Meet AJ KIKUMOTO

We recently connected with AJ KIKUMOTO and have shared our conversation below.

AJ , thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?
Resilience is an essential attribute to have. I got my resilience from my parents. Born and raised in Boise, Idaho, on the Loveland Ranch, I learned the importance of taking care of our animals daily and the importance of a good education. One of my favorite stories is when I had just reached home from serving a 19-month mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I had previously graduated from Boise State University with a degree in Elementary Education. I was ready to pursue my dreams of dancing and modeling professionally. So, I jumped into my car and drove the 16 hours from Boise to Denver, Colorado. I tried out for the NBA Denver Nuggets Dancers and made it! I went to church the next day, bore my testimony in front of the congregation, and said God is great, the church is true, and I need a place to live. I was able to move out of my car and into a condo that night. I just knew things would work out and honestly never thought otherwise. That’s the true definition of resilience!

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
As a Mom of six kids, ages 7 to 19, I do many things! I am a free Uber driver for my kids, a dance instructor/coach at Starstruck Academy of Dance, where our daughters train competitively, a supportive parent for our kids, athletics, and CEO of Queen Publishing Agency, where I help queens like you get published! Our kids are number one in our lives, so driving the truck for the homecoming parade for the girls, golf program, or bringing sports drinks and orange slices for the tackle football team, we’re helping our girls with their dances for the competitive season or just some of the things we do every day as CEO of Queen, Publishing agency, great joy comes from helping my clients get their books and workbooks and journals and children’s books or whatever they dream of published and to become a published author.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
1. Resilient 2. Unstoppable
3. Humble

These three words came to mind when you asked what was most impactful in my journey. First, I think it’s essential to be resilient. Knowing and understanding that life is not fair, and things don’t always go your way, but pushing through, and as they say, put your shoulder to the wheel, is critical in being successful. Second, become unstoppable. That is essential in life’s journey; nothing ever goes your way, so never take “no” as an answer. Thirdly, probably most importantly, is being humble and kind, as the country song goes. These attributes are invaluable to becoming successful in life.

Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?
The classic answer is my mom. But really, my mom has been the most influential in my life and taught me these invaluable lessons. She is a hard worker and was a NICU nurse for 45 years. She worked long hours and was over bereavement with those tiny babies. If anyone knows resilience, it is my mom. She taught me to be kind and humble. Hard work is imperative in all things success. I remember my mom leaving for work early, like at 5 AM, and then picking me up from dance lessons at 9 PM after work. That is a long shift working in a very high-stress situation. I am so grateful for the example my mom set for us kids, and I try to set a similar standard for my children.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Headshot: Graphique Photography Image of when we were on Colorado and Company 9 News Images with customers Image of us doing a virtual reading at our elementary school.

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Leadership Development
Empathy Unlocked: Understanding how to Develop Emotional Intelligence

“Empathy is the starting point for creating a community and taking action. It’s the impetus

Productivity
Where do you get your work ethic from?

We’ve all heard the phrase “work hard, play hard,” but where does our work ethic

Productivity
Boosting Productivity Through Self-Care

When you have a never-ending to-do list it can feel irresponsible to engage in self-care,