Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Julia Greensmith, founder of Joyful Connections, located in Oceanside, CA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I accompany moms in the early season of motherhood, specifically those with newborns to 2 years, to embrace more joy & confidence in their journey through connection! I help to support and nurture mothers by holding space for them and teaching a skillset & mindset (including nurturing touch, babywearing, dance, movement, and mindfulness in mothering). In this way, I have found that a mother feels seen, heard, and valued as well as gains confidence and experiences more joy in nurturing a deeper connection to herself, her baby, spouse/partner, and others. She is better able to find a rhythm in her own unique "dance of motherhood."
Tell us about yourself
I have always had a passion for helping others function in their daily lives, which is why I became an Occupational Therapist. It was the wholeness of being human and how to integrate the different parts of us that I found so interesting. Dance has also been a passion of mine since I was three years old. It brings joy to my soul and is a way of connecting to my passion and bringing others together, which has unfolded now into my work with mothers and babies. When I became a mom 14 years ago while still living in South Africa, I discovered babywearing, and I didn't realize then what a significant tool this would be in my own mothering journey as well as now in my business. My early season of motherhood had many ups and downs, and when we immigrated to California with a nine-month-old, and I was five months pregnant, my focus had to be on my babies and navigating life in a new country as a new mom. I thoroughly enjoyed being a mom and sought strength in finding joy in the little moments of our days, even when it felt chaotic. While my babies were still little, and as our family grew to another two babies, I decided to pivot and expand my skills in the mother-baby world and slowly added to my toolbox (infant massage, babywearing educator, babywearing dance) so that when the timing was right, I could begin to create a business around supporting moms using "a little bit of everything" I had learned. I found a way to bring all my skills and experience together, and Joyful Connections was born! I truly feel that connection is at the core of our journey as human beings, and knowing that I can help to facilitate that connection in the early season of motherhood is a true blessing.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I would say that being able to be freely creative and offer services from start to finish that has impacted mothers in such a powerful way in their journey is my biggest accomplishment. It is such a blessing to be able to freely create, share and then receive back the joy and fulfillment of making a difference in the lives of mothers, babies, and families.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
I think being aware of the responsibility of self-leadership requires inner work & reflection in order to serve and hold space as best as possible for others in their journey.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Hold your vision and trust the process. There is so much noise around us. It is so important to be clear on what you desire to bring to the world and not be distracted by what others are doing.
- Prioritize and decide on the "big rocks" in your life and then use a calendar to allocate time for those, and then set intentional time for when you will work on your business. Being able to navigate time for business and separate out family and personal time is so important.
- Enjoy the process, give yourself grace, and be open to constantly learning. If you stumble, make it part of the dance!
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.joyful-connections.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joyfulconnectionswithjulia
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dancing_through_motherhood/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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