I’m Jim and I leverage my 25 years of experience in sales, business development, and management to transform businesses and professionals who are on their best path towards success in life.
I realize as you are on this path that sudden shifts in your life can cause you to flourish or retreat, but it’s how you interact with the waves of change to create the outcome you desire.
My experience as a sales leader and manager working in the corporate world revealed that to become your best you need to follow a blueprint tailor made for you. You were not made to conform to cookie cutter methodologies which have been shown to create disengagement, stifle creativity, and hinder personal growth.
Before Forward Focused Coaching and Consulting, I was a successful sales and management professional chasing happiness, and climbing the corporate ladder (as we are supposed to, right?).
I was passionate about the work, the title, the lifestyle, the car, and all the perks.
Then, in a blink of an eye, it all came crumbling down. In a span of five years, three major pharmaceutical companies I worked for announced that they would be restructuring, and guess what, my position was eliminated.
Needless to say, it hit me hard. I wasn’t getting any younger and now three new chapters in my life were being forced upon me.
On the outside, it looked liked I was winning, and had it all. In reality, I felt like I was stuck inside a box. My passion, creativity, job fulfillment, and joy for what I was doing were quickly diminishing because of what I experienced during these downsizings.
As I was going through the last downsizing, I struggled with what I was going to do, and I needed to gain some clarity as to what that was going to be. This prompted me to reach out to Michael, a former VP I worked for who is now an executive coach. He helped me clear the clutter and to realize that I have choices. He helped me see that with my life experiences and working knowledge of business that I have a lot to offer others who are going through challenging times in their personal and professional life.
Based on this coaching, I recognized that It was time for a change. It was time to break out of the box, and stop letting my limited beliefs get in the way of my success.
I have dedicated my career to helping others build their brand, products, and people. Now, I motivate and empower my clients to reconnect with WHO they are and WHAT they stand for, and help them rediscover, rebuild, and move forward after a challenging transition in their life with a fresh perspective. The greatest reward helping others is seeing them experience their own “ah-ha!” moments and shift in energy as they break outside of the box to future success.
After researching several programs, I found the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC) to be the right fit for me. iPEC is an internationally recognized leader in the field of coaching education and is a fully accredited program by the International Coach Federation (ICF). Through iPEC, I received both my Certified Professional Coach (CPC) and Energy Leadership Index, Master Practitioner (ELI-MP).
My WHY is simple; “To be a part of people’s success.” Knowing I can help other’s thrive or help create the catalyst to change someone’s life is what drives me.
Trending more toward the coaching and development of professionals, and the creation of high-performance organizations, I launched Forward Focused Coaching and Consulting, a company that provides transition coaching and sales and business coaching to enhance the lives of individuals and raise the productivity of organizations.
My zest for life and thirst for growth is contagious. To keep it fun and exciting, I apply one of my favorite quotes by Seth Godin, “How dare you settle for less when the world has made it so easy for you to be remarkable.” Keeping these personal growth experiences at the forefront has only strengthened my ability to be an effective transformational coach.
If I weren’t to continually step outside of my comfort zone and take BOLD steps, I may not have become a coach or a certified scuba diver. I dove into this new chapter headfirst, just as I have spent over 20 years scuba diving into waters all over the world.
I’ve dove in Florida and Hawaii; the Grand Cayman Islands; Cozumel, Mexico; Curacao, Dominican Republic, and even The Great Lakes. Sure, at the beginning, it was scary. I didn’t know exactly what I was getting myself into and you might feel the same way about coaching. But if you never jump, you might miss out on reigniting your inner creative spirit, maximizing your potential, passion, and thirst for what drives you.
“Dream big! There are no limitations to how good you can become or how high you can rise except the limits you put on yourself.”
– Brian Tracy
Some of these waters have high visibility, beautiful reefs, amazing coral formations, shipwrecks, vivid color, and an assortment of marine life. With others, you can barely see your hand in front of your face. Just like every downsizing I experienced through my career, I couldn’t always see clearly into the future. Only now do I know exactly what I want to do and the waters ahead are crystal clear.
On the personal side, my awesome wife Diane and I have two children, Quentin and Chelsea, who are both in college. We also have an active Black Lab named Jazz, who loves to swim, fetch balls, and go for walks. I enjoy reading, traveling, and watching my favorite sport teams. I also enjoy grilling and getting together with my family and friends. In my spare time, I enjoy outdoor activities such as fishing and boating.
I also stay fit by weight lifting and doing cardio 6 days a week and eating healthy.
Don’t get stuck in the murky and unknown. Take a plunge into a new and wonderful you.