Chess, Cars, and Endless Curiosity: These Coaches Have Turned Their Passion Into Thriving Businesses

Mastering the Game Of Life: How Ashley Priore Empowers Individuals Through Chess

“I use my chess background to help others in the non-profit, sports, and corporate sectors,”

In the high-stakes, male-dominated world of competitive chess, Ashley Lynn Priore carved out a space where she not only belongs but also leads. With a vision fueled by her own challenges and experiences, she launched Queens Gambit in 2014, a non-profit aimed at empowering others through the game of chess. Her journey didn’t stop there; she later transitioned her strategic skills into executive consulting, where she continues to make impactful moves.

Launching Queens Gambit

Growing up in a space where few looked like her, Priore felt the alienating chill of underrepresentation. This struggle, however, did not stifle her; instead, it sparked a commitment to ensure others wouldn’t feel the same way. Queens Gambit was born out of this commitment. The non-profit focuses on empowering youth by teaching them core competencies through chess. These competencies, including decision-making, strategy formulation, and challenge navigation, are crucial life skills that participants can carry with them into various aspects of life.

Turning To Executive Coaching

Upon graduating from the University of Pittsburgh in 2022, Priore observed that many groups grappled with the same things that she had been teaching youth through Queens Gambit. Recognizing this gap, she pivoted from running Queens Gambit and launched a new consulting business called Queenside to address these needs. With a foundation laid through chess, she began offering consulting services in the non-profit, sports, and corporate sectors, hosting workshops and training sessions aimed at enhancing decision-making processes and strategy development. Through workshops and training sessions, Priore aids in honing decision-making, strategic thinking, teamwork and development skills for corporate teams, athletes and other high-performing individuals.

Defining Success

For Priore, success is not a one-size-fits-all achievement. When working with clients, she delves deep into understanding their roles, aspirations, and current processes, setting both personal and professional goals. Success for her clients is intricately linked with understanding and defining what they need to accomplish at different stages, always with an eye on the endgame. In her life, success is a constant journey towards the next goal, with a keen focus on risk management and decisive action.

Conclusion: Mastering The Game of Life

Ashley Priore has skillfully navigated her way through the chessboard of life, turning each challenge into an opportunity to empower others. She has not only transformed the lives of many young individuals but has also brought a fresh, empathetic, and deeply strategic approach to executive consulting. For those seeking life advice from Priore, her wisdom is succinct yet profound: learn to manage risk effectively. For, in life, as in chess, it’s not just about the queens and kings; sometimes, the humble pawn makes the most powerful move.

You can learn more about Ashley and her work by visiting her on LinkedIn or visiting her website.

Driving Dealerships To Success: Tim Kintz’s Journey from Selling Cars to Empowering Sales Professionals

“How do you spell love? TIME… Time invested in learning, growing, and perfecting the process is at the core of success.”

Tim Kintz has navigated his way from washing cars to becoming a sought-after coach and consultant in the automotive sales industry. Driven by a passion for sales and coaching, Kintz has committed himself to offering training and tools that are not only current but also effectively turn sales professionals into industry leaders.

From Washing To Selling Cars

Kintz’s journey began amidst the sandy baseball fields of Arizona, California, and Alaska, where he played college baseball. “I was washing cars for guys making $150k selling cars,” Kintz recalls of his days at an Acura dealership, a period that marked his entry into the car business. Over 11 years, he climbed from selling cars to engaging with GM Academy and running a dealership. However, noticing a gap in training and coaching that was contemporary and relevant, he decided to chart a new course.

Teaching Dealerships To Push Past Fear

Embarking on a new venture is never without its challenges, and for Kintz, change is the first thing he helps dealerships to overcome. “Anytime you go make a change, there’s fear. Pushback is because change is hard,” he reflects. Facing resistance from those set in their ways, Kintz’s challenge was not only to introduce new methodologies but also to sell these effectively, ensuring dealerships saw value and experienced enhanced sales volumes through his approach.

Kintz’s methodology is characterized by a combination of fun and competition. “We hold conferences at Top Golf instead of hotels, introducing games and contests for recognition,” he shares, highlighting his innovative approach to engagement and learning. In between fun and competition, Kintz teaches his trainees the skills, tools, and systems needed to take their dealership to new heights. Recognizing the importance of appreciation for salespeople, Kintz ensures his training sessions are interactive, engaging, and acknowledgment-centered, providing sales professionals with a sense of achievement while equipping them with crucial sales skills.

Defining Client Success

Success for Kintz is twofold. Firstly, it’s about adopting a customer-centric mindset where the customer is valued and prioritized. “It’s about offering a better experience for the customer without sacrificing the integrity of selling,” says Kintz. This is accomplished by teaching dealerships to understand the customer, find common ground and efficiently navigate the sales process. “All of this ensures that the client’s transactions are smooth, quick, and mutually beneficial.”

Personally, Kintz views life as knowing your worth and living accordingly. “The people I know earning the most believe they are worth the money,” Kintz notes, emphasizing self-worth and confidence as keys to a successful career in sales.

For more insights and training opportunities, connect with Tim Kintz through his website or follow him on LinkedIn.

Kathy Gruver Unique Approach to Life and Executive Coaching: From Healing Hands to Empowering Minds

“Perfect is the enemy of done.”

Gruver’s journey began unexpectedly in the world of theater, hypnosis and bodywork. After an accidental internship with a massage therapist during her school years, Gruver found herself drawn toward the healing arts. Despite initial aspirations in film, she found greater success and fulfillment in massage therapy upon moving to Los Angeles. Her insatiable curiosity and desire to aid her clients more effectively led her to explore various fields, including hypnosis, which she had dabbled in during college to guide peers on hypnotic journeys.

A Diverse Background Of Helping Others

Helping others has always been an interest of Gruver. Initially helping individuals to overcome phobias, limiting beliefs, and more through hypnotic sessions, she realized that there was a common thread in all of her clients. “Most people struggle because they are stuck in old patterns, and lack self-awareness or clarity. To have self-awareness and growth to get unstuck. She helps them to navigate through these challenges, providing the necessary guidance for growth, evolution, and improved leadership and communication skills.

Gruver’s unique approach and style emanate from the diversity of her background. Having studied mind-body medicine at Harvard, to psychology, and mindfulness, among other fields, she offers a blend of expertise, practical wisdom, and a deep understanding of human behavior. Not one to shy away from calling out untruths, Kathy also infuses her sessions with elements of fun, drawing from her theater background to integrate improv, games, and humor into her coaching sessions.

Moment-by-Moment Success

For Kathy Gruver, success isn’t a distant, towering milestone but a series of moments. Whether it’s financial stability, publishing books, or simply helping someone through a small act of kindness, success is multifaceted and deeply personal. Kathy measures her success by her ability to assist others in various ways, cherishing each opportunity to make a positive impact.

“Perfect is the enemy of done.” In her eyes, the pursuit of success shouldn’t be addictive or overshadow the joy found in seeing others succeed.

You can learn more about Kathy and her work by visiting her on LinkedIn or visiting her website. Can we add the coaching site as well? www.Kathygruver.coach