JACKSONVILLE — They say that iron sharpens iron.

That the people, relationships, attitudes, and moments we surround ourselves with shape the path that we forge in life. Whether that be good or bad.

Ken Stoddart knows this firsthand.

A recovering addict, life coach and triathlete, Stoddart amassed the strength to defeat his own demons. And it led him to want to offer others the same path to redemption.

Stoddart began IronMind Advisors in July of last year. After a 27-year career in cybersecurity, he pivoted to focus on working with others who are struggling with mental health.

"It's not that easy for everybody. I learned that during the process, and I wanted to start IronMind Advisors with the intention of working with folks that are high achieving, where things look really good on the outside, but on the inside, things are not that good," he said.

IronMind Advisors is a coaching program that takes a holistic approach to healing, addressing topics like sobriety and grief with evidence-based therapies and personalized care. At IronMind, Stoddart said, mental, emotional and spiritual health are interconnected.

"I ask those folks to essentially take off that cape and be vulnerable. And ask for help," he said.

Stoddart knows what it's like firsthand, because, at one point, he had a hard time taking off his own.  Burnout at the executive level was a challenge. And because of his high-demand career, he struggled with alcoholism.

Along the way, picking up a glass began to feel like a requirement rather than a pastime. And for years, he drowned slowly in his own pain. But yet, he was still rising in the ranks and delivering results within his career. He was hiding behind a mask of who everyone thought he was.

It took years of health and relationship strains for him to realize that there was something wrong.

"For me, it took many years to realize that I was burning the candle at both ends and that some of those decisions might impact my life. As I started approaching my mid 40s, I was really starting to see the signs of what that lifestyle was causing," he said.

He admitted that it was almost too late, but addressing the problem and asking for help was what saved him. His time at Hazelden Betty Ford was a turning point in his recovery. With the compassionate counselors and therapist, it was a program designed for his situation.

"That journey through Hazelton inspired me to want to continue to work with people that were struggling the same way that I had. I had received some incredible help from people that didn't know me, but they cared about me."

With a Bachelor of Science in business administration and a Master of Business Administration in leadership, Stoddart works with patients to design a plan that fits best to their needs, all inspired by the framework of his lived experiences.

Providing virtual coaching for clients worldwide, the program begins with a deep dive and diagnostic to map out where the client is in their journey. Following that, Stoddart works to create a routine. From there, clients meet once a week for an hour to tackle challenges head-on.

Even with a recent diagnosis of prostate cancer, Stoddart isn't letting his pain stop him. He's currently on the way to receiving his Master of Arts in clinical mental health counseling. 

Stoddart is continuing to take his journey one day at a time. For him, that means always having an Iron Mind mentality.

"That Iron Mind mentality is going to that place inside of you where I didn't know I had it but found it. And I finished the Iron Mind. And I did it with grace, pride and all these wonderful feelings because I didn't know I'd had."

He encourages others who are struggling to not be afraid to seek help and do the same.