Meet Nicole Golfieri

 

We were lucky to catch up with Nicole Golfieri recently and have shared our conversation below.

Nicole, looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?

My work ethic comes from two main places. First, I had amazing examples in both of my parents—they were incredibly dedicated to their work, successful in their careers, and I saw firsthand how much effort and commitment it took for them to achieve their goals. So, growing up, hard work just became second nature because I had such strong role models.

That said, I’ve also noticed that when I wasn’t as engaged or didn’t have the best work ethic, it was often when I was in a role that wasn’t the right fit for me. Looking back, those were times when I wasn’t feeling fulfilled or happy in my work. But the foundation was always there thanks to my parents, and when I was in roles that I loved, it became easy to put in the effort. So, for me, a big part of maintaining that strong work ethic now is being owning LEI Boat Charter, where I’m passionate about curating incredible experiences for all of our guests.

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

I’m the proud owner of a yacht charter company based in in beautiful Marina Del Rey. We offer a fleet of seven spectacular boats—everything from catamarans and sailboats to luxurious sailing yachts. What makes my business so special for me is being part of people’s major life moments. Whether it’s a proposal, a milestone birthday, or a girls’ day on the water, it brings me immense joy to curate those magical experiences out on the water along the gorgeous Southern California coastline.

As for what’s coming up, we’re heading into September and October, and then the winter which is honestly one of the best times of the year to be out on the water. The weather is beautiful, the ocean is calm, and it’s ideal for sailing. Plus, the winter sunsets here are breathtaking—think pink cotton candy skies while you’re bundled up with a cozy blanket and a holiday cocktail. It’s a perfect way to celebrate the holidays with loved ones or even colleagues.

We also have the boat parade in Marina Del Rey coming up, which is always a huge event and tends to book up fast. I’d love to chat more about that for any guests interested!

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

For me, the three most important qualities for success are providing excellent service, clear communication and strong organizational skills. We are where we are today because of our loyal, reoccurring clients, so making sure each one is treated with the utmost respect and care is crucial. Every time I pick up the phone, I think, ‘If I were the customer in this situation, how would I want to be treated?’ That mindset has guided me to put our clients first, even when it might not always seem best for the business in the short term. But I believe that this approach has been a big part of how we’ve grown.

When my husband and I decided to start this business, there were a million reasons not to, and it was definitely a leap of faith. So I think being a little crazy has certainly impacted the journey in a positive way.

Do you think it’s better to go all in on our strengths or to try to be more well-rounded by investing effort on improving areas you aren’t as strong in?

In my experience, it’s best for me to go all in with my strengths. I’ve been fortunate enough to surround myself with people who excel in areas where I’m not as strong. That’s why my husband and I work so well together in our business—we have very different strengths that complement each other. I handle the sales, marketing, and business side, while he focuses on the boats, fleet management, and day-to-day operations. By each playing to our strengths, we’ve been able to grow the business.

Accounting isn’t either of our strong suits, so we hired a great CPA to handle that aspect of our business. Even though it costs money, it saves us time and stress, and ultimately helps me focus on generating more business, which benefits our company in the long run.

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