We recently had the chance to connect with Julie JOnes and have shared our conversation below.
Julie , a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
I truly believe that how we start our day determines the direction of the day. I start each day with quiet time: I read my Bible, journal, stretch and/or walk and plan my goals. This gives me clarity and focus. In the past, I was a person who “let” life happen to me. I didn’t plan my and as a result, I reacted to events and considered myself a “firefighter”. What I found is that without a plan, I stayed on a hamster wheel. I was working hard, not moving forward in my business. Now I “make” life happen. I plan my day and stick to it. This puts me in CEO mode. I make strategic decisions, know what I can and can’t take on and set myself up for success. When I don’t do my morning routine, I don’t accomplish what I need to and feel stressed at the end of the day. My morning routine is an important part of my system that runs my life, and when I don’t follow it, things fall apart.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Julie Jones, the founder of Today’s Professionals Consulting & Development and the creator of the AIM Methodology (Attitude, Image, and Self-Management). My passion is helping people develop the people skills, executive presence, and confidence they need to get what they want out of life, whether that’s landing a promotion, leading a team, or growing a business.
What makes my work unique is the way I blend my background in education, leadership, and business ownership with timeless principles from Zig Ziglar, the Process Communication Model, and real-world experience. I know firsthand how much success depends on more than just technical skills (85% of success comes from people skills). That’s why I’ve built my career around teaching professionals how to show up with presence, communicate effectively, and build authentic relationships.
Right now, I’m focused on expanding my brand, which includes speaking, corporate training, and coaching programs. I am excited about returning to the trades and working with residential service companies through Residential Service Professionals, where we coach business owners on leadership, operations, people, finance, and marketing.
Beyond that, I host a podcast called It’s How You’ll Be Remembered, and I’m finishing my book, The Presence Effect: How to Command the Room and Influence the Outcome.
At the heart of everything I do is this belief: People don’t buy what you’re selling, they buy YOU. My mission is to help people shine so that the opportunities they’re looking for can find them.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
As a child, I believed my words and opinions didn’t matter. I thought my role was to quietly serve others., and whenever I stepped out, voiced my thoughts, or did something for myself, I felt guilty, as if it were selfish. That belief kept me small and boxed in. I settled instead of shining. I convinced myself I was only meant to be the support person, which led to broken relationships and unfulfilled careers. I always had a restless feeling deep inside my soul. I was always searching for more.
What I know now is very different: we are each created with a unique purpose. By silencing myself and staying in the shadows, I wasn’t honoring the life I was meant to live. I wasn’t using my God-given gifts and talents. Today, I’ve embraced my calling. I use my voice to help others find theirs, and I lead with confidence, knowing that stepping fully into who we are is never selfish. It’s the only way to truly make an impact.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me something success never could…that I have the power to change my life by changing my perspective. When I hit rock bottom, I could have stayed in a victim mindset, but instead, I began asking, How can I use this for good? I can’t control others, but I can control how I respond.
That season of pain forced me to retreat. I spent nearly a year in prayer, learning to sit with my emotions, to truly “feel” them, and to listen for God’s voice. What I discovered was that His voice, (what we also call intuition) was guiding me all along. Learning to trust it has been life-changing.
I would never have developed that depth of faith, resilience, and self-trust without walking through suffering. Success never taught me that, but the hard seasons did.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes, the public version of me is the real me. I’m an open book, and I believe authenticity is directly tied to success. People can spot fakeness a mile away. For years, I was a people pleaser. I tried to make everyone like me, but all that did was make me wishy-washy and keep me from standing firm in who I was. I wanted to be authentic and I wanted to avoid conflict. That didn’t work. Conflict isn’t always a bad thing. Working through conflict is a skill, and it’s how we grow and move forward.
Now I know better. Not everyone will like me, and that’s okay. One of my frequent sayings is: “When we let our light shine, the people who are looking for us will find us, and the ones who aren’t will go away, and that’s okay.”
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
If I knew I had 10 years left, I would stop second-guessing myself and live life fully. I’ve always admired people who take risks, work hard, and play hard. Growing up in a conservative home, we didn’t take many vacations, go out to eat, or entertain, but I love all of that!
Now I’m learning to embrace life, and to step out, take risks, and face fear head-on. At the end of my life, I don’t want regrets. I want to know I truly lived and lived in His purpose for me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://todaysprofessionals.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therealjulieajones/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/therealjulieajones/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TodaysProfessionals
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@therealjulieajones
Image Credits
Headshot: https://shortstorystudios.com/
