We were lucky to catch up with Joy Simuel recently and have shared our conversation below.

Joy, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Alright, so we’d love to hear about how you got your first client or customer. What’s the story?

Before I share how I got my first client let me give context. Before starting Joy Simuel Consulting, I was a special education teacher. I left the classroom with the desire to help families outside the confines of the classroom. There were too many times that I would be sitting in IEP meetings and could tell the parents were overwhelmed and not feeling heard. In June 2019 I tendered my resignation and started Joy Simuel Consulting in September 2019.

My first client was a parent of a former student. I remember when I told her I was starting a business and the services I was providing for parents of special needs children she said, “What took you so long”? She then opened up to me about things she wanted to say about the school and special education process that she couldn’t while I was working at the school. I was able to share my thoughts without conflict of interest. To have instant confirmation was the catalyst I needed to move forward on this new journey. Four years later she continues to be a client and even more than that a friend.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m a Southern girl through and through. I was born and raised in Durham, North Carolina. I’m a die-hard Duke basketball fan. I knew early that I would have a career working with children. So it was no surprise when I started teaching and later became a special education teacher. Joy Simuel Consulting was born out of the pure desire to help parents navigate the special education process without being overwhelmed and confused. With me as their advocate, I relieve the overwhelm by explaining every step of the process and as a voice for their child. Together we make sure their child’s unique education needs are met.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

The best sources of new clients have been former clients that have shared their experiences of working with me and their outcomes. One unexpected source has been my network of business associates that see the value I offer, the knowledge that I have about the special education process, and the compassion I have for my clients

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

There’s been so many lessons along the way but I think the biggest has been that you cannot build and grow a business alone. It’s important to find your network of entrepreneurs/business owners that can be a sounding board for ideas, share their experiences, lend their expertise, and share resources. Trying to do everything yourself can and will lead to burnout and possibly the end of your business.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joysimuel/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joysimuelconsulting

Image Credits
Tasha Prescott