life, and it raised a lot of self-doubt at times. I had been fortunate enough to have a successful career, and my practical side was constantly screaming at me to stay the course. However, I knew that if I passed up on the opportunity to make that major change to pursue my true passion, I would regret it. I truly believe that everything that happens in life is for our ultimate benefit, so I decided to push forward and see what awaited me outside of my comfort zone.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Thrive Coaching Solutions story. Tell us more about the business.
Thrive Coaching Solutions provides leadership coaching, training, and consulting services for individuals and organizations interested in exploring ways to create meaningful change and reach optimal performance levels. I specialize in working with corporate/executive clients who want to create successful and thriving careers and teams without the burnout and life imbalance that often occurs with high-achievers.
I am passionate about this work because I’ve lived it, and that is what I am able to bring to my clients. I have the ability to move beyond the theoretical concepts of leadership and help them to apply it to the real world challenges and opportunities that leaders encounter every day. While everyone wants to make the magnanimous choices in life, sometimes we have to make tough decisions or bring about change in a more strategic way, and I work with my clients to make sure whatever path they take, they are remaining true to their authentic selves and staying in alignment with their goals.
My focus is always on helping my clients reach their professional and personal goals with their values and priorities intact.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I have been fortunate to have had so many wonderful people and opportunities come my way throughout my life and career. There has almost always been a flow of my life from one stage to another in which everything I had been doing either consciously or unconsciously was preparing me for the next “big thing” and I while I have always been a hard worker, I know that it takes more than that to reach your goals.
Experience has taught me that it is crucial to stay open to the unknown which can be frightening at times. I don’t believe in being “fearless” per se because let’s be honest, fear has kept a lot us from doing some crazy things that weren’t good for us when logic is taking a nap. However, I also don’t believe you should allow fear to hold you back from doing anything your truly feel is right for your life. Fear should not be ignored, but instead assessed along with all the other available information to make the right decision for you given your goals and values.
If the only thing holding you back is fear, then I say, you need to dig deeper.
Contact Info:
- Address: 2451 Cumberland Pkwy, Suite 3253
Atlanta, GA 30339 - Website: http://www.thrivecoachingsolutions.com/
- Phone: 404-902-6810
- Email: tonya@thrivecoachingsolutions.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivetonya/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thrivecoachingsolutions/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/TonyaEchols
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/techols/
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