Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Ludovica Corda, Founder of Transformational Language Coaching, LLC., located in Port Chester, NY, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Ciao! I'm an Italian Language Coach, and I've been helping English speakers connect to my country of origin and learn its beautiful language for more than ten years. I work with highly motivated individuals of all ages who are interested in keeping their brains healthy and learning Italian, no matter their current level of competency and specific goals.
With my unique, fun, and effective approach, my clients learn in a matter of months what traditional courses teach in years! During the course of my career, I found myself coaching AP students, retirees, young professionals, CEOs…all the way to actors on set. I cherish every single experience, as it taught me something new and ultimately made me a better coach.
Tell us about yourself
I was born and raised in Italy, and, like any other European kid, I had to learn English in school. I didn't like it at all: at best, my attitude towards the language (and my teachers) could be described as indifference, with a touch of defiant resistance on a bad day.
Fast-forward to the end of my master's degree, when I went to France on a work-exchange program and found myself in need of quickly learning the language so that I could work in my field - which at the time was Art Conservation. Looking back, I'd say that it was there and then that my approach to foreign languages drastically changed. Instead of simply doing the bare minimum, I decided to learn as much as I could, as fast as I could, as best as I could: it became a personal challenge. At the end of my 18-month-long stay, I was able to attend crowded parties with natives, speak like one of them, write formal emails, watch movies, read French newspapers and scientific literature, and understand every single joke at comedy shows!
After achieving such results in such a short time, something clicked: I understood that if it was possible for somebody who had never been "good at languages" to learn one to such a high level of mastery in less than two years, then anyone could do the same. I also started realizing the impact that living and breathing a new language was having on me. I now know that the language we speaks impact the way we think and that our thoughts shape our reality. So, by changing our language, we can change our programming and, ultimately, our lives. Today, through my own example and my coaching practice, I have the privilege of showing people that anyone can embrace a new language, culture, mindset, and life at any point… Anything is possible, and it's truly never too late!
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment, both as a business owner and a human being, has been the creation of my company – Transformational Language Coaching, LLC. I made the decision to quit my full-time job and risk it all during one of the most difficult chapters of my life: I was going through a divorce and wasn't really sure of how I would have managed to pay my bills moving forward, but I knew that the time had come for me to transition on both the personal and professional planes.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
On my business journey so far, the hardest thing I had to do was to work on my belief: holding the vision in mind and course-correcting, through ups and downs, to keep sailing towards it has been a spiritual experience of some sort. Strong faith and persistence were vital to getting to where I am today and, I'm sure, will be essential in the years to come.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Train yourself to follow your intuition, not your fears.
- Get super clear on what you want the vision for your life and your business to be.
- Find people who inspire you (mentors and role models) and learn from their journey.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
Yes! Never stop learning. The best thing you can do for yourself is to dedicate a couple of hours each day to studying: your personal and professional growth go hand in hand.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.languagecoachnyc.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/LudovicaCorda/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ludovicadroc/
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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