We recently connected with Isabelle Guarino and have shared our conversation below.
Isabelle, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Are you happier as a business owner? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job?
I am so happy as a small business owner that I actually do the opposite, when I think about being a business owner and not working for the man… It brings me the ultimate joy! Never do I daydream about having a regular job or wonder what it would feel like. To have full and ultimate control over all of my life decisions, my time, my income, it’s the best thing that has ever happened to me. And I would never have that working for someone else. Now I fully understand being a business owner isn’t for everyone, so I know it’s a journey only some people can take, but I seriously feel so lucky to be one of the few people in this world who created a business, and went for it!
In my past work experience I had regular 9 to 5 corporate jobs and there was nothing wrong with them… besides having to give up what I truly wanted and needed, which was freedom! Freedom of time, money, power, I was busy building someone else’s dream and wasn’t investing in myself and my own ideas. Everything changed for me when I started building my own businesses and most recently when I launched the Young Boss podcast. It’s been an amazing journey getting to open up to other Young Bosses about my experience as an entrepreneur and hear their stories of success and failure and everything in between. I hope to be an inspiration to others who are looking to start their own businesses and are fearful, to just GO FOR IT!
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?
About 8 years ago I started working for my father in his assisted living training business, Residential Assisted Living Academy! We worked together as Visionary and Integrator and I made his ideas come to life, together we built 7 more businesses and when he passed away in 2021, he left me with the torch to carry on his legacy. I stepped into his role and started teaching and training entrepreneurs and investors how to ride the silver tsunami by investing in senior housing!
But I also had a vision of my own, launching a podcast! I started the YoungBoss podcast this year with the intent to share with others the best and worst parts of being your own boss. Touching on all the things that can and do go wrong, why people fail or choose to give up and how you can fight through those obstacles to come out on top. Launching businesses is one thing I love to do, but also maintaining and growing them and I excel at sharing with others how to do the same.
Young Boss is a place for young bosses and entrepreneurs of all industries to collaborate and chat about the expected (and unexpected) challenges of being a successful, young professional in today’s business environment. I love to share in our weekly episodes discussions about leadership, personal growth, networking & building relationships, raising capital, business strategy, and SO much more! It’s been a huge place of joy for me to bring my own business to life!
How’d you meet your business partner?
When I knew I wanted to launch a podcast there were only a few things I absolutely knew I would not budge on, and one of them was production quality! I searched and searched for an incredible company to work with to produce a very top-tier high quality studio but also social media presence and strong episodes with great editing and interactive components. I asked a mutual friend who also has a podcast of her own who she was using and she told me about these incredible guys Alex Johnson and Cory Davis from Green Door Studios! I immediately reached out to them for an interview call and to see if it could be a fit. These guys 100% understood what I was looking for and completely brought my vision to life!
From branding, to social media curation, to scripting for the episodes, they are top notch! I am so blessed to be partnering with them on this project of bringing entrepreneurship to the forefront for Young Bosses. Every time we get together to film the next episode we have a blast and go back and forth on creative ideas on how to improve audience retention and make sure we are hitting all the subjects in their entirety.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
When it comes to building a strong reputation in your market I think it comes down to authenticity. It’s so important to be who you truly are, 100% through and through. If you smell fake, you are fake. People can sense when you’re not genuine from a mile away. Keeping the ego down, no matter how much you’ve won in life, no matter how amazing your business is, will set you apart. For me I was a behind the scenes secret weapon for years until I finally had to come out from the shadows to start hosting our events, and now my podcast. But it really helped that I had built a strong reputation for being a hard worker and someone that not only my team, but our clients and vendors could rely on.
Everyone was happy to welcome me into the world of presenting and was honored to work beside me in this new way because they had seen who I was and who I had become throughout the years. Always staying 100% me in and outside of work is what helps others trust you and want to work with you. Filth and character are the two things that sell in this world, and I never want to be known for being slimy or taking advantage of anyone so guess what… I don’t! I stay completely honest and transparent in all my interactions, if you meet me on the street or at work, I’m the same gal through and through and that builds a reputation that people want to work with.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://theyoungbosspodcast.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theyoungbosspodcast/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/isabelle-guarino
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@theyoungbosspodcast
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@theyoungbosspodcast
Image Credits
FemForce Photos