Join Dr. Anna Stumpf as she talks with Coach Julie Downey about living an energized and purpose-driven life. Julie shares her journey from real estate to coaching entrepreneurs, prioritizing self-care and wellness, empowering women, and embracing change and new opportunities. Gain insights on discovering your unique abilities, achieving mastery, and finding alignment between your passion and purpose.
The books mentioned in the podcast episode are:
"Unique Ability" by Dan Sullivan This concept and book have been adapted by a new author who offers this book and workbook. You can google Dan Sullivan and his many appearances and coaching business.
"The Gap and The Gain" by Dan Sullivan
Quote of the show: " Asking the right questions takes as much skill as having the right answers"- Robert Half
The Collective Challenge:
Our collective challenge for this show is to figure out some of your mastery in your innate talents, unlock some new levels, maybe of your confidence and some exploration.
Show Notes with Timestamps:
00:07 - Introduction by Anna Stumpf and overview of the episode
01:21 - Julie Downey shares her background and initial career choices
05:09 - The shift from real estate to personal coaching
10:42 - Julie discusses the challenges and breakthroughs in her journey
16:12 - The evolution of Julie's career and her move towards coaching
21:27 - Discovering coaching as a calling through self-awareness exercises
26:39 - Julie talks about the impact of coaching and her approach
32:28 - Strategies for work-life balance and personal well-being
39:09 - Future aspirations and the importance of community and connection
44:27 - Mastery and the power of saying no
48:01 - Julie's recommendations for personal development and resources
Join Dr. Anna Stumpf as she talks with Coach Julie Downey about living an energized and purpose-driven life. Julie shares her journey from real estate to coaching entrepreneurs, prioritizing self-care and wellness, empowering women, and embracing change and new opportunities. Gain insights on discovering your unique abilities, achieving mastery, and finding alignment between your passion and purpose.
The books mentioned in the podcast episode are:
"Unique Ability" by Dan Sullivan This concept and book have been adapted by a new author who offers this book and workbook. You can google Dan Sullivan and his many appearances and coaching business.
"The Gap and The Gain" by Dan Sullivan
Quote of the show: " Asking the right questions takes as much skill as having the right answers"- Robert Half
The Collective Challenge:
Our collective challenge for this show is to figure out some of your mastery in your innate talents, unlock some new levels, maybe of your confidence and some exploration.
Show Notes with Timestamps:
00:07 - Introduction by Anna Stumpf and overview of the episode
01:21 - Julie Downey shares her background and initial career choices
05:09 - The shift from real estate to personal coaching
10:42 - Julie discusses the challenges and breakthroughs in her journey
16:12 - The evolution of Julie's career and her move towards coaching
21:27 - Discovering coaching as a calling through self-awareness exercises
26:39 - Julie talks about the impact of coaching and her approach
32:28 - Strategies for work-life balance and personal well-being
39:09 - Future aspirations and the importance of community and connection
44:27 - Mastery and the power of saying no
48:01 - Julie's recommendations for personal development and resources
Welcome to collective energy conversations, your inspiration for personal and professional growth in mid career. I'm Dr. Anna stump Your Guide to inspiring stories from a variety of professionals. A collective energy, we believe in the transformative power of connections and shared experiences. Each week we delve into narratives that spark confidence and self awareness. Join us as we elevate our growth through the power of shared stories. Oh, you're just gonna get a burst of energy today. I knew Julie was going to be amazing. She has been in the two decades that I've known her. But super vulnerable, just incredibly relatable. And just what a story. I enjoyed this episode more than you know, and I know this lady, so and learn so much. So I bring you Julie Downey, I would like to kick it off with a quote. So today's is from Robert Half. And to get you in the right mindset, this quote is asking the right questions. takes as much skill as giving the right answers. Let's hear from Julie today. Start with like, how we met? Yeah, right. Like, right. Yeah.
Julie Downey:Which is awesome.
Anna Stumpf:I know. It's so cool. All right. Julie Downey. Hi. Hello. Hello. Hello. I remember moving to Indianapolis it 23 years ago. And I'm not sure I mean, it's been a while we've slept a lot since then. I'm not sure if I met you at your dad's retirement party before we had sushi. But I feel I think so. The only two just intentional meetings in person that we have had in the last two decades. Were your father's retirement party from 35 years with the same company, a very impressive career where your brother got up and gave a speech that I still talk about to this day. Because hysterical. He said, I'm not sure what a pension is like I had to look that up. Okay, that's pretty awesome. I was too young, even though solid and I use that in classrooms, like for the last 20 years. So I'm giving your brother there because that was absolutely the best. Because he was like, how are you retiring already, which was also kind of hilarious. Looking at the job, you know, the career trajectory your father had had, but I got to meet your whole big family then. And then you and I went and had still some of the best sushi of my life and kind of get to know each other because in an odd way, like this doesn't make us relatives but and then your godparents are my inlaws. Like,
Julie Downey:right. We are family. We are We are family by tobacco.
Anna Stumpf:Just explain that. My father in law and your dad worked together for 35 years. And in many parts of the country, they were always connected, even in retirement got together in Florida and like just incredible. Both just very big personalities to like, just Oh, man.
Julie Downey:Yep, absolutely. Just attracting people to them constantly and ever. I love them. And we said when my dad passed that he was just a big lover. He loved big and I would say that about your father in law. Yeah. Oh, yeah. Now just a big lover and
Anna Stumpf:like, zero shock that those two men were any form of sales.
Julie Downey:Exactly. And or leadership. Yeah,
Anna Stumpf:but we have stayed in touch through the Facebook, right? Like, the birth of all your babies and our lives. I mean, we live 40 minutes apart, probably. But I mean, we just busy women, we're busy families, busy people. So I was thrilled when I reached out and said, Hey, do you have any interest of being on the podcast? Because there's one thing I know about you is you're not shy. And I just have watched the trajectory of your career these last few years and I think like the thing that's great is like occasionally I will notice you are with other people that I know right? Like right you literally showed up in like Washington DC or somewhere with a somebody I went to high school with a Missouri. This is this magnet, right like and you're also with an organization now that I've previously done, gotten to me and done some work with the zero again, zero surprise that you ended up in such a cool organization. But before we get to all of that, I just want to talk a little bit about you have spent the last how many years in real estate.
Julie Downey:So I started In 98, okay, that's about 25 years. Wow. Yeah. And
Anna Stumpf:went to college. studied communication. Yep,
Julie Downey:Speech Communications, so not know what I was gonna do with that, right? I just loved the major, it was so much fun. I haven't gonna learn in my story later than life that really focusing on things that give me energy became key for me. And okay, but
Anna Stumpf:can we just talk about, we're still not good at that as a society for young people, we are still good at saying Fine, something that doesn't feel like work or feel uncomfortable. I mean, you want to grow, but not something you really don't love to major. And you were like, I mean, decades ahead of your time in the late 90s. Go into college going, I love this. Let's see what I can do with it. Right.
Julie Downey:Yeah. And that's how I ended up there. You know, and it's, I just love the classes so much. I love the community, right, that was being built there. Like I feel felt like I'd found my people.
Anna Stumpf:Which one thing we talked about before we started the podcast is I want to honor the fact that like we've mentioned, you're from this big, loud, amazing, fun, cohesive family, right? I mean, they're just infectious. They're good time. You are the third. There's their brothers. And you have a little sister, a younger sister, I should say. Those two brothers, like, I'm not I don't know how much older they are the new but I would imagine when you graduated college, they were doing okay.
Julie Downey:Yes.
Anna Stumpf:Yeah, was there? Yeah. I remember, like some, just where they were when, like we were together all those years ago. So is there a pressure on you to find your thing when you graduate? No.
Julie Downey:I mean, you know what, honestly, I do think some of it was, it was the path that was expected, right? Like you just graduate from college, you go get a job, that sort of thing. I had mentioned before we got on that one of the things I found in myself that I was very self driven. And the third of four kids, you know, I needed to be if I was gonna get stomped on, it was on me really to make happen. And so I think by the time I'd gotten to that point, I'm not sure there was much pressure because I think I had proven I would be fine.
Anna Stumpf:Yeah.
Julie Downey:Yeah, right. So it was kinda like, Okay, I mean, I can I'll figure this out.
Anna Stumpf:Yeah. And did you make the most of college like you have your adult life? Yeah.
Julie Downey:I had so much fun in college. I had a great job in college. Yeah, that I loved so much. I worked for the Kelley School of Business and doing event planning actually, for, they would do retreats for CEOs for companies, which is funny that I was honestly working around, like coaching and training then and not paying attention. And while I was on the event planning side of it, it was a great job. So I was doing a job I loved I had great friends. i Yes, had a lot of fun. But
Anna Stumpf:again, you've got that positive, contagious energy, right? Like that. All the good that you only see the good cuz you're just putting it out, which is why you're such a joy to be around. No putting on your mother's name, but
Julie Downey:well, and here's one of the interesting things is in college is when my health really started taking a toll on Yeah, so it was about sophomore year in college, when I started with some really horrible pain in my stomach to the point where I couldn't walk. I couldn't put pressure on my feet. Because I was in so much pain. Yeah. And actually, it was a lady at my job at the time that had brought in a magazine. I had been going through testing and everything already looks great. Looks great. Yeah, you know, not great. And she brought in a magazine. And she was like, I thought this was interesting and kind of sounded like what you dealt with. And I just started bawling. As I read it. I was like, I could have written this myself. And there wasn't the answer in this magazine. So now it's pretty common, what they'd found out, but I'd had interstitial cystitis. And so then as I started going through treatments and that kind of stuff, I was able to kind of get it under control. But figuring out how to manage school job, health issues. You know, it really taught me to compartmentalize and just be where I was at any time. And that was a huge lesson that I think helped early on in life. Oh,
Anna Stumpf:that's a very huge perspective to get that young.
Julie Downey:Right. Yeah. And the, the mindset that came with it, right? Like, why and why me and this isn't what I want for my college career and that kind of stuff, you know, so Then it's funny that when you say did you live the most of your college career? I instantly say yes. Right? Because thank God, that's what came with me is, you know, but I will say that's taken a lot of work and a lot of self work and mind work and that kind of stuff to be able to be like, Yeah, even through all that, like, I live my best life.
Anna Stumpf:Like a 19 to be handed a rest of your life diagnosis. Right. Yeah, that's not what we that's not what we're here for today. Right. Like,
Julie Downey:yeah, exactly. Exactly. So
Anna Stumpf:learn to your new normal. Yeah, right. graduated college. Yes. How How did real estate come about?
Julie Downey:Yeah. So I actually moved to Florida. You know, my cousin Lisa. And she had a company brokering airline frequent flyer miles. Oh, so we bought and sold frequent flyer miles because then last minute travelers could do it on half the miles. Oh, yeah. So we right. And so
Anna Stumpf:this would have been like, 90 990-899-9797.
Julie Downey:Okay.
Anna Stumpf:Yeah,
Julie Downey:yeah. So it would have been Yes, right at the beginning of 1998. Actually, because I ended up in real estate in July, July. And the regulations changed July one of 1998.
Anna Stumpf:So we've had the internet for like a whole handful years, right? Like, right, yes.
Julie Downey:Oh, handful, you know, um, so it ended up that. So there were people in my family that were already in real estate and around the real estate industry. So my mom had kind of gotten into it as a retirement job a little bit was kind of playing in it. My sister was answering phones at a real estate company. The guy she dated, her mom was a recruiter for a real estate company. So I knew all about the world. And it was the last place I was going. Like, yeah, I want nothing to do with that. So I knew I wasn't going to have a job. I actually brokered myself a flight to Africa to go backpack through Africa for six weeks is the only time I'd be able to do that, as well, in between jobs. And right before I left, I got this little book that said, Why, why consider a career in real estate and I threw that thing in my backpack. Okay, feels like that's what I should do. Right? So yeah, so I came home from that trip, and I got a job just as an admin, for a realtor, because I thought, you know, though, yeah, I don't, I can do that piece. I don't know anything about real estate. I know, it's volatile. I know. It's not where I want to stay. I know, I can do enough to help an agent and be their admin. And here I am, 25 years later,
Anna Stumpf:and your career evolution because we all know people who sell real estate, right, that maybe just sell it to sell it right? Or, yeah, they are agents, and they have an office and maybe they go pick up their mail, or just they're doing it and again, at no judgment, because again, very volatile industry, at the mercy of things like lumber, supply chain economy, politics. I mean, it's really a tough, tough world. So I don't judge but you became like a top seller you sold for 10 years, and then decided to join a group that would let you build your own team. Yeah, because that became important. Yeah. So when when do you lean into that? Where you decide like, okay, like, not that I'm not doing a hard job? And I'm not sure. Where are your babies came in, but Right. Before babies, okay, before babies.
Julie Downey:So what I realized is I loved doing the business so much, I loved helping the people so much. And that's where I was getting my energy. And now we do have the internet now things are going faster, right? I used to stand out in front of the One Hour Photo Shop and I'd stand in front of the house and take an entire roll of 24 pictures of the outside dig into the One Hour Photo place and now we're like doing digital cameras and stuff like that. So
Anna Stumpf:Virtual Staging, yeah, my gosh, right?
Julie Downey:At a rapid and we're just taking on so many more people. And with my health, I didn't have the more to give. So I wanted to do more. Right? That's that constant push pull. I think that's in me. I'm always wanting to do more my head and my heart wants to do more. And my body just sometimes doesn't go along with that story. And so that's exactly what was happening then. And it's like okay, so if that's right, it can't be Me, it needs to be me because I'm good at it. I'm doing a great job. I feel like these people need me. Yeah. And I got to find more me's, right? I gotta go leverage myself and build up people around me that can execute on that.
Anna Stumpf:Well, you, you learned it? Right? You learn that. So you knew you could teach it yes to other people. And I will say, I'll apologize, because I keep saying you sell real estate, which I think is reducing what the ethos of what you and like the whole group that you're in, do, because you don't look at it, like selling real estate, right? Like you're helping people. Yeah. So to help families to help people find their home. The next logical evolution of that is to help other people who want to get in that business. So that makes a ton of sense. Yeah, like, I mean, your motivation. But yeah, I, I missed that by saying you sell real estate, because that's really not what you do. And I wouldn't say you would ever describe it that way. So I shouldn't do that either. But so build your own team, and comfortable, say with a great organization. And then
Julie Downey:organization, one day I look up and you're with I mean,
Anna Stumpf:I wouldn't say different, like I was getting better. I'm like, maybe that's not fair, just the group you are with now. Any person that I have, and that's a lot of the leadership. And but I mean, I've worked with the admin, the marketing, the CEO, tons of you all in the agency. I mean, they're just a special group. And they got you a
Julie Downey:super special group. Next week, the most fun part of it is that the switch was so bad. I could go coach.
Anna Stumpf:Yeah, that's what I was wondering, the empowerment there. Yes, I will say yes, the other person that I have known for years, who also they got her, I wanted to do some things on this side that were empowering and important to her. And I knew that that organization makes that space for you, as a right as a leader. It's not just revenue or any, it's the empowerment is your personal growth. It's your development. They're very, very conscientious, conscientious about that. And I appreciate that about them so much. So you had the bug to figure out. I've built a team, how do I take this outside of even my team? Is that where you were thinking?
Julie Downey:Yes, absolutely. So what ended up happening was that I had gotten to the point where I was getting tired. In the real estate world in the day to day real estate. I've done it for 22 years, you know, my help was becoming more in this time, I had three children.
Anna Stumpf:When I realized the toy, yes,
Julie Downey:twins, twins. And I gotten to the point where I felt like my energy was going more towards real estate than it was my family. And that was not okay. And I realized I'd
Anna Stumpf:be honest, like, even as a real estate agent and team lead. You were advocating for the industry. You were traveling to DC you were in organizations, you are leader in national organism, I mean, you have never just done your job, right? You have never just your team, you have found all these ways of just involving yourself, advocating for the industry for people across the country that you've never met in the industry. Like, there's no there's no moss growing anywhere around you like to be fair, like you're not doing anything by half measures.
Julie Downey:No, you're right. And I just don't and that's something that when I find it, and I'm passionate about it, I'm gonna go full bore. And but I have to love it. Yeah. And I think that's one of the things people try things and do things and get into a career, and maybe they just don't love it. And it's a lot harder to do. And so I was making sure that where I was putting my efforts was on things right when I got introduced to advocating, oh my gosh, that just opened up a whole world of me of community have held the opportunity to change and affect people and inspire and all that kind of stuff. And so, you know, it was just something that as soon as I got introduced to it, I was like, okay, yeah, you know, and so I feel like each time it was a risk, it's like, Okay, do I open myself up to even look there, right, like with a change in brokerage to build the team are going to give him that time for advocating and, you know, you go there, you look at it, and then you realize, wow, it's probably gonna give back more to me than taking Yeah, yes. Yeah. All right, there we go.
Anna Stumpf:The mental and emotional load is so different. When there and I hate to use the P word. I'm gonna go ahead and use it though because it's packed You get a passion, right? You get a spark, you get the energy from it. And then all of a sudden, it doesn't feel like work. And I've often said, and, you know, my husband and I kind of had this discussion when we both Transition to Teaching, like we left retail management. And we both said, the minute This feels like work. For one or both of us, we gotta be done. Like, we are sacrificing too much and leveraging too much, then we just got to love it. And I think that's so and once you've done that enough, right, you have followed that spark, you have the confidence to go after the next one.
Julie Downey:Well, and I think there it is, that's muscle
Anna Stumpf:memory. Like I've done this before. Yeah,
Julie Downey:I've done this before. And so then when I faced Okay, what's next, right? What am I going to do when I grow up? What's my next chapter after real estate? I had a lot of life to live still. And but I just knew it wasn't there. Right? Real Estate had become a job. To me. Now. It wasn't my passion any longer. Now, my passion was in advocating for the industry. It was in growing people, you know, it was in that side of it. And so that's when I went in 2020 to go out and be a real estate and business coach, Rach, I just coach entrepreneurs now. Yeah, yeah. Awesome. And so it evolved right into the perfect segue.
Anna Stumpf:This, somebody sends you a pamphlet that you put in your backpack, or like,
Julie Downey:kinda a little bit of a funny story. So yeah, right. You know, a coach has been hugely instrumental in my life. So I have had a coach now for 12 years. So even in my real estate career, I hired someone that I knew needed to help me through that. So I understood the importance of it, but I never thought of myself as one. And I, in 2020, I took the month of January off. And have you heard of the book unique ability by Dan Sullivan? No, it's a great one. So someone else had given me that book. It's my pamphlet. And the pamphlets get
Anna Stumpf:bigger, right as you get older.
Julie Downey:So I did the unique ability process and part of that process, the very first step is it's a specific question they ask and I should carry this question in my pocket, actually, because I talked about it so much. But basically what it is you go to people in every different aspect of your life. So I went to a family, I went to teachers, I went to coaches from growing up, I went to my first job, I went to nine today job, my kids were old enough to do it, not kind of stuff. And it was you know, they needed right, five words. So however, the question was, it was right, five words that whatever describe the impact she has on you, or whatever that is. I know, it's fascinating. It's a big giant 360.
Anna Stumpf:Like 360 feedback loop. I love that.
Julie Downey:Absolutely. And then you look for the patterns. And so those patterns are what's pulling out your unique ability, like, what are you bringing already that you didn't even know to all these people in every aspect of your life. And what mine was, is that I asked great questions. And I had no idea. I know. And I remember talking to my husband, I was like, why? What are they even talking about? Ask questions.
Anna Stumpf:You're like, I have more I have everything. That sounds amazing hearing
Julie Downey:that as right. As silly as it was, I started going and like getting, you know, reassurance on it more and learning more about myself and be like, yeah, that is true. And so then it became I probably should coach I probably should go somewhere I can ask these great questions. And bro people like, from being asked all the great questions.
Anna Stumpf:So this is, I didn't know this. Like I'm just hearing this for the first time. I've got several questions much like, what were the other things on the list? Were the other themes. Do you even remember? Oh,
Julie Downey:and actually, that's a great one. I'm gonna go back and pull those out because I have them all still compiled? I haven't looked at it since then. Anna, will you take all that process and
Anna Stumpf:put it in charge up to something that you get all the things like okay, so that was the question I get. So
Julie Downey:that's a huge aha
Anna Stumpf:lot because I love a good assessment, right, like strengths finders, and I know all these things. You just like, is not a fan of psychometrics. I'm like you can't like live your life by them. But you can put them all together and find themes, right? Or you can put them together like a puzzle and tell a story that gives you a foundation or gives you answers to questions when people ask like what about you? What about a good person? Active refrains, like, I just absolutely adore those things. But the other thing in my life that has been a pattern, and the thing I've just tried to instill in every human being I come across is the power of connecting with other people. So the fact that you went out and crowdsource this, and then other people said, from your whole timeline, this is who you are. And you were like, what? Like, you know, like, I want everyone to do this, I love this.
Julie Downey:It's the coolest thing. And that's the key on the assessment to Anna is because you can't see this stuff. The assessment is to bring you a high level view on you that we can't be introspective enough to ever get to. Oh, no.
Anna Stumpf:But the minute somebody puts it in front of me, then I'm like, it's like, I always give the analogy of like, if I say yellow car, yellow car, yellow car, when you go out in the world today, guess what you're gonna see? Yeah, right. It's just like, when I took my EQ assessment, and they were like, huh, you're pretty good. And all these areas, it says impulsivity. And I'm like, Oh, yeah. Right, like, but so I can stop and be like, you know, I don't think I'm gonna send that email right now, like, that seems impulsive. Like, that becomes a mechanism for me, and I can build, like, it's so important self awareness, there's just nothing about it and trying to get it from yourself. It's not gonna work, like self aware, but you have to get it from outside. So. So you get that you read this book, you get the fact that you can ask these, like, then what did you do with that information?
Julie Downey:So then I went and talked to everyone I could, how do I make this happen? So now I know I want to be a coach, what kind you know, and started doing that and decided to be the in house coach for the company I'm with now and then left a year ago to go coach for an actual company. So yeah, so I'm still with that company, because I have my real estate license. Right. So as a realtor, I'm still aligned with that brokerage as a coach. You know, they don't have a coach brokerage.
Anna Stumpf:Which thing? Goodness. Right, exactly. So how did the evolution of that like, transitioning, you just found, again, this does not feel like work. And this is providing so much energy, right?
Julie Downey:So much, and then it does go back to the community. So because we were making space for something that didn't exist there, right. So like you said earlier, this company is so awesome at making space for what you want to do and pouring into that and stuff. However, there were some pieces missing that I don't think any of us could have anticipated. The biggest one being who's inspiring me. Right back to that community. Yeah, like, I wasn't in a room where I could think big enough as a coach, and it just wasn't the model for me to have that there. And so I realized how that was holding me back as a coach. Oh, yeah, I needed, you know, yeah, I needed to be able to build a community around me, as you know, to bring me up and to challenge me and keep me learning and that kind of stuff.
Anna Stumpf:Blow I don't know, if you experienced this, but I did last year coaching for an organization is you are so embedded in the organization and the people and the common knowledge and how things work that you are limiting yourself, and therefore limiting others because you know, the players right, and you know, the internal struggles, and then you know, the reality totally, and you can't always focus on the individual. So I think that we both kind of had that realization that I'm gonna have to step outside of something to get right, the right perspective to help a person so that's phenomenal. So do you still barely just, I shouldn't say just but is your primary target realtors? Or are you open? Are you doing a multitude totally
Julie Downey:open? So yeah, I mean, it's entrepreneurs. So while most of the people I coach one on one, are realtors, they're building wealth at a higher level. So real estate is just one pillar of their wealth building. So I actually help coach through all of it. And then we of course, get into the life stuff as well. Right? What's their health? Their mindset, their right, yeah. So that was fun, too, because I didn't want to just stay in that real estate piece. You almost can't, you know, so when you're in the business, that's a huge piece. Like I can coach you to your business, but we got all this other stuff that is ultimately affecting your business. That is potentially more important. So yeah, then
Anna Stumpf:similarities across industries. Isn't that fascinating? Like you think oh, litre How do you relate to somebody in this area? But I mean, we're human now
Julie Downey:the same? Yeah, right. We're humans. I know. And that was huge for me because I think when I started off I thought, oh, yeah, no, I only skilled, right, that imposter system syndrome, I'm just a real estate coach. And then I was like, Wait a minute. No, there's a lot more than I'm doing and these conversations and a lot more I want to be able to touch on. Well,
Anna Stumpf:and it's important, the question you asked yourself, I'm going to be a coach, but like, what kind of coach am I going to be? Because when I tell you, there are as many different coaches out there as there are people, right? And it's not just real stuff, but like, yeah, like, what experiences you've had, what your comfort level is, what are the common themes of people that find themselves in these positions? And, I mean, there's a lot to be considered, and I don't compare coaching to therapy. But as hard as some people have finding a therapist, you got to really shop around and look for the right coach, as well as looking for the right word, right? Like being in the right, yes, yes,
Julie Downey:totally. And it limited at the same time, to some extent, because you were coaching the people you were giving, it wasn't necessarily the opportunity to find alignment, and the coach and what their growing, you know, so it was like, Okay, here's what we're given, and we're going to do the best with it. Whereas now I actually can go out and find really good alignment and what I do, and I'm passionate about and how they need to grow, and be that right person for them. So that's been a huge thing, too, is I just don't get people thrown on my calendar. I now, you know, make sure it's the right fit to be on my calendar.
Anna Stumpf:And when you say thrown on, they're not always there willy nilly, either. That's sometimes it's a sign, like, oh, that's
Julie Downey:it's different. It's totally different. And now I don't have that anymore, which is pretty great. They all want to be there. They're invested in growing and yeah, it's all How
Anna Stumpf:do you temper the excitability and the, you know, energy that you're getting from something new, whether it's when you left to develop your team, and then you built your like, all these evolutions, and now coaching? Do you find those healthy boundaries to make space? Again, like you mentioned, your family, or your health, or just yourself, right, you still need to have a coach, you still need to be looking for the next Dan Sullivan book, right? Like you still rely on your professional development? Like, how do you balance all of that?
Julie Downey:Yeah. So every move I've made in my career has been to work less and make more. So that's what I've figured out. And so it's all every step I'm making is to give me back more time to be a better me. So, you know, and I think that's just kind of been the driver, I still want, I still know I have potential income wise that but that's not even what it's about, right? It's more about me having the opportunity to do a job I love so that when my kids get home, I have the energy leftover to still be about and around them to all their sports and do all their things. Whereas when I was in a job all day that was taking that energy, it was gone. I gave it all to something I didn't want and then the people who needed it, most weren't getting it. So
Anna Stumpf:I always revert back to my Walmart training days, I had got to go to the covey Institute where I got really deep into Covey, and then late 90s And that sharpen the saw, were so bad at that. But I even think when you say work, you know, make more work less that it like you said, that isn't even about just the money that is about if I am going to coach high earning high performing individuals, I have to show up as my best self Right? Like I can't be drained. I can't be groaning before I hit the button to start this call, like I have to be what they need, I have to match that energy. And you can't just do that at a burnout level. Right? You can't neglect like what feed your soul and I would imagine like three energetic kids coming through the door at the end of the day, and they're out there things and your nieces and nephews and you're like all of these people bring that to you. And you have to make space for that we were raised in some ways as a society, not necessarily our families, but to feel guilty about that.
Julie Downey:Yes, like many people still struggle with that. Oh, that's what I would say the
Anna Stumpf:majority of Yeah, I and I get like ourselves permission. No. And we keep talking about work life balance and makes me feel achy every time we talk about that because I always think about the scales adjusted like they're never gonna be imbalanced. We got to quit that like is a fallacy, right? Like yeah, work life is good. Right? Because, I mean, you think about when your mom got into real estate should have any kids the home she you know, was on the young side of maybe one or two grandkids she was living in a great area that she was really loved. Right? Yeah. Have you like work and that you had all that time and energy to put into that? You'll get there and have a different lifestyle someday the fluid will go in a different direction. But yeah, I just so important, and I true. I think the thing that makes you really hold on to that is that level of success and that level of satisfaction and the empowerment that you get from the work and not everybody gets there. And that's what's sad, I think sometimes, but
Julie Downey:yeah, no, I agree. And that empowerment from the work has been what's key. And I will say, that's a huge piece dealing with health issues on top of it, right, I tell my clients do like one of the things I do is coach, to keep me going. Because if I didn't have people counting on me at 9am, that needed my energy and needed my you know, who knows what I do all day? Let's be honest, you know, and so it's like, having them need me, is what pushes me at the same time.
Anna Stumpf:But you also can't be stressed out. You cannot be stressed out and have a healed body like and have a good so. Yes, yeah, yeah. Yeah, I feel like workers stress you out? Yeah.
Julie Downey:Well, one of the things we talked about on my group coaching call yesterday was making sure you're making time for this, right, whatever this is, and we do such a bad job at that. And that's what I realized, I was like, I'm trying to live and have all this happen, but I'm making time for none of it. And so stressed out and unhappy, and my body hurts, and that kind of stuff. Like it wasn't until I started making time, for this, whatever this is, life, and it'll
Anna Stumpf:change, like, whatever you put those quotation marks gonna change all the time, all the
Julie Downey:time. And until you start doing that, you really won't be able to heal, because that's where the healing happens. That's so gentle. Yeah. And you have to be diligent, you know, I mean, I only work three days a week now, because two days are for me and my health and my family, and, you know, to manage the things I have to manage. And so it's Yeah, I mean, whether I chose it or been forced into it, it's really made me prioritize, and, you know, build the right community around me with my therapist and my health coach, right, you know, all the people that I have, and
Anna Stumpf:the freedom of this having an eye on your nutrition on keeping your body moving, right, like, I work in professional services industry for a year, and those are people that like feel guilty when they meal prep, or eat healthy or move their body or don't have time to go take a walk, because they're busy, busy, busy. And then if I do that, then I'm gonna have to say office an hour later, and then I'm not gonna be home for my kid. And I think, oh, but this you know, what I'm talking about here is your health. Right? This does not go on the to do list. This is not under answered the email, like this is a priority. And that stressed them out. And I think that's the way a lot of people I mean, I think when we look at like this whole remote situation, like people not having those commutes, and being able to like, you know, I always call it the work from home cafeteria that I have down the hall. Yes, right, right about going and eating a healthy meal that didn't cost money and do all that. And I look at I think just for you to be able to have that quality of life and to prioritize your health. I mean, like, that's gonna make a huge difference for you for decades.
Julie Downey:For decades. I know. Yeah. And that's what's fun. You know, I've heard a lot of people hit their stride in their 50s 48 I'll be there in a year and a half. And I'm so excited for that. Because you know, I was three years ago kind of at the point of thinking of this as a kind of retirement job would you say? And now that I'm in it and living it and loving it now it's just like oh my gosh, the opportunity for growth is endless and fun and exciting and I feel like yeah, it's positioned me that my yesterday that I best is still yet to come hopefully. Oh,
Anna Stumpf:well, I'm three years ahead of you. I'm telling you welcome. Come on in today here right. Just enough just enough edge to you that you're like I've done a lot and I've got a lot left to do like let's go like
Unknown:yeah
Julie Downey:yeah, and it's been fun and then feeling like you know, I do have the right balance of what I can give to my health but I can give to my family my job I think I'm getting to that point where I figured it out which is so helpful. So what's helped you
Anna Stumpf:with those healthy boundaries and like giving your best Yes, right like because knows a hard word to tell people when you share is super people oriented, very much a helper. How do you prioritize?
Julie Downey:And I gotta say, I, I attribute this to the twin hands. So had I not had two babies at once and a three year old at home at the time? I'm not sure I ever would have learned to say no. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Because I was a yes. Woman. It didn't matter if I had said yes to way too much. And I was crying on the floor. You know what I mean? That's what made
Anna Stumpf:me say yes to the next. There we go. Yeah, what's next?
Julie Downey:But when you're given to babies, you don't get that choice anymore. So that was a good lesson for me. You know, I mean, yeah, that was intentional. I know, in my life that I was placed. Because it really taught me to say no. And what I realized, you know, I heard around that time that everything you say yes to what are you saying? No. Yeah. And that was huge. And that became kind of my mantra every time I made a decision, like, if I say yes to that, what's that mean? I'm saying no, to I'm saying no, to me, I'm saying no to my kids. I'm saying no to my husband, I'm saying no, to the family. I'm saying no to, you know, all that kind of stuff. And so I think that was huge at that point. I think the other thing I learned then, is that hold the present thing. You hear it all the time, and it's like, oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. But you know, honestly, if I was feeding babies, and that's the only place I could be, there was no reason whatsoever for my brain to be worried and anywhere else. Oh, right. Right. And so I found myself doing that. And I was like, Stop, I can only be right here right now. And then when I go sit at that desk and start doing real estate again, I'll just be there right then and not try to, you know, be distracted by babies and things. So it became that, you know, just ultimate presence, because where you are is the only place you can be right now. Right? I mean, you let your mind go.
Anna Stumpf:Yeah, you can maybe multitask when you got one toddler. Got three. That's your multitasking.
Julie Downey:Right? Exactly. Unless I had five arms. It was not nearly manageable.
Anna Stumpf:And not be the type of Mother you want. Right? And
Julie Downey:well, there it is. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. Right. That was my first and foremost job. And it's like, I gotta figure out how to prioritize that.
Anna Stumpf:So you've probably been given a million good nuggets of advice, right? But as you think back on the advice you've given, or if you think about people that are out there who maybe don't have your ability to pivot, like, what kind of words do you have for those folks? Like when you think about if they've got in their mind? Like I, that would be so cool to try? Or that maybe that's what's next. But I just can't answer. I don't know what that looks like. You're trying? Yeah.
Julie Downey:You know, honestly, I think and my people, I coach her this all the time. But I think mastery is such a big thing. So what I figured out is, if I could find what I do so well, and get to mastery in that. Then the opportunities open themselves. So it's number one identifying right? What are your strengths? What do you bring? What are you good at what gives you energy and then go do that? The very best you can. And the opportunities, the story continues to unfold as you go. And the opportunities continue to present themselves. So you don't as I'm saying it, that's the other piece too. And then be aware of the opportunities, right? Don't ever be too into what you're doing that you're not like, Oh, what is that over there? And should I try that?
Anna Stumpf:Right? And the whole thing of my 90s Oprah, like, I don't resonate with today's version of Oprah, but the 90s Oprah life, but she used to say like, there's no such thing as luck, right? It's your preparation meets opportunity. And the thing I love about you talking about mastery, it's different than perfection. Oh, like we are, we are not getting to perfection. And your mastery of something is a sense of your level of comfort and confidence with it. Because the other thing we're bad at, and we do to our young people, and they continue to build that IQ is what does it look like to other people, other people think like, what is this? We have to stop that. I don't know how we do that. But we have to stop that. But I do love the mastery doesn't mean you have to be perfect. Doesn't mean you have to be you have to feel like you're ready. You're
Julie Downey:right, you're doing it the best you can for where you are at that time. That is mastery. Yes. The best you can right at that time. That's your mastery. Yeah, isn't perfection. It's not what it looks like to someone else and it's not right.
Anna Stumpf:And you can't compare it because you have your own unique natural talents. You have your own experiences. You have everything unique to you. Your mastery doesn't look like anybody else's like that's why we learn to do standardized scores. We're not looking at any of that. stuff like you feel good about what you have to offer? Yeah, yeah. I love that. Yeah.
Julie Downey:We talk about the seasons of life a lot, you know, and not comparing your chapter 10 to their chapter three, right, vice versa, right? Because we're all in different seasons chapters of life. And I'm sure you've heard that saying, Comparison is the thief of joy.
Anna Stumpf:Try to attribute it to Brene Brown, but it's actually like Truman, or Roosevelt was the President's like, I really loved thinking Brene Brown said that. Yes, was a man.
Julie Downey:It was a smart one. It
Anna Stumpf:was so true. It's so true. Mm hmm.
Julie Downey:And I think that's where people get down is comparing themselves to others and their chapters to someone else's chapter and reasons. And, you know, we're all doing different things. And realizing that something just as we were talking about making time for this, you know, those having conversations are often times what I put to the side also. Oh, and, you know, it's one of the things that I have to build in and make time for is stuff like this right lunches, going to coffees making sure I'm getting out just for the sake of that's what I need. You know, and making time for this. Yeah. If
Anna Stumpf:you're open. When you're in that growth mindset, and you're open, every single conversation, it's a ha ha moment about yourself about other things. I need to find this book. I needed this. Like, it's a learning moment. It is. Yes, yes. So you mentioned the unique ability book, what other books come to mind? Yeah.
Julie Downey:One of my favorite ones recently is happy money.
Anna Stumpf:Have you heard of that? Really?
Julie Downey:Good one. Okay. So yeah, and you know, it touches on what the feelings and the energy your heart you have when you both earn and spend money? Yeah, it's really powerful. Change. Yeah, I know. So it's a really good one. And then let's see what else I absolutely love. The gap in the game. That's another Dan Sullivan, one that I like a lot. And that's another mindset where, you know, keeping yourself a lot of people are staying in the gap and their mindset of what they're missing was not there, versus staying in the gain in the same situation of what did come because of what's missing.
Anna Stumpf:Like the lesson or that. Yeah. Really? Yeah.
Julie Downey:It is brilliant. And it's become a nice common language with people I coach to say, are you in the gap? Are you in the game right now? What are we going to do to get you back in the game? And
Anna Stumpf:I would imagine there's some good visuals for that, too, as you think about what that looks like. All right, Dan Sullivan. He's gonna get some. For
Julie Downey:me. That's funny. Yeah, he's a great one to have.
Anna Stumpf:I am really good, voracious reader. So I'm like, Give me all these things. Give me all the lessons.
Julie Downey:You're clearly a learner. Also. On Your Strengths Finder, yeah.
Anna Stumpf:Yeah, it's in the top 10. It's not near as high near the top as I was expecting. And I'm keep telling people that all the time communications my number one, so I think we should all talk about everything all the time. And when you work with introverts and like, accountants and people and professionals, or that is not their first go to so they're always like, Oh, no, you're gonna want to, like I don't know about.
Unknown:Yeah, so great.
Julie Downey:Yeah, my number one is learner. So my Yes, fun time is spent learning, which is?
Anna Stumpf:Yeah, so we transfer that to other people like, yeah, this? Mm hmm. Yeah. What are you looking forward to? Like? You've been doing this for a few years? Maybe out on your own? Just a year?
Julie Downey:Yeah, yeah. Okay, so just to hear out on my own. And, you know, I feel like I'm at the foundation built. So now I'm at the attraction piece, right? Like, how do I attract more people into my space into what I'm doing and to what I'm saying, that sort of stuff. And I'm excited about that, I think, you know, as hard as it is to acknowledge that you're making a difference where people that's why I do it. Yeah. And so the opportunity to make that reach farther, just really excites me and to be able to meet people in different places and different industries and different you know, that's just been so fun. Taking my circle and now expanding Oh, yeah, marriage, and
Anna Stumpf:there is a hard way to measure the success of coaching, right. It is a squishy, unique thing with especially when you're dealing with people who have a dashboard and metrics and watch Yeah, no results from things. Are you doing speaking, I feel like you'd be I do I feel like that would be yes.
Julie Downey:Yeah, I do speaking. A lot of training online, stuff like that. Yeah.
Anna Stumpf:So what's your coaching model? I know you have group calls, kind of a cohort and the one on one. Yeah.
Julie Downey:So one on one is just, you know, weekly calls one on one, just wherever you need it in life and business. The group is right now only real estate focused. So second half of this year, I'm actually starting a coaching group for just women. Women can come and learn and grow. And we can talk about wealth. And we can talk about how do you balance everything and talk about everything women need to talk about? That unless you're in an industry where you have these coaches and have this situation, you're not getting that on the regular. So I think there's a true need for that. There is a next passion project,
Anna Stumpf:the level of guilt that women feel when they pursue those things for themselves, too. Oh,
Julie Downey:right. Yeah, I mean, it's true. And they don't get the opportunity to be their best selves and have a safe space to talk about all that stuff they want and need to talk about. Yeah, you know, where
Anna Stumpf:can people find you? Like, let's Yeah, like, if I've got a lady listen to this, this, like, I wouldn't be in her group.
Julie Downey:I love it. They can go to coach Julie downey.com. Okay. Yeah. So if you are in real estate anywhere, that group and spire is the Real Estate Group. Anyone can get in there at any time. It's ongoing, kind of a subscription service. So come in and get the value. If you don't like it, you can go if you like it, stay and keep on it.
Anna Stumpf:Well, I can't imagine you would find a better coach for real estate success. Right? Yeah. Wherever you are in the country, whatever's going on at the economy like you've been through it. Yeah, have politicians and real estate leaders and associations across the country, you're just and you've been a sales leader, for way too many years, right. Like to think about how long you've had success in that. So I think that anybody that is interested in that or wanting to level up in that field, you definitely need to take a look at Julie. And then yeah, personal coaching. And if you're an individual looking for the right person to keep you on track for higher earning high performance, definitely want to check you out and then coming up later in the year women.
Julie Downey:I know Yes, stay tuned for that. So I'm on Facebook, Instagram, all those things that coach Julie Downey, so follow me and you'll get all the stuff on the WhatsApp been coming,
Anna Stumpf:I will put those links in the show notes, and I can't thank you enough for ah. It's the conclusion of another great episode. And you know what that means we believe in the power of practical wisdom. That's why at the end of every episode, we propose the collective challenge. This is a small actionable step for you to integrate these lessons learned into your daily life. As we kick off this collective challenge, I will mention that Julie mentioned a book by Dan Sullivan unique ability, and it has been adapted through other authors. And it is now unique ability 2.0 discovery. Dan has a coaching business and a ton of great content out there, but I'll link to it in the show notes. But we are going to take a little journey with your unique ability in this collective challenge. I think the whole exercise is just so valuable. So let's think about how we can use your collective challenge to figure out some of your mastery in your innate talents, unlock some new levels, maybe of your confidence and some exploration. So the first thing I want you to do is ask five to 10 people across different areas of your to describe you or your impact may be on them. And maybe use just five words, ask them for five words, and then kind of look for themes in their responses, maybe some patterns. The other thing you can do is make a list of activities where you get into that like flow state or you lose track of time or it doesn't feel like work and look for themes of where you're getting energy and enjoyment. The third thing you can do is identify tangible skills that come really easily for you. And remember, you don't have to love these. They're just skills that you have. They could be interpersonal skills like empathy. It could be something analytical or useful in a daily thing like budgeting or setting up spreadsheets, whatever it is that maybe comes easy for you just make a list of that maybe even start like a journal page. And fill these in over time as you run across them. And then take a look at all of these strains of genius where you have people's descriptions of you, you have lists of activities where you kind of get lost in you have some of your tangible skills, and take a look at the impact the energy, the skills, and what kind of unique ability, unique themes, tie these together, and then start to brainstorm. And again, you want to do this a little bit, come back to it, go away, come back. But think about ways to use these abilities more, maybe through a pivot, volunteering, a passion project, whatever that might be just some sort of discovery is always the first step. And living on purpose is the fun part. I'm doing that now. It took me 30 years to figure out that I could do that. So I cannot wait to hear your aha moments. I'll I hope you share those with us at the collective energy coach.com website and just fill out a contact form and let me hear from you how this is going. Thank you for joining us on this episode of collective energy conversations. Today's stories and insights are just the beginning of our collective exploration into the vast landscape of personal and professional development. If today's conversation inspired you please share this episode with your friends, family or colleagues who also might find value in our collective wisdom. Your sharing helps us grow and expand our community. We will be back on Friday to share more encounters with the energy coin. If you're not sure what the energy coin is, you can take a listen to those episodes. Or check back at the website at collective energy coach.com forward slash energy coin. And don't forget to subscribe to our podcast for more enriching conversation and transformative stories. We'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences. Connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, at threads at collective energy coach, and check out our website at WWW dot collective energy coach.com and become part of the collective. Until next time, keep growing, keep connecting and keep sharing your story because every voice matters in the journey of growth. I'm Dr. Anna Stumpf, and this has been collective energy conversations where we elevate growth through shared stories.