Today we’d like to introduce you to Amber Dinh.
Hi Amber, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I grew up as a first generational student living in a household with nine total kids and three total adults. I am the middle child and was always the go-to child for all my foreign parents’ needs starting at the age of 15. From being an interpreter to paying bills online to grocery shopping – you name it, I did it. Hell, I even got my first car when I was 15, made hefty $400 car payments while in school and working part-time, and drove without a license to help get my younger siblings around! I had a job at a local nail salon scrubbing feet and cleaning the shop so I could help my parents pay bills, as my mom was diagnosed with schizophrenia and my dad was having a rough time working hard as an independent contractor. I worked all throughout high school and missed almost every social event there ever was and made straight A’s. Oftentimes, my dad spent weeks out of town on jobs and I had to hold the fort down and feed my family. I had younger siblings that were depending on me. I was the glue for a long time.
When graduation came around, I decided to spread my wings and go away to college because I wanted to better my own situation and even retire my parents someday. I figured that a degree would be the safer route so I chose that. I went away to Augusta University and hustled so hard I graduated with an accounting degree one year early while working almost full-time to put myself through college and pay for my living expenses. During the process, I learned about credit and how to leverage it so that I’d make it on my own. When I graduated, I secured an offer to work for a Fortune 500 company and even moved to the downtown area of Pittsburgh, PA. I then moved on to work for a Fortune 100 company after a year and made more money than people who have been in the workforce for years. But I wanted more. I realized that working a 9-5 wasn’t going to help me retire my parents as quickly as I wanted to, so I thought about something that I was good at and passionate about that I could turn into a business – and that was helping others. Not just anyone but people like myself. I decided I would help people who had to figure out everything on his or her own, learn the REAL valuable things that we are sadly NOT taught in schools – financial literacy. Through experience and reading, I taught myself how to save, how to budget, how to invest, how to use credit responsibly, and so much more. So that’s how Amber Dinh Consulting was born. I spend my free time in one-on-one sessions with clients of all ages to help them improve their quality of life by taking control of their finances because let’s be real, in the world we live in, you need money to survive. I also guide clients through the entire career process – from writing a resume to applying and interviewing, and finally negotiating and accepting a job offer! I even help small business owners become more profitable by providing bookkeeping and consulting services.
It’s so easy for me to sit here and say that I had a hard life growing up, but I’m very grateful for how I was raised and for the things I went through. There of course, are so many details that were left out but I wouldn’t be the successful young woman I am today without those hardships. I am 24 years young and truly feel like I am just getting started. Not being able to play sports or just be a ‘normal kid’ were very small sacrifices I had to make.
As a consultant and friendly face, I want people to take the steps to help themselves and know that it’s never too late to get started on their dreams. I’m a firm believer in “if there’s a will, there’s a way’, and if people are struggling with finding their dream career, paying off their debt, building their credit, or just want to become financially free, I’m here to help them every step of the way with the most affordable rates possible.
My next steps are to implement financial literacy programs in schools and every client is a stepping stone to making that dream a reality.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The road definitely has not been smooth. I think a lot of people underestimate how much work it actually takes to create a business and to make it successful. A great business idea is just that – a business idea until you really put in the work. You have to believe in YOURSELF before you go expecting others to believe in you. You have to design your plan, market yourself, and take action. Personally, having a consulting business that focuses on working with individuals is quite difficult at times because there is no specific target audience. Of course, the general audience for my business would be those who want to take control of their finances. However, the biggest challenges I’ve faced are signing on clients that are actually ready to put in the work themselves. You can’t force people to do the work to improve their own situation, so I just encourage my clients to come to me when they are ready. You definitely experience a rollercoaster of emotions in this business when you think you’re about to help someone do something great and they don’t follow through themselves. But when you see clients in a much better situation in a few months because of your guidance, there’s no better feeling.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Business and personal consulting services – focus on financial literacy
Bookkeeping and Consulting
Career Planning
Credit Building
Money Management
Rates start at just $25/session, first consultation is completely free
My sessions are very personalized and I like to provide as much support as possible for my clients, giving them the ability to call or text me at any given time. I’m most proud of having a business that stands for helping others invest and believe in themselves.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
I’m a very determined person. I truly believe that there’s a solution to every problem, and if there’s not, I’m going to find one.
Pricing:
- Free consultations
- $25 sessions
Contact Info:
- Website: www.amberdinhconsulting.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/amberdinhconsulting
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/amberdinhconsulting
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/amberdinh2
