Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Julia Thompson. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Julia, thanks for joining us today. The first dollar you earn in a new endeavor is always special. We’d love to hear about how you got your first client that wasn’t a friend or family.
In 2018 I was working full time at a nutrition supplement company as the Influencer Marketing Specialist. At the time, proving your ROI as an Influencer was still a bit of the wild west, and my team had the incredible opportunity to pioneer what success looked like in the space. I met and worked with so many creative, passionate and hard working individuals. I was so inspired and motivated by what I was doing, and wanted to break the stigma around the new space in advertising and social media, that I even started my own podcast about the influencer industry called Added Value. I interviewed Influencer Specialists on the brand side and influencer talent to get their take on the industry.
At this time, I was really exploring my personal growth path and diving into wellness and spirituality. Podcasts were the new thing, and I quickly found and fell in love with a podcast called Almost 30. As part of one of our influencer activations and podcast advertising strategy, we partnered with the hosts for a live community event. After meeting them in person and seeing their impact firsthand, I knew I had to be a part of what they were doing!
It was the perfect opportunity to shoot my shot to learn from and work for women I admired in a field I was extremely passionate about. So, I sent them an email explaining I had no official experience in podcast management, but I had gotten so much value from listening to their show that I would do anything for a chance to be a part of their mission. I offered up my relevant experience working with talent, my organizational skills and familiarity with the backend of podcasting based on starting my own. To my surprise, they actually replied to my email and the rest is history!
One call led to one meeting at Erewhon in LA (while I was there on a work trip that magically aligned with the timing!) and I was hired as their part time podcast manager! It was the most exciting opportunity I had received professionally and I couldn’t believe I landed a dream job with one part manifestation, one part being at the right place at the right time, and one part cold emailing! It really showed me the power of putting yourself out there and going for what you want.
I kept my full time job for the first six months I worked with them. I am really glad I decided to take it on as a side hustle, but it wasn’t easy! I ended up driving from San Diego (where I moved at the same time I started the job) to LA and back on my birthday, worked weekends, and did not have great boundaries with work at the time. However, it allowed me to prove myself and pitch myself for another role in the company, taking my position with them full time. This allowed me to slowly become a freelancer with the security of working full time in two positions for one client. I also learned more than I ever could have in school or in a traditional job setting.
I am so unbelievably grateful for this experience and opportunity, as it has led to me creating my dream life and job working as a freelancer. I didn’t know it then, but taking the chance and pitching myself for this side gig ended up being the turning point for my career, and introduced me to almost every client I’ve had the pleasure of working with since.
Above all else, my journey is a testament to the popular saying, “what’s meant for you will always find you.” I couldn’t have dreamed or planned my path would unfold the way it has, but I have taken the lessons I’ve learned and opportunities I’ve been given to heart, and never for granted. If you work hard, aren’t afraid to try new things and put yourself out there, your biggest dreams (ones you might not have even known you had), just might come true!
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 am a proud multihyphenate freelancer with a background primarily in PR, podcasting and social media with an emphasis on brands in the health and wellness industry. I’ve worked with clients on all parts of their businesses; from operations to team management to marketing. I am well versed in supporting the client journey and connecting with them through strategic marketing. I am sort of an organizational processes nerd. I know what it takes to build a brand with meaning and longevity, that the why behind what you do is the key to success, and that the secret sauce to having a team that thrives is a shared goal and mission.
I’m proud to have helped unload some of the backend business operational tasks from creative entrepreneurs so they can focus on what they do best. I am proud to have brainstormed top podcast guests and topics that have expanded thousands of people’s personal growth journeys. I am proud to have shared the messaging of efficacious brands aiming to make the world a healthier place through emerging mediums. I’m proud to have connected with hard working, heart-centered individuals who care about making a positive impact in the world.
One client experience that stands out is with my first and longest client, Britt Piper, Somatic Experiencing Practitioner. Through consistency and strategic content creation I helped her grow her social media presence on Instagram from 19k to 195k in 3 years, leading to a 7 figure book deal. I’ve helped her streamline her program and bring in 4x the revenue to her business and aligned her with opportunities to spread her powerful story and make a real difference in people’s lives.
I’ve grown and adapted my business as often as needed. I created my own invoice system, I made my own website, I started sharing my knowledge on TikTok as I looked for ways to expand my own impact and reach to help others. I am not afraid to say yes even when I may not always know the how (yet), and continue to provide timely, thorough and well-executed work for anyone I work with. I stay in the know on the latest trends and news in my industry, and am always looking to learn more!
I am proud of my journey, but I also know it’s only the beginning. I’m excited to see where my skills and passions take me next!
Where do you think you get most of your clients from?
How you treat people and the quality of your work will always speak the loudest. ALL of my clients have been acquired through referrals from past clients and coworkers. It doesn’t only matter what your boss thinks of you, it’s how you show up for the people sitting next to you and those you interact with whether its clients/customers/guests. I am so grateful that my first client reached out because I had worked with her to coordinate scheduling a time for her to be a guest on a podcast I was managing. A few simple correspondence emails showed her I was organized, kind and someone she’d like to work with! You never know where your next client can come from, so treat everyone you come in contact with on all sides of business with respect and kindness. I’ve also had some success with new clients on TikTok, but that’s only been recently!
Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?
After spending three years as the manager/general manager for kickboxing studios with a team of over 16 coaches and trainers, I learned so much about what it means to be a good leader. At the beginning, I was lucky to have one on one training with experts in running teams and fitness studios. One thing I know how to do really well is follow instructions, and navigating a franchise business was the perfect place for me to flourish. I took in everything my mentors had to say to run the top franchise in the country. I won two awards for my leadership abilities and high retention rate at my studios. People stayed at our studio because they loved our team, and that was one of the most rewarding parts of the job!
I believe leadership is about jumping in the ring (or in this case, on the mat!) with your team. From mopping floors to teaching classes to selling memberships, I didn’t opt out of any part of the process I was asking them to do. However, I certainly was not perfect. Doing all the typical instructor tasks plus all of the management and revenue sides of the business was A LOT. I was working a ton, commuting back and forth to Memphis from Nashville every two weeks, and by the end, running on fumes. When you’re burnt out and not in a good head space, it’s hard to be a good, present leader, and keep your stresses from leaking out to your team. This taught me the best thing you can do for your team as a manager is to make sure you have the proper support and boundaries you need to be your best self.
Honestly though, the biggest lessons I learned about management came from having bosses that made me feel terrible when mistakes were made and communicated disrespectfully. I now look back with so much understanding and empathy, but when you experience a high anxiety work environment, it’s not something you ever forget. I learned how to treat people based on how I didn’t appreciate being treated, and perhaps that’s the biggest takeaway, especially if you’re someone new to management without official training.
Those negative experiences led me to develop a much gentler approach to management that makes everyone happier. I ask questions before assuming when mistakes arise, and I lead with empathy instead of judgment in my response. I take on responsibility instead of blaming my team – an important lesson I learned and took away from my kickboxing manager role. I learned that you can be a “soft” leader, and people will still respect you. I realized that my own mental health and well-being is much more peaceful when I respond with collaborative solutions rather than frustration. As many of us have personally experienced, you don’t have to punish anyone or make them feel bad for them to learn from their mistakes.
Keeping morale high is simple: acknowledge and appreciate your team. You don’t have to buy elaborate gifts or run challenges (though they can be fun at times). People just want to be seen and appreciated for what they do! Not to mention, paid accordingly. Hopefully that is a given! You also want to give them a path for increased earning potential and growth. Personally, my motivation has fallen off a cliff any time I feel stifled in a role. You want them to know you believe in them and their potential, and in return you’ll get the reward of their loyalty and talent!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.julesthompson.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jusevson/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliaseverinothompson/
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@jusevson
