We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Julia Maldonado a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Julia, so happy to have you on the platform and I think our readers are in for a treat because you’ve got such an interesting story and so much insight and wisdom. So, let’s start with a topic that is relevant to everyone, regardless of industry etc. What do you do for self-care and how has it impacted you?
So, I think defining what self-care means to you and what it encompasses is critical and then constantly re-evaluating where you could be better is so important to your effectiveness or happiness, rather.
Since I spend a majority of my time sitting at a computer and looking at a screen, self-care to me means ensuring I get up frequently to move around and also take mental breaks away from social media. I am very lucky to work from home, so this may just be me taking a break to throw in a load of laundry or straighten up the house a bit. I have also had to make a conscious effort to become much more self-disciplined in the past five years, in order to separate work and family. I make it a point to regularly end my day at 5, put my phone and computer away and focus on family time. I don’t work nights or weekends either. Of course, there are those out-of-the-ordinary exceptions, but that is my regular, rule-of-thumb.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I established InTandem Digital Consulting, an online, digital marketing agency, based in Atlanta, Georgia, after serving 10+ faithful years in various marketing roles in corporate technology and software organizations.
In 2016, shortly after my son and third child was born, I wanted more– more purpose than just a ‘9 to 5’ in a cubicle, long commutes and only 2 days a week with my family. I yawned at the idea of spending more of my professional career in endless, mind-numbing meetings. I wanted to innovate and collaborate with like-minded creatives who had a similar zest for life and a passion for elevating others.
In 2019 I established InTandem Digital with the primary mission to help other entrepreneurs to achieve their own goals and grow their businesses. In 2020, I officially incorporated InTandem Digital Consulting as an LLC. I now partner with small to mid-size businesses, and offer marketing strategy and design services. Every day is exciting and different. Every day I have great purpose and every day is what I make it.
When you ask what’s most exciting for me right now, it’s that I’ve created this really cool ‘thing’ and I get to share it with someone else! I’m moving into the fifth year and initial growth phase of my business. I’ve spent the last several years establishing my internal business processes and client base. I’ve gotten to a sweet spot where my revenue and workload are pretty consistent and I can bring on some outside help.
Best of all, I got so lucky that a friend of mine from high school AND an old college roommate agreed to come on board last year. She was a stay-at-home mom to two littles at the time and really anxious about re-entering the workforce after a multi-year gap in employment (and not to mention having to leave her children for a j.o.b). Being able to share this gift with my friend has been everything to me. We laugh all day on screen share, we give each other candid feedback to make each other better, we are constantly fine-tuning our customer experience process and not to mention, she offsets the busy workload.
The mutual benefit to us both has been priceless. I was able to professionally train her with some invaluable design skills that she can take with her anywhere; gave her freedom to choose her own earning potential and work-life-balance. In return, I feel I have gotten so much more– a creative collaborator to bounce ideas off of, a partner and cohort to experience the daily ups and downs with and a closer than ever friend.
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?
On my own personal and professional journey, I think the most impactful to my very initial entrepreneurial success has been based on these three qualities: my ability to be agile in an ever-changing industry, process-driven and self-disciplined.
AGILITY
You must be able to easily evolve with your changing environment, tools you use, people and personalities your work with and clients expectations.
PROCESS-DRIVEN
You can’t just willy-nilly or haphazardly create a business– well you can, but it’s not sustainable (and you’ll piss a lot of people off). The most vital skill I learned in corporate was in creating repeatable-processes and I have built my digital agency’s business foundation on them. I have a tried-and-true process that’s been tested and works for all of my service offerings. Whether it’s designing your website or logo or managing your social media campaign, your interactions with me and my team are seamless.
SELF-DISCIPLINE
When you are an entrepreneur or freelancer you don’t have a boss standing over your shoulder and micromanaging you. While that is great freedom, you must be your own boss and constantly keep yourself in check. This means defining your personal and professional boundaries and sticking with those ‘rules of engagement’.
My BEST advice for others? Balance and success are constant moving trajectories, but when regularly reevaluated and pursued, pay off in insurmountable ways. Do not compromise your health and well-being just for good health insurance and benefits- it’s anti-intuitive, right? Live a healthy, inspiring life. Practice gratitude, daily. Be intentional about your goals and aspirations and mostly importantly, once you understand this, help another on their way!
Tell us what your ideal client would be like?
The words, ‘in tandem’ mean ‘alongside’ and ‘together’. I truly love working with other collaborators. I love clients who are responsive, respectful, and open to consultative, strategic advice. We create ever-lasting partnerships with our clients and we take that very seriously, so we expect the same level of professionalism in return. We absolutely love to help small businesses get off the ground and also love working with cause-crusading, non-profits!
Together, Awe-Inspiring is Possible
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.intandemdigital.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/intandemdigital
- Facebook: facebook.com/InTandemDigital
- Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/juliemariemignone
- Yelp: yelp.com/biz/intandem-digital-consulting-buford
- Other: Google My Business Reviews
Image Credits
Ashley Akins Photography
