As a life coach, I consider myself very fortunate to work with some of the very best people. From time to time, I like to highlight some of the people that I have gotten to serve in a coaching capacity through interviews via podcast, or in written form like today's post.
In today's post, I'd like to introduce you to a fabulous human named Paul Kleinhenz. Paul has a passion to serve people and is doing great work in the world. He was kind enough to answer a few questions for us here. I hope you enjoy getting to know him a bit further in this interview:
Tell us a bit about yourself and your background. What was your professional life / career before you began life coaching with Jamal?
My name is Paul and I grew up in a very small town in Ohio. I spent a large part of my childhood working in the family business. Upon graduating from high school, I joined the Marine Corps. This was a decision I made all the way back when I was in 8th grade.
During my time in the Marine Corps, I deployed 3 times and it was an instrumental time in my life. After leaving the Marines, I decided to become a firefighter/paramedic. I did this for about 3 years. During this time, I met my wife Jessica while serving as a firefighter. We both worked at the same department.
After working as a firefighter for a few years, I had a desire to go back to working at the family business. I was the only boy in my family, and none of my sisters had any interest in working there or eventually taking it over. It was a livestock marketing business that operated in rural Ohio and worked primarily with farmers who raised livestock.
This was a business that had been in the family for many years. So after making the decision, my soon to be wife and I moved an hour away back to where my family lived and where the business was located. This is what I thought I would be doing for the rest of my life.
How did you discover Jamal and his life coaching program, and how long have you been coaching with Jamal?
Once I moved back to where I grew up and started working back at the family business, my wife and I also began attending a local church. We became members and attended this church for almost 5 years. After some time we began to become aware that something wasn’t right. It was an extremely controlling and judgemental place.
After having fully bought into everything in that controlling religious environment, I began to question many firmly held beliefs. While wanting to learn as much as possible about the church, history, and deconstruction, I stumbled upon a podcast that dealt with those subjects.
I began listening regularly. There was this guy on it that would say some pretty shocking things that would get my attention. It was Jamal, lol. I ended up really enjoying the podcast and Jamal’s take on different subjects. This is also when I learned that he was a life coach.
I remember we were driving to Florida on vacation and I made Jessica listen to an episode. I talked about maybe doing coaching with Jamal. Jessica said "You should do it". So when we got back home, I sent him an email and scheduled a call. This was back in, I believe April 2021. So we have been working together for almost 4 years.
In what ways has your belief system about the nature of reality shifted through the coaching process?
I used to believe that chance, or circumstances, dictated how your life went. Now I have changed and understand that we are the creators of our life.
When we get clarity on why we do what we do, or how we think, it allows us to be aware of our patterns and limiting beliefs. We can shift beyond believing what we were told about ourselves from family, religious community, culture, etc.
It's important to understand that those things have been a contributing factor as to why we think and act in certain ways, but they are not determining factors in our life.
I also now believe everyone does things and believes the way they do for a reason. Whether it has to do with how they were raised, what their early childhood was like, or what belief systems were handed down to them, no one is inherently bad or evil.
Everyone starts in a place of unconsciousness of how the past is currently living in them. Life is about becoming conscious and healing the wounds we have.
How has your perception of self changed and how has this led to your career transition?
My perception of self has changed in that I now know I have a purpose in life and I have gifts that I get the opportunity to share with others.
No matter what our job or career is, there is no higher calling than serving humanity. It is something that everyone can do. I also understand that I have always had these gifts. Not living up to this in life not only limited me, it prevented the world from receiving the gifts I have to share.
Before coaching, I made decisions about my career based on what other people would think. What would the family think? I thought of it as an obligation or duty.
I now know I don’t have to worry about what other people think because my life is my own. Going through the difficult & challenging conversations with family about why I left the business, and why I’m doing something else, has been worth it.
For a long time, thinking of those conversations or worrying about what other people would think of me, would cause me to retract and stay stuck as I was.
Facing those difficult conversations was part of healing and jumping into my purpose. I can also say with confidence, those fears have gone away. Stepping into my purpose and passion has given me a confidence I have never had before.
Tell us a bit about your new company, what was the motivation to start it, and what is your vision for the people that you serve.
Something I have really enjoyed for most of my life is fitness and training. It started when I was in the Marines. I loved doing it and learning about it. It was fun to help people as well.
I would have times where I would think, could this be a career? But I would disregard it. But when I would try to think of a new career while I was ready to leave the family business, I could never think of anything. So many applications and interviews went nowhere. Frustration set in and I couldn’t understand why nothing was working.
My wife started working as a personal trainer and health coach a couple years before all of this started to happen. She loved it and told me I would be great at it. Even though I doubted it at first, I knew it's what I actually wanted to do.
So about a year ago, I took the leap and started my own personal training business, Evolution Coaching. It has been a great learning experience.
Being able to now recognize when thoughts of lack and fear come up, I can now shift my mindset to growth and abundance and thankfulness.
My vision for the people I get the opportunity to serve is to help them obtain and keep their independence, mobility, and gain the strength they deserve.
We live in a time of chronic disease, where aging is associated with a decline of activity. Unfortunately, it is accepted and thought of as normal. I want to let people know that this doesn’t have to be true. Through strength training and healthy living, you can have your life back. You can do the things you want to do.
We don’t have to just accept that this is how it is and nothing can change our situation. I want to empower people, letting them know there is another way and I’m here to help them along that way.
My first clients were my family. I began training my sisters, a nurse, teacher, and doctor. It has been over 6 months now and they are hooked! They are in the best shape of their life and they have come to enjoy the training program I have designed for them. My dad, who was the owner of the family business, even asked me if I could get him started on training.
What have you learned by becoming an entrepreneur that you didn’t know before?
Becoming an entrepreneur isn’t primarily about making money or having a schedule you want. In my opinion, the greatest intention you can have is to serve people.
My main focus is to help and serve my clients instead of thinking that my career is about making money, or that my clients are here to help me achieve that goal. Instead, I am learning that when I bring the energy and intention of serving my clients that I get the opportunity to serve, compensation naturally follows that.
What has been your biggest takeaway from life coaching, and what encouragement would you give to others who are on the fence about investing in their inner wellbeing?
My biggest takeaway from life coaching is that when we become aware of our patterns and triggers, we can then start the healing journey. If we try to push them away or power through them, we are in a state of resistance and the same patterns will continue.
Following the steps of awareness - acceptance - aligned action, have to be done in that order. We have to feel so we can heal.
Also, understanding that this is a slow journey that can’t be rushed. We need to learn to be with ourselves and learn that healing and wholeness is an inside job. This is the greatest news because if healing is sourced from within, no one can take it away from us.
My encouragement to anyone who is considering life coaching is to view this opportunity as the greatest investment you could give yourself. The return on investment will last your entire life if you commit to the process.
If you are tired of the way things are going in your life, or if the things that were promised to bring you peace and joy just haven’t delivered, then I would absolutely recommend life coaching. Also, understand that Jamal won’t be doing this for you. He will be guiding you along with patience and love to help you become aware of what an amazing person you are, someone full of life and love who is capable of living to the fullest.
Where can people find out more about your company and your work?
You can follow me on Instagram. I am new using and sharing on that platform. IG - @paul_kleinhenz_
I also have a website that I am currently working on, but is up and running:
Here is a sales page for my personal training business.
https://pro.everfit.io/Paul-Kleinhenz-1731537155
Thank you Paul for being my guest in today's post. I appreciate your commitment to yourself and your wellbeing. The world is in need of your presence and your service. I salute you and your commitment to the process of inner wellbeing & abundance.
All the best,
Jamal Jivanjee
Certified Mastery Method Coach, Author
Free To Love Coaching Solutions LLC