Meet Julia Bodwell

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Julia Bodwell. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Julia below.

Hi Julia, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?

Being a small business owner takes a lot of grit and determination. I’d like to think the work ethic required to run my own business came from growing up watching my parents run theirs. As a kid, I watched my dad dedicate himself to providing for our family, to getting up and going to work everyday–even when the weather was bad, even when his body hurt. He put in long hours and labored through physical, strenuous work. He never quit, even when the work was difficult. Similarly, I watched my mom support my dad in every way possible, whether it was keeping the books for the business, calling subcontractors, setting up meetings, putting dinner on the table, or making sure my siblings and I got to and from every school event and social outing. Even as a young adult, when my parents parted ways and each started their own new business ventures, they both continued to instill in me the importance of showing up, working hard, and never losing sight of the goal.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I own and operate The Gilded Page, an indie bookstore located in the heart of downtown Tarpon Springs, Florida. I’m also an author. These two professions compliment each other so well, which allows me the ability to crosspromote one with the other and vice versa. By being an author first, I was able to better understand how the publishing industry works from the artist’s standpoint. Then, upon opening my bookstore, I was able to establish strong, personal relationships with other authors, using my platform to help them reach new readers. Now, not only do I get to connect with readers over my own work, I also get to share in the love of storytelling on a wider scale, connecting readers to other authors I’ve discovered. It’s very useful to be able to understand both sides of the book industry, and it’s a very special position to be in that I can do both.

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?

I think the most important thing is to do what you love. Your passion and excitement for a project–whether it’s writing a novel, starting a business, or anything else creative–will shine through, and others will be drawn to that light. Taking a risk and doing something difficult also takes bravery and perseverance, so it’s important to remind yourself that, even when things get tough or scary, you just have to keep going. Push through the hardships and you’ll be rewarded with the sense of accomplishment upon achieving your goals.

Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?

When I feel like there’s too much on my plate or I’m starting to get overwhelmed, I remind myself to take a break. Whether that’s going for a short walk to clear my head, working on a creative outlet, or enjoying a few pages of the current book I’m reading, even just ten minutes can help me calm and recenter myself. I think the most important advice I can give to others is to understand what your breaking point is, recognize the signs when you’re getting to that point, and give yourself the opportunity to reset, whatever that looks like for you. And just remember, it’s okay to feel overwhelmed and need a break. It doesn’t make you weak, it makes you human.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://juliabodwell.com/
• Instagram: @jbodwellwrites