We recently connected with Joyce Shulman and have shared our conversation below.

Joyce, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What do you think it takes to be successful?

Success starts with a clear understanding of what success actually means for you as an individual. Success is not one-size-fits-all and shouldn’t be defined by society’s standards or what you see on social media. Success should be personal, aligned with your values, desires, and the life you want to lead. Once you know what you’re aiming for, the path forward requires focus: the ability to cut through distractions and stay committed to your goals. It also takes consistent, often unglamorous work. But perhaps most importantly, true success demands passion because passion fuels perseverance. It brings energy to the effort and helps you stay connected to your “why,” especially when challenges arise. So, to be successful, define it for yourself first—and then bring everything you’ve got to its pursuit. Over the past decade, I have worked hard to get clear on what my dream life looks like — and it has changed from what I thought the dream looks like. And the most valuable thing I have discovered is how close I can get to the dream, while still chasing the goals that are important to me.

Joyce, 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 spent the first decade of my professional life learning to ask why and say no. Why does it have to be like that? Why do I have to work like that? I quit my first job when my law firm’s managing partner told me I couldn’t wear pants to work.

I spent the second decade of my professional life creating community and empowering women as the founder and CEO of Macaroni Kid, a multi-million dollar, hyper-local media company. How? By giving women actual, tactical tools to build businesses of their own, against the backdrop of an incredible, supportive community.

I spent the third decade of my professional life building two brands focused on women, wellness and walking. Writing books, speaking on community, wellness, and, of course, walking your way to better.

And this decade? After three successful companies and three exits — and several more unsuccessful ventures along the way, I’m bringing it all together: coaching women to discover professional lives that work for them because, despite what you may have heard, business is personal.

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

This one is actually easy for me. I trained as a lawyer and practiced as a litigator for a decade. That education and that experience trained me to look for the problems, the pitfalls and the risks. As an entrepreneur, I had to unlearn that and teach myself to look for the open spaces and the opportunities.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

Over the years, I’ve developed and refined what I call a 10-Touch Strategy, which I’ve deployed in a variety of ways over the years. I’ve used it to develop client relationships, in sales, to secure media coverage and to expand my network. I describe it as “simple but not easy:” I connect with 10 people each week in a personal, authentic way and invite them to a conversation that aligns with whatever my current goal is. It has been so successful for me that it is the subject of my new book.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.joyceshulman.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joyce.r.shulman/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joyce.shulman/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joyceshulman/