We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Lydia Hurlbut. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Lydia below.
Lydia, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
Discovering my purpose was a soulful journey that evolved and unfolded over the course of three decades as I explored my passions and interests, and ultimately discovered what made my heart feel full while using all of my skills.
Early in life, nursing became an obvious career to explore, as I had grown up caring for my mother who had bipolar disorder. After being waitlisted at Chicago Medical School, I choose to pursue a master’s degree at UVA studying Critical Care Nursing with a specialty in Forensics, Sexual Assault and Profiling.
This amazing chapter in my career, and life, shifted dramatically when Shane and I, after 10 years of marriage, decided to have children. As our family grew, I also became a certified life coach, which felt like a natural addition to my skill set. It’s now been 14 years since I wrote out my business plan for the Hurlblog – with the amazing support of truly wonderful friends and family.
Along the way there were other transformational moments in my life, like gaining my certification in Reiki energy healing and suffering a life-altering bout with spinal meningitis.
Through all these twists and turns, I discovered that my true purpose in life is to combine my background in science and health with my passion for wellness and healing, to help others become the best version of themselves. As a life and business coach, I find it incredibly rewarding when my clients finally have their unique “ah-ha” moments; and then create an action plan that is in alignment with their greatest talents and has a strategy for generating income.
What is the most exciting or special aspect of our brand?
Having been surrounded by a phenomenal community of entrepreneurial women when I began building my business – and truly ever since – I feel the enormous value of being part of something greater than yourself.
Filmmakers Academy is built on the idea of community, as a safe space to explore, find inspiration, continuously learn, and garner support from like minded individuals. Our content is both practical and insightful for filmmakers as they rise in their careers to achieve new levels of success.
With the platform and app plush-full of engaging learning content, a supportive global network, job opportunities from other members, spotlight coaching, networking events, and so much more – there are a plethora of ways members can both participate and give back to the community within FA.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Unwavering commitment to my own health and wellness – After I had meningitis, my body was broken. I was trying to be all things to all people and ignoring what I needed to be healthy. I have since learned that in order to maintain a successful family, business and career, self-care is a non-negotiable for me. I practice habit stacking, meditation, and regular exercise, in addition to paying close attention to what I put in my body. Journaling is also a critical part of my selfcare routine, keeping me on track to be the best coach and leader I can be. It is a lifelong journey of discovery, seeing what works for my body and I’m always pushing myself to learn new things and find new ways to help others..
A strong sense of self and embracing of my purpose – Knowing myself intimately and trusting myself infinitely gives me the power to reach my highest potential. With self-trust comes the ability to rely on my own intuition and spiritual practice as being the voice that will guide me toward the things that will serve me best in my life, and away from the things that will ultimately deteriorate my energy. With a strong sense of self and a laser focus on my purpose, I am able to freely be as creative as I can be without the fear of failure or stigma, turning otherwise negative energy into fuel and that drives me further.
A supportive community – In my experience, a supportive community is the key to success. It is easy to burn out and become a “human doing” vs a “human being,” losing focus on what matters most in life. Communities give you acceptance as you are, a place to pause and receive comfort, a collective to fuel you with ideas and inspiration, a trusted network that can help you expand your wings and get your foot in doors, in addition to providing support, compassion, joy, and admiration for you as an individual and a contributing member of the community. Communities are critically important for mental health and sustaining the highs and lows of life.
All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?
2023 brought us our fair share of challenges, as it did for so many people across industries and around the world. Specific to the film industry, two prolonged strikes sent shock waves through our community. Inflation drove a great deal of economic strife globally. And on the home-front, we experienced health crises in our closest circles.
I find it incredibly important to not get wrapped up in fear or allow myself to become overwhelmed, and I try to focus on what I can control. Across Filmmakers Academy, this is to cherish our members, further expand our community, and continue to create additional opportunities for learning and growth.
My husband and business partner, Shane, and I do our best to support each other, our family, and our business with a mindset built on resilience, flexibility, and a grounded determination to pull through and succeed. This period of uncertainty has pushed us to adapt, diversify, and deepen our commitment to FA members. The challenges we’ve faced have spurred us to redefine our vision and reinvigorate our strategies to ensure that Filmmakers Academy remains a thriving hub for filmmakers in the years to come.
Over the last several months, we’ve embraced a diversified growth strategy to ensure the resilience of Filmmakers Academy. Here are a few of the components that are critical to our success:
Collaborations and In-Person Networking: We’ve fostered collaborations with other businesses in the industry to provide in-person networking options, recognizing the value of personal connections in an increasingly digital world.
Continued Online Coaching and Global Networking: Our commitment to online coaching and global networking remains unwavering. We’ve continued to connect our community members worldwide, offering them a space to learn, grow, and thrive.
Content Creation: We’ve remained proactive in creating new, relevant content. This not only keeps our members engaged but also positions Filmmakers Academy as a “first port-of-call” to access valuable, contemporary knowledge and inspiration in the industry.
Online Community Expansion: We’ve expanded our online community section to provide more support. This includes a discussion hub for sharing insights, experiences, and open roles that our members bring into the community, as well as special deals and offerings to help our members effectively navigate challenges.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.filmmakersacademy.com
- Instagram: @filmmakers_academy @lydiahurlbut
- Facebook: @filmmakersacademyy @lydiahurlbut
- Linkedin: @filmmakers academy @lydia hurlbut
- Youtube: @filmmakers_academy
- Other: Our Filmmakers Academy podcast on Spotify, Apple podcast, Google podcast and all podcasting platforms. The Filmmakers Academy podcast has both the Inner Circle Podcast and Finding The Frame podcasts.
Image Credits
Steven Napolitano Jeremy Pavia Lindsay Howell Chris Jon
