Today we’d like to introduce you to Julie Diebolt Price.
Hi Julie, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
As a fledgling ballerina growing up in the Midwest, I dreamed of seeing the world. When I missed an opportunity to tour Japan because I couldn’t get a leave of absence from my job, I had an epiphany.
At 25, I realized we create our own opportunities. If I wanted a different life, I had to make it happen.
So I did.
I worked, planned, and saved relentlessly for a year. The following year, I traveled through Europe with Suitcase Theater. After the tour, I returned home for two weeks, packed up again, and moved to New York City. Living in NYC had been a childhood dream, and I made it happen.
Once I accomplished that dream, another question surfaced: What comes next?
My answer took me across the country to the West Coast. I worked in the aerospace industry, earned my BSBA, and moved into management, where I wanted to make a difference.
But I never left my creative side behind.
I pursued photography and travel alongside my corporate career. Those side gigs eventually developed, pun intended, into another career. Today, I work as a professional photographer, travel writer, publisher, and business consultant.
Along the way, I discovered something else about myself: I’m a serial business starter.
I’ve created sole proprietorships, a C corporation, an LLC, and joint ventures, primarily in the photography industry. While managing a law client’s business, I recognized a common thread. No matter the industry, every business starts with many of the same fundamental decisions.
That realization brought me back to the lesson I learned at 25: we create our own opportunities.
Now I help solo business owners create theirs by showing them how to start their businesses on solid ground and run them with confidence.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road hasn’t always been smooth. I’ve wrestled with self-doubt, fear of the unknown, staying true to myself, maintaining my determination, and worrying about what other people think.
Along the way, I learned something deeply satisfying: knowledge is power. Knowing the rules, understanding the law, and recognizing what I’m capable of or willing to risk helps me make informed decisions. That knowledge gives me the confidence to choose a course of action that works for me.
I also learned that you can’t plan for everything. Thinking things through, considering what might go wrong, and preparing for contingencies makes sense. But no amount of planning covers every possibility.
That’s where the real learning begins.
Coming through a challenge and reaching the other side brings an incredible sense of accomplishment. Each experience has shown me that I can handle more than I thought I could. The outcome may not match what I expected or even what I wanted, but somehow, things have a way of working out.
Sometimes you have to go through the experience before you can look back with hindsight and say, “Ahh, yes. Now I understand. This was meant to be.”
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I like to think of myself as an artist and creative, but business is my strong suit. I’m wicked good at organization, follow-through, and keeping complicated projects moving.
During my years in the aerospace industry, I built a reputation as the go-to person for major program reviews. Those projects involved lots of moving parts, multiple teams, strict deadlines, and time-critical briefing charts. Tracking proposal documents and books through complex review cycles became my forte.
I bring those same skills to my work today as a photographer, business owner, and consultant.
During a recent memoir ghostwriting project, I managed deadlines, tracked deliverables, and kept the project moving toward a completed manuscript ready for publication. The process challenged me, but I knew how to keep the pieces organized and finish the job.
I saw similar results while helping an artist establish her business and prepare for gallery representation. As we wrapped up our work, her new accountant told her she had actually built a functioning business, unlike many clients who came to the accountant before they were ready to operate.
That comment gave me tremendous satisfaction. We had tangible results to show for the work, despite misdirection and challenges along the way.
What sets me apart is my ethics and my commitment to finishing what I start. I set realistic goals, keep the project moving when setbacks arise, and work hard to reach the finish line. Unexpected challenges may change the route, but they don’t change my commitment to getting the job done.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
Throughout my career, I’ve learned to depend on myself and stay strong for my business. That independence has made me a bit of a lone wolf, but it has also shaped me into a leader.
People wanted to go into business with me because they saw that I knew what I was doing. I’m an achiever, a trailblazer, and, most of all, a doer. When something needs to get done, I figure out how to make it happen.
My clients have played a major role in my success. They trusted me to listen, understand what they wanted, and deliver.
Delegating has never come naturally to me. Over the years, I’ve learned that successful partnerships depend on choosing people who share my commitment, work ethic, and sense of responsibility. Not every collaboration worked out as I hoped, but each one taught me something about setting expectations and choosing the right people.
I’ve also learned why people often want me on their team: I get things done. The challenge now is finding collaborators who bring that same energy to the table so we can accomplish more together.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.PhotoTravelWrite.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/phototravelwrite/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PhotoTravelWrite
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliedp/
- Twitter: https://x.com/jdpphotoBIZ
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@JDPphotoBIZ
