Julie Kaminski is an expert at designing one-of-a-kind recipes for her clients to achieve their optimum health and happiness – so when it came time for her to transition her hobby business to a “big girl” business, she knew the process to shift her business in exactly the right way for herself – and HER optimal health (including financial health!) and happiness.
Tell us a little bit about yourself: age, where you live, where you grew up, what you do, etc.
I’m approaching 52 years on the planet, currently living in Hunterdon County NJ (beautiful part of NJ but taxes are through the roof – 25k currently – yikes) I grew up across the Delaware River in Bucks County PA, specifically Levittown – the mass-produced post war pre-fab neighborhood – very working class and very different than the horse farm surroundings I live in today.
For the last 30 years, my “hobby” business has been in the health and happiness realm. Specifically, as a fitness instructor, personal trainer, mental health counselor and wellness coach. I began teaching group fitness in college and continued as a side hobby through a successful career in pharmaceuticals. I left the business world and pursued a Master’s degree before having our first child 22 years ago, all the while still teaching a class here and there.
What’s your money moment? Briefly describe what happened.
Teaching group fitness and training a handful of clients allowed me to have a sense of professional self while still being a full-time mother. The income certainly didn’t pay our mortgage, but gave me immense joy and satisfaction as it still does today.
Now my three children are becoming more independent – one has graduated from college, one has just graduated from high school, and my youngest will be an independent driver in a few months. While I will always be their mother, the hands-on parenting is transitioning to a supportive role. Their new wings are blossoming and growing in strength just as they should be, very bittersweet for me – I love being a mother.
The time is right for me to transition as well. I want my “hobby” business to spread its wings too. I want a “big girl business!” No longer a little side gig, I want to try my hand at taking 30 years of experience out into the world, outside the comfort zone, and give the big leagues a shot! This is my money moment.
What was your money mindset before this happened? (How did you feel about money in general?) How did your money mindset change after this happened?
With this transition comes a big shift in money. I invested in a new website with all the trimmings. Before the shift, it would have been a fun new toy, but now that I’m running a business, it’s a tool – a tool that I must capitalize on and use to grow my business. I’m not playing any more – this is real – I have a set amount of investment and I need to invest wisely.
The stark reality and fear came into realization when I calculated what I need to make to cover my costs – $1500/month for the next year to cover my costs and website investment – that’s dramatically different than the $100/month I make after covering my costs as a part time instructor. Yikes – this is not a hobby anymore and an “Aha” reality moment.
What’s the biggest lesson, takeaway, or aha moment you got from this experience?
I want to be successful, not only by helping others, or in finding meaning and engagement in the work I do, but I also need feel achievement in a financial manner as well professional success. When it’s a “hobby business”, income played a minor role. Now that it’s a business, financial success must be a focus as well. It’s outside my comfort zone of my “mom role,” but I’m ready to spread my wings as well.
What would you most like people to know about money?
Don’t be afraid to look beyond money as a marker of achievement and meaning. As a coach, I know I’ve helped women make true transformational change, even life saving. This is truly meaningful. I’m part of a mastermind group of women. We’re segmented by the “size” or revenue of our businesses (ie 7 Figure Club). While I don’t make 7 figures in income, I view my impact as equal.
Visit Julie at her webiste: https://juliekaminski.com/
