Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in career development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Julia Erickson, Founder of My Right Fit Job, located in Maplewood, NJ, USA.

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

I'm a career and executive coach specializing in helping people find and succeed in their "right fit" work - a job, a business, a career. I work with people at all stages of their work life and in all industries. My sweet spot is helping people identify their "Core Value Proposition" - work they love doing, having an impact that's meaningful to them, and working in a way that's resonant with their values, personality, and work style. Because then they are happy and provide great value to employers and customers. I have a system and process for identifying the CVP that works with just about everyone.

Tell us about yourself

I began my business after a long nonprofit career where I built and led a prominent organization using marketing, visibility, and relationships to raise money and enlarge impact. I became physically unable to do that kind of work, and through experimentation, I found that coaching was something that I was good at, that people appreciated, and that gave me energy. I love learning about people and their work lives and motivations and then helping them gain confidence in themselves and their abilities/talents. I have a lot of fun, as do my clients.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment is developing solid, trusting relationships with my clients. Most of my clients come through referrals from previous clients, and I have clients who return to me when they are at a career crossroads. I also have clients who retain me to coach them after they have gotten a leadership position.

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

The hardest thing for me about being a business owner is having to do everything administrative. I used to have help when I led a 120-person organization. Now I have to do things I'm not so good at! But I do it because I don't want to have staff to manage. I'm done with that phase of my work life. That's the trade-off I made.

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

  1. Focus, focus, focus on what problem you can solve for a client or customer. What is the pain they have that you have the solution for? And that you enjoy solving? If it's not fun for you, you won't be willing to stick with the business.
  2. Work with someone who can help you articulate what you want to do and help you structure your business. Maybe that's a business coach, the Small Business Administration, or a college or community college. A business plan may be needed, depending on the business. There are people who know what they are doing and can help you. Your business will succeed or not in large part based on your ability to clearly communicate what your business is about.
  3. Listen to other people. You do not know everything. Criticism is a great source of feedback that can sharpen your focus. Someone told me I shouldn't focus on helping people get jobs because the only way someone could be financially free was by owning a business. But I knew that most people are afraid of taking the risk of owning a business. I knew there was a huge market for what I offered. And lo and behold, a fair number of people I work with ended up starting their own businesses because our work together led to that as the "right fit" work for them.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

I didn't think I could be an entrepreneur, but life circumstances forced me to become one. Now I can't imagine working for anyone else, even though I have worked for hundreds of people over the years. I deliver value that is appreciated each and every day.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://myrightfitjob.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JobSearchSuccess
Twitter: https://twitter.com/juliaerickson
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliaerickson/

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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