ABOUT
BELIEF #1
In life, you are the main character of your own story. You either write your own story or let someone write it for you.
BELIEF #2
Everyone has a story that we can learn from, if we just take the time to listen. Do not waste life's pain.
BELIEF #3
We can all reach the top together when we treat others how we want to be treated.
I'M JAMES
I have always thought my job was my security. Even though I have dreamed of creating a business that would provide for my family and impact the world, I let my fear of failure get in the way. I believed getting an education, a regular job, and a paycheck would keep me safe and secure. I would be rewarded if I worked hard enough and followed the corporate path. I bought into the lie that I would be cared for and rewarded if I built other people's dreams.
When it came time to go to college, I chose a career path in business administration not because I was a wizard with numbers but because I was afraid of being poor. I thought working with money would make me rich. Fear was writing my life story, and I was happy to believe the half-truths.
MENTAL HEALTH BECOMES A CALLING
After college, I went to work at a Shelter for Children. At the shelter, my heart broke for neglected children, and I fell in love with mental health services. I spent three rewarding years there, keeping some of the most vulnerable children safe and cared for. Looking back, I realize that some of my life's most challenging and rewarding times were when I worked with those precious kids. I loved being able to help those who were often discarded and forgotten by the world. I worked in social services and the mental health system for 16 years. I earned an MBA during that time because "That is what you need to do to advance." Once again, someone else was writing my story.
WHAT IS MY MISSION?
With a wife and an adopted son to care for, I threw myself into my career. I put my hope in the company and worked hard for them. I followed the path expected of me. I thought working hard, and my education would protect me and keep me safe and secure. Eventually, a more extensive hospital system purchased the small, free-standing mental health facility. My old bosses were gone in less than a year and my position was eliminated.
A FRESH START?
I decided to work for a start-up and build in my own security by working hard. Those were great times of growth and success. I thought, "Finally, I am safe." In 3 short years, I took the company from making $10,000 to over $450,000. I thought I would be rewarded for my work, but the unthinkable happened AGAIN. The company I helped to build, from 3 employees to up to 20 employees, was sold. A business decision by someone else eliminated my security. I was once again out of a job.
WHEN WAS I GOING TO LEARN?
With my safety and security dashed, I really felt like something had to change. The reality that I was not the master of my own destiny weighed heavily on me, and I felt foolish for not seeing it sooner. Once again, I had put my faith in others and let someone else control my destiny. When would I learn to invest in myself and build my security?
STOP BUILDING SOMEONE ELSE'S DREAM
At this point, I realized I had not been writing my own story. I had been letting other people and circumstances dictate my path in life. My desire for peace and a risk-free life had put me at the most risk. I was now vulnerable and unprotected again. A harsh life lesson was, "You need to create your security." So, I decided to take control and break out of my comfort zone, stop building someone else's dream, and start working on my dream.
WRITE YOUR OWN STORY
And that's why I created Knowledge Income Navigator. My mission is to take back the story of my life and help others do the same. My courses empower people to break free from the fear of failure and stop letting others dictate their path. I help people write their own stories and create freedom and security for themselves while making a massive impact on the world with their expert knowledge. It takes hard work and determination, but I believe you can act to create your own security and stability.
CREATING IMPACT
And who better to help than the helpers of the world? I have spent two decades working with Therapists, Psychologists, Psychiatrists, and a whole host of other mental health professionals. Their mission to improve lives is also my mission. I want to help people who want to improve the world. I am convinced the therapists of the world have the experience and expert knowledge to make a lasting change in the world and create income from it.
The amount of people that online courses can help is countless. From the therapist who wants to teach other therapists how to run a group practice to the psychologist who wants to help anxious teens with tests, there is a lot we can do together. What good do you want to do? How can I help you?
THE JOURNEY CONTINUES
In my free time, I love camping with friends. I still use a tent, and I am thankful for the invention of air mattresses. I also like cats, cookies, and comic books. While I am not creating online courses, I produce the show the Wise Practice Podcast with Whitney Owens, I write show notes for The Kindness and Compassion Podcast with Gordon Brewer, and I host and Produce my own Podcast with Dr. David Hall from PsychMaven called The Scaling Therapy Practice. I will be celebrating my 25th anniversary with my wonderful wife, Lorinda, on July 4th, 2023. My son is 18 and says he will be moving out after high school graduation this year, but I am unsure about that. (Update: He is still living in the house).
Start Writing Your Own Story
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