The Founding Story of WiseGoals

Looking back, I realize that my first five years in business weren't a failure—they were my most valuable lesson.

In 2011, I launched my first entrepreneurial business in Japan, ready to conquer the web business world. My confidence was sky-high, and I thought I had all the knowledge I needed. But soon after I began, I hit a wall. I ran out of ideas. Instead of expanding my understanding, I fell into the trap of repeating the same concepts over and over again. I was stuck, and for five years, my business stagnated. It was a frustrating cycle, and I refused to see the signs that my stagnating business was a reflection of me and that I needed to change.

I was fortunate, though. I met mentors who didn't just guide me—they challenged me. They got me to reflect on tough questions, made me confront my blind spots, and pushed me to grow in ways I hadn’t considered. The breakthrough was unlike anything I could have possibly imagined.

Around the same time, I discovered positive psychology and the work of Dr. Martin Seligman. Intrigued, I spent five years studying on my own before enrolling in one of the world’s only MSc programs in Applied Positive Psychology at the University of East London. It was there that I was introduced to coaching psychology—something I had never explored before.

What I learned during those two years was transformative. I realized I’d spent years talking about goals from my own limited perspective, without truly understanding the different processes and stages that different people are in. My approach was one-size-fits-all—"do this, it works!" The art of a goal-based conversation, the tools of coaching, and the deeper principles of motivation caused a seismic shift in my perspective. By entering the client’s world, from where they are right now—each person being totally unique—I could help each person find their way from that place... and that way was certainly not always the same. Far from it! The deeper I went, the more I realized how much more there was to learn.

This shift in mindset led to my web business becoming a success. My business began to thrive not because I was “doing more,” but because I was a completely different person. Through learning directly from some of the world's leading experts and reflecting on hundreds of hours of practice, coaching taught me how to make goals come to life for others, and that’s when I re-launched as WiseGoals.

Today, as a coach, I’m passionate about helping others avoid the same prolonged struggles I faced. I’ve been coaching professionally for around six years now (2024), working with leaders in healthcare, education, and sports to increase their wellbeing and manage stressful transitions. I also work with young adults aspiring to be wellbeing entrepreneurs. Each client, each story, teaches me more. That’s the real beauty of coaching—there’s always more to learn, more to explore. It's about broadening towards inclusivity.

It's so easy to go years without realizing what's holding you back, to work hard and get nowhere. I could have gone my whole life spinning my wheels in that way. Getting right down to the core problem is hard because, on some level, we don't want to face our biggest weakness. It's easier to go on "happily" in denial... until reality hits home so many times that we can't ignore it any longer.

My journey wasn’t easy, but it’s given me a unique perspective, and that’s what I offer through WiseGoals: real-world experience, hard-earned wisdom, and an understanding of what it takes to push past personal and professional barriers.

Thank you for connecting with WiseGoals. I hope we get the chance to work together and share in the journey of growth and success.

Best,
James