We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jimmy Urciuoli. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jimmy below.
Jimmy, thank you so much for joining us today. Let’s jump right into something we’re really interested in hearing about from you – being the only one in the room. So many of us find ourselves as the only woman in the room, the only immigrant or the only artist in the room, etc. Can you talk to us about how you have learned to be effective and successful in situations where you are the only one in the room like you?
Being a queer community leader in a small Tennessee city has come with feelings of isolation. Though there are many progressive minds & allies in Chattanooga, our LGBTQ+ community is small and decentralized. In years past, I have attempted to diminish my queerness by presenting more masculine, both as a measure of safety and likability. I have taken steps over the past year to make my true self more visible, which has been largely embraced. I hope this is encouraging to anyone struggling with authenticity in the public sphere.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I have been teaching yoga for 10 years in public, private, and corporate settings, and have directed a litter mitigation & waste education nonprofit, Green Steps, since 2019. Through these fields, I’ve been able to connect with a wide variety of people through the lens of self-care and care for the planet, which are truly one in the same. I long to travel the world, sharing the practice of yoga & litter cleanups as a way to connect myself and others to a life that nourishes our bodies and the collective.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
1.) Putting yourself out there, regardless of how refined your skills are. JUST DO IT! 2.) Strive to learn something new every day.
3.) NETWORK! Talk to the people you’re drawn to- you never know what opportunities could come out of a conversation at a gathering.
What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?
The number one challenge in my work has always been money. As a freelance & contract worker, it can go from overflow to scarcity in just a matter of a month. People get excited about yoga on January 1st, and tend to fall off as the year progresses. Only an estimated 8% of new practitioners adhere to a yoga routine! In my environmental work, the momentum tends to build around holidays like Earth Day, National Public Lands Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, etc., and then it’s crickets.
I’ve learned to strike when the iron is hot, and build a little more traction with every passing year. Patience has been key to my longevity, and pausing to focus on the passions that got me excited in the first place. It’s no easy journey, but I trust that opportunities are abundantly waiting around every corner.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/jimonalimb
- Instagram: jimonalimb
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jimonalimb
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmy-urciuoli-3b556a156/
