December 6, 2022 - The Chicago Journal

Harden Performance Boosts People to Achieve Fitness Goals Through Hands-on Approach

The Chicago Journal Staff on December 6, 2022

With more people using social media to get information, it’s difficult to distinguish between harmful and valuable content when so much is available online for consumption. Blood detoxing and taking pills with unfamiliar ingredients are two examples of recent health fads from Tiktok, one of the top social media networks. Everyone is looking for a quick fix to get fit or improve their health, failing to consider the long-term consequences and effects of these “quick fixes” on their body.

Harden Performance is a company focused on building personalized fitness and health plans for its clients. It believes that nutritional strategy, along with physical training and improving mental health, is the best approach to thrive in life. According to Ryan Harden, the founder and owner of Harden Performance, the objective is to help customers through a lifestyle change and not just a simple fitness goal. To achieve the best results for each client, they mentor them in correctly implementing tried-and-true movements, motivate them to practice consistency, and assess their routines and daily lives, including their stress levels and mental health. Ryan believes that the mind influences the body and hopes more people will pay attention to it.

Aside from the regular workout and meal plans, Harden Performance provides weekly mindset training through videos. These recorded training pieces give the clients insights into working through anxiety and guide them to examine their behavior toward their lifestyle change. Aware that stress, time management and personal problems can divert people’s attention away from their goals, Harden Performance keeps its customer’s best interests at heart.

“Some tips I would give is probably to find a workout buddy. Before you can build the habit, you may lose motivation. So, if you have a couple of friends who will keep you accountable if you can’t afford a personal trainer, that helps you get into the hang of things until you build it as a habit. And once you start, don’t stop. You may have days where you don’t feel like going and may not go that day but the next day. As long as you get moving, whatever exercise you’re doing, it’s better than not going,” said Ryan.

Ryan shared that his experience of working with various people and personality types helped him figure out what inspires them, identify their motivators, determine what to say and what not to say, and provide the insights they are looking for. This journey, together with his background as a licensed nutritionist, his degree in Dietetics, and his 10-year experience as a personal trainer and body-building competition coach, create the ideal combination to achieve what Harden Performance intends to provide its clients.

Harden Performance encourages people to take action if they want to achieve a different result than what they’re getting. Its clients benefit from a combination of physical activity, better nutrition, and a positive mindset. Furthermore, in a few months, everyone will be able to avail of the supplements launched under Harden Essentials, another brand by the visionary Ryan Harden, which will provide its future clients with high-end supplements tailored to them and their lifestyles.

What It Takes to be the Best: Scoobie Da Jeweler Shares His Journey in the Custom Jewelry Industry

The Chicago Journal Staff on December 6, 2022

Regardless of what they are offering, all entrepreneurs aim to gain trust. It’s a commodity that’s not easily given by customers but once established, it’s there for life. Scoobie Da Jeweler dreams of being the best and most trusted custom jeweler in the United States over the next five years, and he is already establishing the foundation of his empire, striving to gain trust through honesty and transparency.

Born Aanik Adatia, Scoobie Da Jeweler first began his journey as an entrepreneur at the early age of 16. Faced with the economic recession, he saw how his family’s jewelry business struggled to cope with the challenges. But those difficult times molded him to be innovative, forcing him to think outside the box to continually scale the business and serve customers. He figured, instead of selling in physical stores, he could help people save gas money by offering the products online and having the items delivered straight to their doorstep. He found ways to keep the business afloat and eventually learned that there’s no challenge too big for an entrepreneur whose mind is sharp with ideas that break the mold.

“That’s how I got addicted to the jewelry business and progressed throughout the years. I paid my way through college and was able to keep it going during my first corporate job,” the jeweler said.

When the taxing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic took its toll on corporate America, Scoobie Da Jeweler saw another opportunity for his innovation, and he decided to fully dedicate his energy to the jewelry game, particularly custom jewelry, despite the hindrances posed by the global health issue.

“Once COVID hit, I knew I had zero income coming in, and I knew that my father wasn’t going to pay for any of my expenses, which is good that he taught me to start from the bottom. I know I had to be uncomfortable to get to where I want to be, and I am still uncomfortable. A quote, ‘uncommon amongst uncommon people’ by David Goggins, helped me understand what I needed to do,” Scoobie Da Jeweler said.

Once he set his mind to it, Scoobie Da Jeweler became unstoppable in the custom jewelry landscape. He delivers quality pieces to his growing clientele and spares no effort in educating people on the differences and benefits of getting custom pieces rather than generically-produced jewelry from other jewelers and establishments. The best part is “getting a custom piece, you are not being ripped off on price,” and there are a number of factors that contribute to this.

First, as Scoobie da Jeweler does not own his own store and works in his established family business, he does not need to utilize a portion of his sales on rent. Second, he is always prompt in responding to his client’s needs. Third, the jeweler ensures that he exposes his clients to the best options for their needs, including metal and stone choices. Fourth, he is committed to providing quality custom pieces to any budget. Lastly, he treats his clients equally; whether they are celebrities or ordinary folks, everyone gets and deserves the same hospitable treatment.

“I don’t let my famous clients drive my ego to ignore the rest. I love all people, and I love to help people understand the jewelry business and pricing and the craftsmanship of the work I do for the client but less of the cost,” Scoobie Da Jeweler said. “Majority of my clients are UGA players, and I set a money limit with my players because I know that they are exposed to the media, and I know how reckless money can make someone. Hence why I tell all of my players’ families: school and football first, and I am always last,” he said.

LaDeidra Stokes-Roberts Raises Strong Kids and Families With Mental Health and Education-Focused Coaching Techniques

The Chicago Journal Staff on December 6, 2022

Entrepreneur, mental health counselor, and kid’s life coach LaDeidra Stokes-Roberts, a visionary in her own right, is taking significant strides in providing innovative and holistic mental health, educational, and life coaching services with her programs, enriching the lives of children and families across the country with RBS Counseling & Educational Services.

Championing the need to build engaging and fun activities for children and their families and highlighting the importance of mental health in raising a new generation of individuals, LaDeidra created her programs to fill an apparent lack in her community and give back using her skills and expertise. Among her programs are back-to-school care events, mental health and wellness forums, self-workshops, educational workshops, addressing a broad audience through radio and podcast interviews to amplify mental health advocacy, and many other activities. A part of her efforts is also providing RBS fidget boxes and bags meant to increase productivity and improve the ability to fight distractions among children who struggle with focusing, anxiety, stress, frustration, excitement, restlessness, and impatience.

RBS Counseling & Educational Services has been instrumental in improving the rate of success among children through educational and life coaching, training, and workshops. LaDeidra has made it her mission to equip the next generation of leaders to become innovative thinkers and independent minds unafraid of challenging the status quo.

LaDeidra’s impact on her clients is incredibly evident, and some of them now consider her not only as a coach and mentor but as a part of their family, as she had such a massive impact on children.

“Since the pandemic, we have been accepting adults and couples for services. One of the unique attributes of the program is being able to utilize the child’s interests and strengths to enhance the session,” said LaDeidra. “There are a lot of hands-on activities and fun activities completed during each session that connects education and life coaching. The program provides education, life coaching, and trauma-informed care training to educators and human service providers,” she added.

The RBS Counseling & Educational Services programs are also available in face-to-face, mobile, virtual, and group sessions to provide people with the medium they are most comfortable with. In addition, her innovation is recognized for utilizing the children’s interests and strengths to dictate the flow of the session instead of creating a one-size-fits-all approach for all of them.

“I wanted to turn my passion, talents, and interests into a business venture to serve others,” LaDeidra said, sharing what drove her to tailor programs that now change countless lives for the better. “I decided to build my own brand when my mother passed away in February 2016. She enjoyed helping others in her community, so I wanted to continue her legacy of helping others,” she explained further.

Seeing her late mother inspire others, even strangers she barely knew, fueled her passion for empowering people too. She wants her story to inspire others and understand that they, too, can turn their passion, talents, and interests into something bigger capable of changing not only their own lives but the lives of many people.