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Eden Gold

Youth Motivational Speaker and Teen Life Coach

Eden Gold is a youth motivational and keynote speaker and the founder of Life After High School based in Oregon. Life After High School serves young adults, middle school to college aged, with a mission of bridging the gap between traditional education and real-world skills to support them in becoming successful adults. Eden’s curriculum is incredibly comprehensive, including principles for success mapping, financial foundations, career development, and more. As a speaker, Eden specializes in blending strategy, practicality, psychology, and mental health; and her approach is grounded in providing actionable steps and real-world insights. In 2025, she launched her speaking tour, “The Unshakable You”, setting out to help 1 million students build unshakable self confidence. She is also the host of the Real Life Adulting Podcast. In addition, Eden offers corporate training through hosting customized workshops focusing on communication, work etiquette, professionalism, and social skills for gen Z employees.

Professional Achievements

  • Recognized as one of LA Weekly’s Top 10 Speakers to Watch in 2021
  • Featured across several major media platforms, including Thrive Global, Authority Magazine, Medium, Kiddipedia, iHeartRadio, and The BLOX — Amazon Prime’s entrepreneurial start-up competition TV show
  • Partnered with a wide range of educational institutions and organizations such as CADA (3x), LASC, CTSO, NCCE, Gear Up Arizona, and the Florence Teen Symposium
  • Collaborated with national brands like Level All, Panda Express, Glassdoor, and others to amplify student engagement and career readiness initiatives
  • Partners with organizations and companies to deliver corporate Gen Z trainings, offering customizable workshops on professionalism, emotional intelligence, workplace communication, and early career success for rising young professionals

Certifications & Organizations

  • Health Coaching Certification from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition

Favorite Piece of Advice

In the words of Archilochus, "We don't rise to the level of our expectations, we fall to the level of our training.” Whether it’s your health, your finances, or your future—you need systems in place that support the person you're becoming, not just the goals you're chasing. Consistency beats intensity every time.

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Forum Comments (9)

How can you develop leadership skills?
To develop leadership skills, lead yourself first, learn to manage your emotions, and keep taking uncomfortable actions that help you grow. We hold back because we think others are better, more experienced, or more qualified. However, hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard. It’s all about taking uncomfortable action. Remember, you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.

I believe that those of us on a self-discovery journey have a duty to give back. I do this work because little Eden would’ve loved someone like big Eden to guide her. You don’t have to be the expert of all experts to lead. My mentor says, “You just have to be 10% ahead of the people you’re helping.” If you’ve learned something or grown a little, share it—that’s leadership.
How can you develop self discipline?
To develop self-discipline, you have to sacrifice short-term comfort for long-term benefit. Start by identifying your biggest goals and dreams. If money or time weren’t a constraint, what would you want? Be a visionary. I call this crafting your “dream machine.” When you visualize your dreams, your brain starts to form new neural pathways. It doesn’t know the difference between imagination and reality—so start thinking big.

A key thing to ask yourself is: "Do I really want this goal?" Be honest. A lot of people think they want something because it’s trendy, their friend has it, or their parents expect it. But if it’s not truly your goal, you’re going to give yourself permission to quit. Procrastination is real, especially for the neurodivergent community, but aligning your goals with what you genuinely want—free from outside voices—helps a lot.

Then ask: "Why do I want this?" You need a reason that truly motivates you. “I want to get healthy so I look better” isn’t strong enough, but “I want to get off thyroid medication. I want to walk a mile without getting winded. I want to be there when my kids graduate,” are powerful, emotional reasons that will get you out of bed. Only 1% of people write down their goals, but doing so clears mental space and helps you visualize and remember your why.

Remember, motivation isn’t given—it’s created. It’s a byproduct of taking action. Most people love learning, but we need to become obsessed with uncomfortable action instead. Taking action, especially uncomfortable action, builds confidence and momentum. That’s where your growth lives. A good journaling prompt is: "What thoughts, behaviors, or actions are no longer serving my life?" Be honest. Start there.
How do you make new friends as an adult?
To make friends as an adult, you have to accept yourself. Acknowledge your quirks, flaws, and strengths, then work on becoming your best self. Once you’ve built some confidence, put yourself in new environments. Most friendships form when you engage in a hobby and connect with other people who are doing the same thing. It rarely works the other way around—when you make friends first and then go do the hobby.

Even if it’s scary or you’re introverted, go take that Muay Thai class, join that book club, or volunteer. When you show up authentically, the right people will find you. I also want to acknowledge that making friends as an adult is hard. You will lose friends, and that’s okay. It just means you’re growing in a different direction as them.
What are essential things to know when starting your life as an adult?
When you’re starting life as an adult, educate yourself. Learn about personal finances, physical and mental health, and the basics of “adulting,” such as cooking, managing your time, and renting an apartment. You can start by being curious and collecting resources—good books, podcasts, and videos—so when the time comes, you’re not starting from square one. And above all, get a mentor.
What's the best paying job I can get as a teen?
Here are a few suggestions:

1. Internships – If you’re okay to start with an unpaid roles, you should absolutely intern in fields related to your dream job. Come up with a list of companies and pitch yourself. Say, “I’ll be the hardest working intern you’ve ever had. I just want experience.” People love helping ambitious young people. You're the next generation of change-makers. A lot of professionals I interview on my podcast are frustrated by the lack of professionalism in Gen Z, so you can really stand out by just being serious. I just talked to a lawyer who said many teens only want to work Fridays, from 11 to 3, and only remote. That’s not how you stand out. The extra mile is never crowded. An unpaid internship can lead to a very high paying full-time offer.

2. Jobs that involve data or metrics, like social media management, project management, or anything that involves tracking stats or performance. These roles also build transferable skills.

3. Side hustles – be a self-starter. Start something that no one can take from you. In this crazy economy, proving you can build something—even small—builds confidence and demonstrates initiative. You can make a lot of money selling baked goods, handmade crafts, or services.
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