We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Murielle Marie Ungricht a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Murielle Marie, appreciate you joining us today. Are you happier as a business owner? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job?
I never want or think about having a regular job, except when I’m taking big risks. I’m a risk-taker by nature and thrive on the challenges and rewards of being a business owner. However, there are times when the thought of having a regular job crosses my mind—and it feels like bliss to me.
The last time I seriously considered giving up being an entrepreneur was during a particularly tough few months in my business, sometime last year. My sales were down, and I envisioned having issues paying my bills and everyone working for me. Signing new clients felt harder, and I was overwhelmed and exhausted, both mentally and physically.
During this time, I started questioning whether having a regular job with a steady paycheck would be easier. I wouldn’t have to constantly worry about making ends meet or dealing with the stress of running a business. But as all the times this happened to me before, I realized that giving up my business would also mean giving up the things that make me truly happy – the freedom to make my own decisions, the excitement of seeing my hard work pay off, and the feeling of accomplishment when overcoming challenges.
So, instead of getting a day job, I decided to start a new business as a response to the slowing down I felt in my coaching business. And that’s how nuumani.com was born! :)
Murielle Marie, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
Hello! I’m Murielle Marie Ungricht, a certified master coach, author, speaker, and tech founder dedicated to helping people get unstuck and create a life they truly love.
My journey into this field wasn’t a straight line but a winding path, first because of my creative generalist nature (and my incapacity to pick just one thing in life), then born from my experiences of feeling lost and unfulfilled. Thus, several aspects of my identity have profoundly shaped my entrepreneurial path.
As someone diagnosed later in life with autism, I’ve developed a unique perspective on navigating the world and understanding the nuances of human experience. This neurodiversity, coupled with my nature as a creative generalist, allows me to approach challenges from multiple angles, bringing a blend of analytical thinking and out-of-the-box solutions to my coaching practice. I also incorporate principles of neuroscience into my daily life, constantly learning and applying techniques to rewire my own brain for greater well-being, productivity, success, and happiness. This personal practice informs my coaching, emphasizing the power of our thoughts in shaping our reality – a belief that underpins my entire approach.
Early in my career, I worked hard at achieving what many would consider “success.” I founded and built a web and application development agency that I exited a decade later to start my coaching career. However, despite everything looking bright and dandy on the outside, I felt a deep disconnect. On those fertile grounds of unhappiness and lack of fulfillment, my parent’s passing in 2010 created the perfect storm that first got me on my knees and later ignited a new fire within me.
I began exploring personal development, diving into books, workshops, and coaching. I enrolled in my first coaching course and started working with clients before graduation! Through this exploration, I discovered a passion for helping others navigate similar challenges – feeling stuck. I realized I wanted to empower people to find their authentic selves, and design lives aligned with their values and passions. But most of all, I wanted people to understand that they create their reality with their thoughts.
This realization led me to dive deep (as a creative generalist and autistic person will do) into all the books, knowledge, courses, and information I could find to help people on their journeys of self-discovery and transformation. My book, “Get Unstuck!” is a culmination of this journey, holding everything I learned in a decade of doing this work and a practical guide for anyone feeling lost or unfulfilled. It offers readers a roadmap to identify what’s holding them back and create a plan to move forward.
The Problems I Solve:
My clients often come to me feeling:
– Stuck: They know they want something more but don’t know how to get there.
– Unfulfilled: They may have achieved external success but feel a lack of purpose or joy.
– Overwhelmed: They’re juggling multiple responsibilities, or feel stretched by too many ideas and interests, and feel stressed and burned out.
– Unsure of their purpose: They may question their career path or life direction.
– Held back by limiting beliefs/their thoughts: They may struggle with self-doubt, lack of self-confidence, negative thoughts, overthinking, procrastination, or fear of failure.
I help my clients gain clarity, overcome limiting beliefs, develop a plan of action, build self-awareness, confidence, courage, and determination, and lastly, create a more fulfilling life.
What I Offer:
I provide a range of services designed to support individuals in overcoming obstacles and achieving their goals:
– One-on-One Coaching: This is the heart of my work. I partner with creative (generalist) and entrepreneurial clients to explore their challenges, identify their strengths, clarify their visions, and develop actionable strategies for creating lasting change. My coaching style is experiential and experimental (yes, so much fun!), supportive, big-picture, and dreamy, but also practical and results-oriented.
– Workshops and Speaking Engagements: I offer workshops and speak at events on topics related to manifesting (thoughts creating reality), getting unstuck, and combining passions into a purposeful career (hello, creative generalist, I see you!), and the future of AI in coaching. These engagements are designed to inspire, educate, and empower audiences to take control of their lives.
– “Get Unstuck!” Book: My book serves as a guide for those who want to understand and overcome the feeling of being stuck. It provides practical exercises and a 4-step framework to help readers identify their roadblocks and create a plan for moving forward.
What Sets Me Apart:
– My own experience: My journey from feeling stuck to creating a fulfilling life gives me a deep understanding of my client’s challenges. I can empathize with their struggles and offer guidance from a lived experience. This includes navigating life with autism, which provides me with unique insights.
– Holistic approach: I believe in addressing all aspects of a person’s life – mind, body, and spirit – to create lasting change. One of my favorite quotes is: “A business can only grow as much as the owner.” I believe this is true – for careers also!
– Focus on empowerment: I don’t just help clients figure out what to do; I teach them a system of life that they can apply to any future challenge.
What I’m Most Proud Of:
I am incredibly proud of my impact on my clients’ lives. Seeing them break free from limiting beliefs and create lives they love is the most rewarding aspect of my work. Receiving love notes from them and updates about all the fantastic things they are still achieving, long after our work together, makes my life worth living!
What I Want You To Know:
If you’re feeling stuck, please know that you’re not alone, and there is hope. Change is possible, and you have the power to create a life you truly love. I’m here to support you on your journey. Whether you choose to work with me one-on-one, hear me speak, or read my book, I hope to inspire and empower you to get unstuck. I believe everyone deserves to live a life filled with joy, purpose, and fulfillment, and I’m committed to helping you achieve that. It’s my way of helping us get to world peace :)
What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?
That’s a great question, and for me, it’s been a combination of several key strategies working together. It wasn’t one magic bullet but rather a holistic approach. Early on, working pro bono was really helpful. It allowed me to gain experience, build confidence, and demonstrate the value of my coaching to potential clients. It also led to some great testimonials that still showcase my expertise today and attract new clients. Closely related to that, I was never doubting myself. Believing in my ability to help others was essential, especially when I didn’t have the expertise I have today.
From the beginning, I also made sure I had a professional online presence with a website in English. This immediately expanded my reach and added credibility – especially as a French- and Dutch-speaking coach from Belgium like me. My ‘pay it forward’ program has also been a great way to give back and attract clients who appreciate that philosophy. Of course, word-of-mouth has been huge in my success. Providing a truly great customer experience is so important. Happy clients naturally become your best promoters.
And finally, in the beginning, I wasn’t afraid to work for free or under my usual price. It was a strategic way to build my portfolio, gain experience, and get those initial clients who then referred others.
What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?
While I’ve found a combination of strategies effective, word-of-mouth referrals have consistently been a valuable source of new clients for me. There’s nothing quite like the power of a trusted friend or colleague recommending your services. It’s not uncommon for me to coach siblings of clients or friends and colleagues. When someone comes to me through a referral, there’s already a built-in level of trust and credibility. Of course, I nurture those referrals by providing an exceptional experience, which then leads to more referrals. It’s a wonderful cycle that really works! (And is often underrated.)
Something else that bears fruit for my business on a daily basis is the power of SEO through blogging. This has become an increasingly effective way to attract new clients.
I realized that during my coaching sessions, certain pain points kept coming up again and again. So, I started writing these recurring issues down and created a master file of them. This file has become a goldmine for blog post ideas! By addressing these common challenges in my blog posts and including strong calls to action (CTAs) at the end of each one, I can attract people actively searching for solutions to those specific problems. It’s a way of demonstrating my expertise, providing value upfront, and guiding potential clients toward my services. So, while word-of-mouth remains incredibly important, SEO through targeted blog content has become a powerful complement, bringing in a steady stream of qualified leads almost daily.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.muriellemarie.com and www.nuumani.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/muriellemarie/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coachmuriellemarie
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/muriellemarie/
Image Credits
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