We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Julie Ulstrup a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Julie, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today If you’re open to it, can you talk to us about the best (or worst) investment you’ve made. What’s the backstory and the relevant context behind why you made the investment

Time and money freedom are the reason I started my business. As a former educator I was burnt out from working long hours, miniscule, financial compensation and doing things outside of my zone of genius. . . . ie paperwork and busywork.

The very best investment I made that saved me time and gave me more money freedom was investing in a coach when I started out, which is also investing in me and my dreams.

She had been where I was and helped to bridge the gap for me. She helped me to get clarity on what I want and my unique value proposition

I learned how to utilize my strengths so that I could collapse the time it takes to have greater income, influence and impact while staying true to my passion and purpose.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My clients are brilliant and they are able to see themselves as such, is what I am most proud of. Let’s start there. My business has recently gone through an expansion to reflect what I have always been passionate about, which is transformation.

As an entrepreneur, my journey began as a portrait photographer for women 50+ and Fabulous, focusing on reflecting back to them their true beauty, the essence of all that is beautiful in who they are. SO often women in our culture are lead to believe that they no longer are brilliant and spectacular after a certain age, when really the opposite is true. The older we become, the more we have the opportunity to shine in the world as we share our unique gifts.

Within the past few years my business has expanded to work with experienced educators, medical and other leaders who want to build a business using their gifts and talents to make more income, impact and influence. As a coach and consultant, I work with them to collapse the time it takes to develop their unique value proposition as they build a profitable business and life that they love.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

One of the many lessons that entrepreneurship and building a business has taught me is that educators, teachers and recovering teachers have so much to give as well as so much to receive.

Our culture has inundated us with the message that educators make a difference so we don’t have to make a lot of money because the difference we make is enough.

What I learned is that I can have both, I can make a difference and make a substantial income. Zig Ziglar has been quoted as saying,” we can have everything we want, if we give enough people everything they want.”

Educators often forget that we can have all that we want and that what we want is what gives life to our purpose and passion.

Can you talk to us about how you funded your business?

It does not take a lot of money to start a business. The best investment I made very early in my business was investing in my coach and ultimately myself. Personal and professional development are inextricably linked to success

Although my business was not generating a lot of money, I took a big risk, for me, and got a no interest credit card for 15 months. With that I committed that I would not only pay off the credit card, but would triple back that investment, which I did. Taking the first step is powerful and sometimes frightening, yet it is where the magic happens so we can have the impact, income and influence that we desire to change the world for good.

Borrowing from my future self, with the belief in that what I want is possible lead me to 2x my educator income within 3 years of leaving a 25+ year career where I had a master’s degree and vast experience.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.julieulstrup.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julieulstrupco
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/julie.ulstrup.3
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julieulstrup/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwcnAX2kZHvPCfQoJY75hng
• Other: Your readers are invited to set up a no obligation, no sales pitch clarity call with me here. Thank you https://www.julieulstrup.com/chat