Jennifer Anne Garcia is a Career Coach, Entrepreneur, and Writer.
If your business could have a mascot, what would it be and why?
My business mascot is the Dragonfly. For me, it is a symbol of change/transformation and prosperity/abundance. The dragonfly inspires as a beautiful symbol of prosperity, self-actualization, transformation, and a readiness for change.
What strategies do you employ to maintain a healthy work-life balance while running your own business?
I have to put my self care first as a business owner and coach.
#1 To maintain a healthy life-work balance I do these things every morning:
*Yoga stretching
*Yoga meditation and Chakra alignment music and mantras
*Journaling for gratitude and setting intentions
*EFT Tapping
*make myself a (decaf) chai tea latte with honey and almond or coconut milk
*using the mindfulness “breathe” meditation app on my watch
I have made a “morning routine” playlist on Youtube that includes my favorite videos so I never get stuck and can just get started right away. Anything else that comes at me throughout the rest of the day is easier because I have made time for myself–caring for my mind, my physical body, and nurturing my soul.
#2 I also do my best to get outside in nature and breathe fresh air as much as possible, especially when the weather allows here in Central Texas. Even if it’s just a few minutes to go outside
#3 And, saying “No” to projects or opportunities that don’t align with me or won’t be a good fit has been so helpful in making time for the people and projects that I care about the most.
When faced with unexpected detours on your business path, how do you pivot with grace and resilience, showing fellow women entrepreneurs the way forward?
Wow, you know, there are so many unexpected detours along the business path, you almost have to become comfortable with change and pivots as a constant. When something isn’t working or doesn’t go as I had planned, it’s important for me to step away from it for a moment (or even a couple days) and then take a look at it with fresh eyes and fresh perspective. I always look for the “silver lining” or the good that can come of a situation. Not always when its fresh, but eventually can find the reason for why that may have happened. To keep grace under pressure and show resilience in tough situations is something that women are good at. Women are designed to become diamonds under pressure. The hard part is letting ourselves shine! Once we allow for listening to our intuition, we can become unstoppable.
How do you measure the success of your business beyond financial metrics, such as customer satisfaction or community engagement?
The biggest measure of success in my business is what people (customers/clients/colleagues) are saying about their experience working with me. To hear someone explain how I have helped them find clarity or insights is truly music to my ears. When a valued client becomes a trusted colleague and shares their success story with me, it’s more than just customer satisfaction. It feels more like relationship building and connection. Do people remember you beyond the service you have provided? If the answer is yes, you are already winning.
Can you share a memorable moment where you witnessed significant growth or transformation in your business, illustrating the impact of your services/products?
Yes, recently I was featured as a guest on a local TV show, Studio 512 in Austin. It is something that 7 years ago, as a stay-at-home/work-from-home Mom I had been dreaming about. I remember thinking, I would love to share my knowledge someday…This year it finally became a reality.
The host and her team behind-the-scenes were so welcoming and professional, it was a dream situation. In that interview I share simple yet powerful tips for navigating a layoff. This was such a fun and wonderful experience. Through the magic of the internet, it’s already helped that one person who needed it the most! Someone saw the interview on Youtube and reached out to me via LinkedIn the SAME DAY that it aired! We hopped on a phone call and she became a client of mine the next day…wow!
This experience was so powerful on many levels. The fact that someone who was laid off and now has a better resume in hand because I was willing to put myself out there to the world and share what I know is so cool! I am so thankful for this!
It is also incredible to think that this was literally a dream-come-true moment for me. To see and feel that all come full circle was so validating and beautiful.
What role do you believe mentorship plays in the success of small businesses, and how have mentors influenced your own entrepreneurial journey?
Mentorship is very important for the success of small businesses. And you don’t have to have an “official” mentoring relationship to be inspired by a mentor. Watching Shark Tank has added great value to my life and inspiration to my business. Being part of the B-School program with Marie Forleo is another great value and has given me tons of insights into my business and I would consider her a mentor even though we’ve never met.
I have had an official mentorship through the organization SCORE (https://www.score.org/) and the information and guidance there is really helpful. They also provide free webinars to business owners.
In college, I also had mentors that shaped my experience.
Recently, I have built relationships with local community members through my local Chamber of Commerce.
There is always a chance to learn and grow in business from mentors and teachers and leaders in unexpected forms.
What’s your work all about, and how does it make a difference in the world?
My work is all about transformation through storytelling. Yes, it’s about the technical aspect of writing and formatting a resume to help people get hired for jobs and, ultimately, make a career change. Yes, it’s about updating LinkedIn in a way that you feel good about and not dreading that. Yes, it’s about job search and crushing the job interview and negotiation. It’s also about the process of self-discovery that comes from finding clarity and building confidence and gaining momentum along the way to making that career change.
Get in touch with her:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferannegarcia/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bestresumecoach/
