Green Bay woman chases her dream as a life coach, with some help from business coaches, mentors
Julia Piechota of Green Bay felt called to be a life coach and spent years in preparation. She practiced what she preaches and sought out business coaches and mentors.
“I got a degree in wellness and health promotion at NWTC-Green Bay,” Piechota said. “Ideally, it was my dream to be a life coach. But I had this hesitation — a fear in taking the next step forward and hired a coach. I needed to get in a good place so I could start building this business.”
She found a mentor in the Rise Leadership Circle and took a six-month course on how to build a business. She took an entrepreneurial boot camp course through the Small Business Development Center at UW-Green Bay. She joined a networking group and obtained a Green Bay SCORE Chapter mentor.
As Piechota chased her dream, she worked as a wellness engagement specialist, weight loss counselor, and customer service representative for a health insurance company. These experiences kept her focused on her overall goal. It was a matter of going all in that proved to be difficult.
“Oh my gosh, I knew this was what I wanted to do," she said. "I had trouble going forward because my parents had owned a small business, and it left a bad taste in my mouth. Then, during COVID, a lot of people were saying that it was a terrible time to start, but I just kept going and taking small steps forward. I am a firm believer that if there is a calling placed on your heart, you move forward.”
Her business, Julia Piechota Life and Health Coach for Women, began to take shape. She obtained certification from the National Board of Health and Wellness, put together a marketing plan, developed a website, and penned a mission statement.
“My mission is to decrease the pain and suffering in the world and bring peace,” she said.
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Practically, as the victim of an abusive relationship, Piechota wants to help other women find a path forward just as she did. Her vision is to plant and water seeds that cause a ripple effect in decreasing divorce rates and helping women find a way out of toxic relationships. The steps require life balance.
“For me, a balanced life, means balancing your work, personal life, self-care, eating habits, physical activity, and sleep habits and looking at life through a wellness wheel," she said. "I help you look at the time spent on each activity and determine if it’s out of alignment.”
Most of the coaching is done virtually. The most popular choice is a three-month program with six modules that includes techniques for healing from past traumas, rewiring their mindset, and creating a better self.
“It is about your mindset and shifting it to improve your mental health and build up your confidence, self-worth, and self-esteem,” Piechota said.
The lessons she shares often mirror her own journey. As the victim of a bad relationship, she says she knows what it’s like to be with someone who lies to you and abuses you whether it be mentally, emotionally, or physically. She warns against falling into a “people pleaser” mode.
On her website, she asks what struggles potential clients might be facing. In addition to bad relationships, she mentions other common struggles such as lack of discipline in following through on goals, feeling unfulfilled, and settling in life.
The coaching comes as at a good time as trends point to it being a major growth industry; part of the growth fueled by the pandemic. According to research, COVID-19 gave rise to soul-searching and caused people to come out of their comfort zone and adapt to the “new norm.” That has resulted in a shift in life perspective and life coaches are in demand to help provide clarity.
In addition, the digital transformation that has taken place makes it easier for coaches to connect. Piechota sees that as a major advantage.
“I work out of my house, and coaching is done by telephone or virtually," she said. "This will give me the flexibility to travel and work anywhere.”
For new clients, it starts out with a discovery call where she and the client determine if there is a fit.
“Are they in a place where they will commit to coaching?" she said. "What have they tried and what has and hasn’t worked? Can I help them? Are they in the right place to receive coaching?”
If there is a match, there is a plan and pricing set in place, and coaching begins. Although the initial plan is for three months, Piechota acknowledges that it is individual and clients are encouraged to continue until they feel good within themselves. Coaching is currently individual, but she says her goal is to also do group coaching, presentations for businesses, and writing.
In the interim, the focus is on building awareness through social media, her website, word-of-mouth, and networking. As a new business owner, she is frank when she says that she isn’t quite sure what it looks like to build a business, but she is learning a great deal in the process.
“From what I’ve learned, my recommendation to a person starting a business would be to take advantage of the free resources like SCORE. Be flexible and go with the flow. Continue to be patient and trust the process," she said.
Tina Dettman-Bielefeldt is co-owner of DB Commercial Real Estate in Green Bay and past district director for SCORE, Wisconsin.