Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Julia Gentry, Founder of The Dream Factory and Co., located in Bend, OR, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

My business is The Dream Factory and Co., and we have one mission - To challenge, encourage, and equip people to dream again. And we do that by giving people the tools and resources to get unstuck and clear on what they want most in life, reprogramming their thoughts and beliefs, so they can live out the dream they have within them.

Tell us about yourself

By the age of twenty-three, I built a successful company in real estate that bought and sold millions of dollars worth of investment property, only to end up with $100,000 in debt. I then rebuilt my career as a business coach, advising hundreds of entrepreneurs on how to build a successful business. It was here that I began to see patterns of what I call "the gap." The gap between what you want and what you have, the gap between what you dream and your current reality. This is why I do what I do!!! Because in a day and age where we can google anything and have everything we need at the click of a button, and yet we are struggling with anxiety, depression, suicide, and hopelessness at an all-time high, we don't need more information; we need transformation!

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My answer is two-fold:

The fact that I can keep the main thing, THE MAIN THING. I am a passionate wife and a mom of 5, and they ARE my main thing.

I wrote a Best Selling book, DREAM - I Dare You, that is literally changing the way people live, love, and dream with their whole hearts! This book was written in an experiential fashion that actually walks someone through the limits that hold them back and positions them to walk in greater freedom and alignment so they can serve their dreams in this world.

What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?

I write about this in my book, and I don't think it's solely a "business owner" issue; I think it's a human issue, and that is what I call "the juxtaposition." This is the weight of what I want and the reality of what I have, and having the courage, boldness, and vision to bridge the gap and make the impossible possible even when you don't see it. It's making decisions based on where you're going and not all the narrative of what you're currently looking at. Yet, I believe that it's this beautiful pressure that postures us to carry the weight of the blessing. Sooooo, #pickyourhard and #dreamon

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

Oh, this is my FAVORITE question, and it's #simplestupidhard:

  1. Start and don't stop! The hardest day will be the day that you start. The next hardest day will be the day that you want to quit. SOOOOO, start, and then don't quit!
  2. Learn to make decisions based on where you're going, not where you are. This takes clear vision and conviction. You HAVE to be sooooo clear, so bought into your own dreams and visions for the future that even when hard days come, and obstacles arise (cuz they will), you "can't not."
  3. Run with a community of like-minded individuals. There is absolutely a certain mindset that is required to be a dream... business owner... faith walker, and you really need people who have the same mindset around you to help you and encourage you on ALL the days. The tendency will be to go back to the "familiar hell" or what most would call their "comfort zone," so it's imperative to surround yourself with people who are connected to your vision.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://thejuliagentry.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/juliacgentry
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejuliagentry/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliagentry/

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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