JULIA WUENCH |
FOUNDER, THE AUTHENTICITY GUIDE
"Be relentless in your follow-ups; in reminding people of your existence."
How do you start your day?
A snuggle with my labradoodle, and a nice, big cup of coffee.
Who inspires you?
Women who speak up against inequity -- loudly and fiercely. Women who aren’t afraid to make waves to highlight an injustice. People who act on a commitment to continuously learn and be changed.
What would you tell yourself as a teenager?
I know you feel despair and shame much of the time. I promise you will find so, so much joy in being a grown up. Just get through school, and stop with the pressure for A+s. Nobody cares about grades in adulthood. You’ll start a company and you’ll be able to take naps whenever you want!
What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?
For business: Count your no’s, not your yes’s.
For life: Listen to what your body is screaming at you.
What do you need to get you through each day?
A hug from my partner. Everything else I can be flexible with.
What are you reading?
Novel: A very trashy and poorly written murder mystery because Pulitzer prize winning literature is just not the distraction I need right now.
Business: Harvard Business Review, Forbes, New Yorker, Business Insider
Briefly describe your business and inspiration for it.
I'm a career development and leadership coach, and the Founder of The Authenticity Guide. I believe that every individual needs an objective person on their team. I’m that person for emerging leaders -- equipping them with the tools, skills and confidence necessary to thrive at work and in life.
What made you decide to become an entrepreneur?
I always loved coaching. Throughout my life, I’ve coached colleagues, friends and classmates. I had never considered it a business, though. Frankly, the word “coach” conjured images of a shaman (on one end of the spectrum) or a 70-year old white man barking orders about productivity (on the other end of the spectrum). Turns out, coaching is so much more than those two extremes!
In 2018, I realized I hated working for other people far more than I was afraid to figuratively jump off a cliff. I thought, “even if I fail, I’ll be happier at least trying this thing than working for someone else.” And I knew my zone of genius was coaching. I took the leap.
What was the tipping point for realizing you had a good business?
Seeing my profits and losses at the end of year one, and the success I was having, was when I realized it. My deepest fear starting this business was that it would be a hobby. I wanted to make money.
What has been the key to your success?
I’m really organized and extremely stubborn. I never keep things inside -- I’m always “talking things out” with trusted people in my life: from an article topic, to a new revenue source. I always need to hear myself think.
What lessons have you learned along the way that you wish you would have known at the beginning of your start-up career?
1. Be relentless (in your follow-ups, in reminding people of your existence)
2. Be teflon (no’s and lack of responses should slide off you.) Remove your ego from the picture. You’re going to get hate email. Accept it now.
3. Provide continuous FREE value to others. The sales will come.
What challenges did you face in the early days of being the Founder of your own business?
When you start a business, you want everything to happen overnight. Yes, I built my website! But where are my clients…? Yes, I did a talk! ...But where is the line of conference planners out my door? Things take time. Patience was really hard for me at the beginning.
When self-doubt hits, what do you do?
Self-doubt hits all the time! The first thing I try to do is separate from the thing causing me to feel that way. I go for a walk, do meditation, or take a nap. Next, I keep a self-esteem file that I refer to if it’s still bad. I keep things in there like: positive things people have said and written to me, accomplishments I’m proud of, and quotes that have moved me. I refer to it when I feel self doubt.
What is your biggest fear as an entrepreneur?
Not providing real value to the people I serve.
What aspects of being an entrepreneur do you love and/or dislike?
I LOVE creating content and working with my clients. I also really like business development. I hate visual marketing. I loathe it! I am not an artist and I have no idea how to make things look good. Thank goodness for Canva because otherwise, everything I put out there would just be a straight-up Word document in font Times New Roman.
What do you think the most important attribute a female entrepreneur/ business owner can possess?
Resilience. Bounce back, girl. Do it quick.
In the age of COVID, how have you pivoted or what are you doing differently?
Since the price point for my 1:1 coaching services was untenable for many in light of COVID, I launched my first ever group coaching practice. I was shocked and delighted at how fast it took off. People are craving community, accountability and professional development right now.