Today we’d like to introduce you to A’Jai Malone.
Hi A’Jai, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I became a Certified Athletic Trainer in the summer of 2020. It took me 8 months to find a job due to the pandemic, but I began my career as the only Intern Athletic Trainer at Texas Tech University. I grew amazing relationships during my time there, but one of the most notable experiences was having the opportunity to collaborate closely with an elite interdisciplinary team. Working with sports psychology, orthopedics, primary care sports medicine, strength and conditioning, and nutrition to provide my athletes with the holistic support they required to perform at the highest level has shaped how I approach my athletes’ care to this day. After my time at Texas Tech University, I moved to Houston, TX and joined Houston Methodist Hospital as an Outreach Athletic Trainer, serving high school and junior high athletes in South Houston. In this setting, I have developed a passion for injury rehabilitation and functional movement. Although I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Power 5 D1 and secondary school levels, I have come to realize that traditional athletic training settings are not for me. I love the athletes I get to serve daily, but the long hours, low pay, lack of resources, and limited work-life balance simply do not align with how I view and want to live my life. With all these factors in mind, I decided to take a leap of faith and start my own business- Iron Human Performance, PLLC.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Building a business from the ground up and entrepreneurship are not for the faint of heart. I have learned so much along the way but still have much to learn. I am figuring things out as I go. Some of the most challenging obstacles I have encountered include legalities, business insurance, time management, social media, and scaling. Legalities and insurance are a beast all together, but both are worth the time to ensure full protection and compliance. I still work a full-time job, so finding and creating time to move my business forwards requires structure, organization, and sacrifice, which have proven to require much intentionality. In this age of social media, a presence is almost required to gain trust and show credibility. One could argue it is the “new resume”. Creating content to put myself and my skills out in the world is completely outside of my comfort zone and has pushed me in ways I was not expecting. I am still trying to figure out how to put a price tag on my service and skills. I know what I have to offer but also do not want to undervalue myself while also remaining humble.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
IHP takes athletes from painful movement to pain-free optimized performance in 3 months or less through online 1-on-1 rehab coaching and/or in-person athletic training service and performance training. IHP does not accept insurance the ensure every client served is able to receive personalized programming without the constraints of the healthcare system. We specialize in bridging the gap between rehab and optimized performance through a holistic rehab and functional movement approach which sets us apart from competitors. We are most proud to provide services delivered with quality, intentionality, and personalized detail. Although we are not fully operational, we do currently have a limited capacity for in-person clientele.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
Personally, I define success as doing something that makes you happy, allows you to serve in your purpose, and fulfills you. For IHP, success is seeing an athlete move without fear, adjust in the face pain, build resilience physically and mentally, have the confidence to believe in their body’s capabilities, and unlock potential.
Pricing:
- Based on client’s needs
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ironhumanperformance?igsh=cHVnemVxZjJ0ZG9n
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1B9HqjCQeU/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/a-jai-m-a16882b4?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
- Twitter: https://x.com/aj_monaii?s=21&t=6xEhzLeMyq_nlhXbhwnMQA
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@ironhumanperformance?si=xvt8KV4hSZ35lQUH
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@ironhumanperformance?_t=ZP-8zsHLZsQMJy&_r=1
