Meet Julie Seal Gaustad

We recently connected with Julie Seal Gaustad and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Julie, great to have you with us today and excited to have you share your wisdom with our readers. Over the years, after speaking with countless do-ers, makers, builders, entrepreneurs, artists and more we’ve noticed that the ability to take risks is central to almost all stories of triumph and so we’re really interested in hearing about your journey with risk and how you developed your risk-taking ability.

I think my ability to take risks developed out of necessity at first, and later it became something I embraced with confidence. Back when I was teaching, I’d get laid off every summer because of budget cuts and had to reapply and reinterview for my job each year. It was exhausting and uncertain, and I realized I didn’t want to live like that anymore. One morning, over breakfast with my best friend, we decided to pack up and move to Las Vegas, where they were in desperate need of teachers. It wasn’t planned—it was a spur-of-the-moment decision—but we just went for it.

While waiting for a teaching job in Vegas, I worked in sales but I realized Vegas wasn’t for me. Eventually, I found a role back in San Diego in marketing and communications, which opened my eyes to new possibilities. Around that time, I started my first business on the side as something fun. I had no idea it would grow into what it did, but it planted the seed for entrepreneurship.

When I decided to leave my full-time job and go all-in with Mirus Promotions (my first company), I knew it was risky—especially with a mortgage and other responsibilities. But I didn’t just leap blindly; I analyzed my cost of living, mapped out my pipeline, and made sure I had a solid plan. Still, it was a big leap, and I had no doubts I could make it work. That confidence came from knowing I’d faced uncertainty before and always found a way to figure things out.

For me, risk isn’t about being fearless—it’s about trusting yourself to navigate whatever comes your way. That mindset has helped me turn challenges into opportunities time and time again.

Sure, not every risk pays off, but every single one teaches you something. And the more I learned how to take calculated risks, the more confident I became in trusting my gut and my ability to figure things out, even if things didn’t go as planned.

Another piece of this was surrounding myself with the right people. I’m grateful to have very supportive, encouraging parents, and solid support in family and friends. Having mentors, coaches, and a strong team made all the difference. They gave me perspective when I was overthinking or doubting myself. And let’s be real—sometimes just hearing someone say, “You’ve got this,” is exactly what you need to move forward.

Ultimately, I’ve learned that risk is where growth happens. If you’re not willing to take a chance, you’re missing out on the opportunity to create something amazing. I often reflect back on the decisions I’ve made – all led me to where I am today. Everything happens for a reason.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

My journey has been anything but traditional, and that’s what makes it so rewarding! I started my first business on the side as a fun project, but it quickly grew into something much bigger. I had zero business experience. Over time, I’ve realized my passion lies in helping other entrepreneurs and small business owners succeed. Today, I’m a business coach, and my work is all about empowering business owners to grow, scale, and thrive.

What excites me most about what I do is seeing the transformations my clients experience. Whether it’s helping them build a team they can trust, turning their marketing into a profit-driving strategy, or creating systems that allow them to step back and enjoy their business, every win they achieve feels like a win for me too. I love showing business owners that they don’t have to do it all alone—they can lead with confidence and clarity when they have the right tools and support.

I’ve been told by my clients that one aspect that sets me apart is my real-world experience. I’ve been there, done that. I’ve walked the path my clients are on—I’ve built and sold a business, grown teams, faced financial challenges, and taken big risks. I combine that hands-on experience with proven strategies to help my clients achieve real, measurable results. On average, my clients see 60% revenue growth through business improvements we make in coaching, but it’s the confidence and peace of mind they gain that’s amazing to witness.

Right now, I’m focused on expanding my reach through workshops, coaching programs, and events. We host a quarterly business planning workshop called GrowthCLUB, and I continue to strive to fill the room. The community and energy of the day gives business owners the boost they need and they walk away with an actual action plan they can achieve. As a former client, I know the power of GrowthCLUB and having access to a community of like-minded business owners and the power of having a plan, knowing where I’m going and how I’ll get there. I also recently launched a video cast called Business Breakthroughs, where I interview business owners and share tips on growing and scaling a business, maintaining a positive mindset, and overcoming challenges.

For me, it’s all about helping business owners see the potential in their businesses—and themselves. Whether through one-on-one coaching, group programs, or Masterclasses, my goal is to equip them with the tools and confidence to make their vision a reality.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Looking back, I’d say three things really made the biggest impact on my journey: being adaptable, understanding my numbers, and building strong relationships.

Adaptability has been a game-changer. Let’s be real—things don’t always go as planned. Employees leave, markets shift, or an unexpected opportunity pops up, and you’ve got to roll with it. For me, being adaptable meant staying open to change and seeing challenges as chances to learn. My advice? Start looking at setbacks differently. Instead of focusing on what went wrong, ask yourself, “What can I take away from this? What can I do better next time?”

Then there’s understanding your numbers. I didn’t know much about finances when I started, and let me tell you—it showed. I had to learn the hard way how to track profit margins, manage cash flow, and make decisions based on the numbers, not just gut feelings. Once I got it, though, everything changed. My advice? Don’t wait to figure this out. Take a class, read a book, or work with someone who can help you make sense of it. It’s not the most glamorous part of running a business, but it’s one of the most important.

And finally, relationships are everything. I wouldn’t be where I am today without the people around me—clients, team members, mentors, peers. Building strong relationships opens doors you didn’t even know existed. They don’t teach you that in college! My tip here? Be intentional about connecting with people who inspire you or challenge you to grow. And don’t forget, relationships are a two-way street—be generous with your time, advice, and support, and it’ll come back to you in ways you can’t imagine.

If I’ve learned anything, it’s this: Stay curious, don’t shy away from the stuff you don’t know, and surround yourself with great people. Those three things will take you further than you ever thought possible.

As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?

I actually have two books that really stand out when I think about what’s impacted my development the most: The E-Myth by Michael Gerber and Traction by Gino Wickman.

The E-Myth was the first one that really changed how I saw my business. Up until that point, I was working in the business, not on it. I was just going through the day to day and realized there were systems in my business, how-to’s, and if I ever wanted my time and sanity back, I needed to start documenting everything to be able to hand tasks over. That book opened my eyes to the idea that a business should be built on systems and designed to run without you doing everything. It was a total mindset shift. I started thinking, “Wait… I actually have a business and I need to start treating it that way.”

Then a friend gave me Traction, which gave me the tools to start making that happen. It helped me bring more structure to my business, start to streamline operations, and align my small team around a clear vision. I actually started using some of the EOS tools right away, and it made a big difference in how we operated day-to-day. It helped me start thinking about where I wanted to take my business, but I didn’t know how to get there.

Both books pushed me to think differently—and together, they’re what led me to start looking for a coach. I realized if I wanted to grow and build something sustainable, I didn’t need to figure it all out on my own. I needed someone to help guide me through it.

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