Amandeep Khun-Khun

Amandeep Khun-Khun is a life coach and business investor based in Vancouver, British Columbia. With an emphasis on prioritizing mental and physical health, he provides guidance and support to boost his clients’ ability to thrive in challenging careers. His coaching strategy involves counseling clients on incorporating exercise, meditation, dietary changes, and other wellness-oriented practices into their life, while teaching them how to balance mental and physical health needs. Assisting clients in becoming their most successful selves, Amandeep Khun-Khun also leverages his background as a business investor to offer business coaching.

Mr. Khun-Khun entered the life coaching space after spending 11 years in a fast-paced corporate job, which took a severe toll on his mental and physical well-being and prompted his departure. He subsequently embarked on world travels, engaged in mindfulness retreats, and studied the teachings of Eckhart Tolle and other thinkers and gurus. These experiences informed his current mindset on utilizing positivity and attention to mental health to balance one’s personal life and work. Mr. Khun-Khun further prepared for his transition to life coach by undertaking workshops and courses in mindfulness and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

In addition to his career as a life coach, he serves as the managing partner of a Vancouver-based company with a diverse investment portfolio spanning businesses and real estate. His real estate interests include condominiums and Class A office properties, while his business investments range from cleaning services to food vendors. Above all, Mr. Khun-Khun looks for businesses with innovative services and the potential to scale and become strong market competitors. He also offers strategic advice as well as capital and works with his portfolio companies in a partner capacity.

Beyond his professional pursuits, Amandeep Khun-Khun is a long-time supporter of environmental causes and the World Wildlife Federation’s conservation efforts for endangered species. He continues to travel internationally in his spare time, particularly to destinations with historic sites and monuments. To stay healthy, he engages in daily mindfulness and meditation routines and enjoys exercising and power lifting.

Where did the idea for your career come from?

While spending over 20 years in business, I experienced many ups and downs in life. I have learned strategies to overcome barriers and go both physically and mentally stronger, and I want to share these learnings with my students. In particular, I want to share practical cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and life resiliency skills with students. Coaching also allows me to give back to my community.

What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?

I wake up at 7 am, meditate, and plan my day out. I write down important tasks and goals in a notebook and carry it with me throughout my day. In addition, I always ensure that I spend at least two hours a day doing nothing, which helps me relax and be present and stimulates creative thought.

How do you bring ideas to life?

I practice what I preach. I find that I am most creative after clearing my mind during my morning meditation. It’s so easy to get caught up in all the stresses of daily life—work, errands, chores, worries, and everything else. With all that stress and noise, it can be difficult to find that spark of creativity. Meditation gives me the opportunity to sit quietly and still the chatter of my thoughts. Afterwards, I feel refreshed, more alert, and more present in the moment—and therefore more able to tap into creative inspiration.

What’s one trend that excites you?

I’m excited by the trend of mindfulness and how the mind and body are connected and shouldn’t be treated as separate entities. Mediation and mindfulness are increasing in popularity in mainstream circles—people from all walks of life are recognizing the many benefits of these practices.

What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?

I set goals and targets and hold myself accountable to them. I also write these goals down on paper. I set daily, weekly, monthly, six-month, and one-year goals. The other habit that makes me productive is being truly passionate about what I do, whether it’s my business, hobby, or any other activity in life.

What advice would you give your younger self?

Spend just as much time in the gym as you would mediating and practicing mindfulness. It’s important to focus on mental health as much as I did on physical health.

Tell us something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on.

Doing the “safe” thing is not as safe as most people think. If you don’t push your own limits, it is very hard to know what you are capable of.

As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?

Listen and solicit feedback from your customer/client. In business, it can be very easy to get lost in the finances, numbers, and day-to-day tasks. But listening to and understanding your customers’ trends, habits, and likes are super important to long-term success and sustainability.

What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business?

I treat each client like they are my last, giving them boutique-level treatment and TLC which I feel is unmatched. I often receive “word of mouth” referrals, and spend extra time ensuring my clients and customers are happy. If I feel that my customer is happy enough to refer my services to their family and friends, then I feel my interaction with them was a success.

What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?

Assuming I was smart enough to overcome any adversity by myself. I now realize that I need other people to make up for my own shortcomings. I always surround myself with people that complement my own skillsets.

What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?

Local food guide. There are not enough unique local perspectives on dining. Create your own guide to your favorite local restaurants and become a local hero.

What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?

I was at a local diner and had the most amazing breakfast ever. I left a $100 tip for my waitress. She was the real reason that the experience was so special. She treated me like I was the only person there.

What is one piece of software or a web service that helps you be productive?

Asana is a web and mobile work management platform designed to help teams organize, track, and manage their work. Our team uses this tool to track all our projects and allows us to work efficiently while collaborating, no matter where we are working.

What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?

Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap…and Others Don’t by Jim Collins. This quote sums up the most important point from the book: “Few people attain great lives, in large part because it is just so easy to settle for a good life.”

What is your favorite quote?

“Create a life that feels good on the inside, not one that just looks good on the outside.”

Key Learnings:

• Meditate or practice mindfulness every day—it will help you feel less stressed, more creative, more present, and more resilient to life’s ups and downs.
• The customer is everything. Treat every customer like they are your only one, and pay close attention to their habits, likes, and dislikes. This is key for long-term sustainability in business.
• It’s good to take risks. Playing it safe 100% of the time means you aren’t testing your limits. And if you don’t test your limits, you’ll never know what you’re capable of.