We were lucky to catch up with Jolee Vacchi recently and have shared our conversation below.

Jolee, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Before we get into specifics, let’s talk about success more generally. What do you think it takes to be successful?

The secret sauce to my own success can be attributed to three key elements. First, surrounding myself with people who genuinely believe in me and support me. If you don’t already have those people in your personal life, you can go out and find them by joining various networking groups (I’m a member of the Women’s Business League) or Facebook groups (shout out to Boston Business Women) for different niches of entrepreneurs. You may also have some loved ones who are nay-sayers that you may have to learn to take their advice with a grain of salt. If and when it comes time for you to add to your team, I’ve found success by not only seeking competency in a particular skill set, but also ensuring that the prospective employee aligns with the values of my business, and that our personalities are a good match for a positive working relationship. Once you have these people on your team, don’t be afraid to delegate so that you can focus your work in your own zone of genius while your employee is able to shine in theirs.

Second, I have an insatiable life-long love of learning. After years of practicing family law, I knew how to be a lawyer. But when I ventured out to establish my own law firm, I didn’t know the practical business steps that I needed to take in order to be an entrepreneur. I invested in an online course to learn this blueprint, have listened to countless podcasts about running a law firm as a business, and am now involved in a group mastermind about leveraging PR to increase my visibility. Constantly gaining new knowledge and being exposed to new systems and perspectives keeps my business on the cutting-edge and opens doors of opportunity.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, when I decided to hang my own shingle, I didn’t have a Plan B. Failure was simply not an option for me, and I was committed to doing anything and everything it would take to make my business succeed. I firmly believed that things were going to work out, even though I didn’t have the entire map in front of me. This positive mindset is essential to manifesting goals into reality.

Jolee, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I own Foundations Family Law and Mediation Center, a boutique family law firm based in Worcester County, Massachusetts. At FFL, we strive to resolve family law conflicts as painlessly and peacefully as possible in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Our approach is caring and dignified. While not afraid to utilize strong tactics if needed, the preferred method is respectful and amicable, especially when children are involved. We firmly believe that something beautiful can be made from something broken, and we guide our clients every step of the way to help them build a solid foundation for the future they deserve filled with freedom, stability, and peace of mind.

I created FFL to be an intentionally different law firm, and I am very proud of our professionalism, philosophy, and values. We care deeply about our clients and their families. This line of work is high-stakes and has real-world implications, but that is also what makes it so meaningful. Besides offering advice and advocacy, we also support and validate our clients throughout an emotional time of transition and AN inherently flawed family court system.

We represent clients in a range of family law cases including uncontested and contested divorces, mediations, custody and paternity cases, guardianships of a minor, and post-judgment actions including modifications and contempt actions. In addition to my own interests in alternative dispute resolution and settlement negotiations, I also enjoy working on high-conflict cases involving the potential removal/relocation of children out-of-state, coercive control and narcissistic abuse, and contested guardianships of a minor.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Hands down, networking and making connections with other female entrepreneurs has helped to build my reputation within my target market. Whether its meeting for virtual one-on-one coffee dates, attending virtual speed networking events, or in-person networking dinners, I’ve made incredible connections that have led to valuable referrals, clients, and collaborations. Referrals can also come from the most uncanny places. As a divorce attorney, I’ve had referrals come from a chiropractor, medspa owner, nutrition coach, and hairdresser!

Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?

I am the sole owner of my law firm practice, but I co-host a weekly podcast called Divorce Detox with my incredible friend and referral partner, Lisa Happ, who is a certified divorce, narcissistic abuse, and grief coach. Lisa and I were introduced to one another from a mutual friend who also developed both of our websites. From our first one-on-one meeting, I knew that we were aligned in so many ways and meant to collaborate with each other. From that relationship, Divorce Detox was born, and it is our passion project. On our show, Lisa and I have raw, unfiltered conversations about all things divorce and co-parenting related. It also allows us the opportunity to network with and interview a wide range of guests. Divorce Detox is available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://foundationsfamilylaw.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/FoundationsFamilyLaw/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FoundationsFamilyLaw
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jolee-e-vacchi-esq/
• Other: https://divorce-detox.com/ (podcast)

Image Credits
Kate Donovan