About me

Hi, I’m Jay. I grew up on a farm in rural Iowa where I learned early the value of hard work, resilience, and living close to the land. Those lessons shaped me, and they have stayed with me through every chapter of my life.

After earning a degree in accounting and later an MBA, I spent years leading teams in Fortune 500 companies across finance, customer service, operations, HR, and IT. That season taught me what it means to lead with both strategy and heart. It also showed me how easy it is to lose yourself in the pace of work and the roles we play. In 2014, I started my own business, and by 2019 I shifted my focus fully to coaching to help others find clarity, balance, and joy in their lives.

Along the way, I have continued to invest in my growth as a coach, learning from mentors and experiences like CFJ Coaching Success School, the Game Changer Experience, and The Alchemy Leadership Experience. I know the value of being supported on the journey, which is why I stay connected to coaching communities and keep a coach of my own.

Outside of work, my life is grounded in family and faith. My wife and I have been married for 25 years, and we are raising three incredible sons. I am also in formation to be ordained as a permanent deacon in the Diocese of Kansas City/St. Joseph. When I am not coaching, you will often find me working in the yard, reading, or spending time outdoors. I enjoy biking, hiking, camping, kayaking, cross country skiing, and fly-fishing.

At the heart of it all, my mission is simple: to help you create a life that feels aligned, purposeful, and joyful. I do not come with all the answers. I walk alongside you as you uncover your own.

Portrait of a Jay Meacham, a man with short gray hair, wearing a white patterned shirt, sitting at a wooden table with arms crossed, in a church or community hall setting.
A grassy hillside with wildflowers under a partly cloudy sky.
Silhouettes of bison grazing on a grassy hill against a cloudy sky.
Wide open grassy field under a partly cloudy sky with dark storm clouds overhead.
A large turtle with a rugged shell resting on pebbles and surrounded by green plants.
A stylized logo with the lowercase letters 'u' and 'p', with the 'u' forming the word "up" in an upward arrow. The text 'a little' in green is positioned above the arrow, and 'each and every day' in green is below the letters.

A Little Up

When I first founded A Little Up in 2014, the idea was simple: small, intentional steps can lead to meaningful progress. At the time, I focused on helping businesses grow through incremental change, knowing that even a little momentum in the right direction adds up over time.

Today, A Little Up has grown into something deeper. My coaching is no longer just about incremental improvements. It is about creating space for transformational change — the kind that shifts how you live, lead, and experience life. The name still reflects my belief that every step forward matters, but the focus is now on helping you rise into the fuller, truer version of yourself.

Conversations That Matter

Conversations That Matter

Curious about podcast opportunities?

You can find me on PodMatch, where I connect with hosts to talk about purpose, leadership, and living with joy.

Find me on Podmatch

Podcasts are one of my favorite ways to connect more deeply. You can listen to my recent guest appearance here and get a feel for the kinds of topics I explore with hosts.

Logo of the Home Builders Association of Greater Kansas City with a stylized house and text.

HBA of Greater Kansas City

Over the past two years, I’ve also become deeply connected with the residential home construction industry here in Kansas City through my work with the Home Builders Association of Greater Kansas City, where I serve as an associate member.

This has grown into a focused niche for my coaching practice, and I’m honored to be seen as the go-to coach for builders, remodelers, and trade professionals in the area. My goal is to support these leaders not only in growing their businesses, but also in building lives that feel sustainable, balanced, and deeply fulfilling.

let’s connect

Interested in working together? Fill out some info and we will be in touch shortly. We can’t wait to hear from you!