From the outside, Julie Smigadis appears to have built the perfect job. She and her husband, Bernardo Celorio work together, traveling the world, documenting their experiences and then blogging and sharing video and stories over social media. She is part of ‘The 1000,’ a club for the most influential travel advisors. She has visited over 50 countries and is renowned for her expertise in booking business and luxury travel. But in 2021, Julie wasn’t enjoying the career and lifestyle she’d worked so hard for; she was burnt out.

Most travel businesses suffered during the pandemic. With planes grounded and travel bans in effect, the whole industry came to an abrupt halt. Julie, founder of Travel Our World realized during this time of uncertainty, she could be a loud voice in a quiet industry and an information source for aspiring travelers, desperate to return to exploring the world. She and Bernardo  stayed busy throughout the lockdowns, creating content and building their online presence and Bernardo’s photography business, Fade to Bokeh. Their approach worked and when travelers felt confident to book again, Travel Our World was top of mind. Success came fast and Julie struggled to balance it all.

At a friend’s destination wedding Julie connected with Chris. He’d seen her running to and from her room, on her phone, answering emails and messaging her team while the rest of the wedding guests enjoyed cocktails by the pool. Chris shared his observation and the reality hit Julie as she registered her stress compared to those around her. She became interested in Chris’ coaching and although she was skeptical if coaching was a fit for her, when Julie returned from that trip she reached out to Chris and signed up.

“I was very skeptical going into coaching. I thought it might be a kind of pseudo therapy,” laughs Julie. “But then it really did change everything for me. I became a believer very quickly. Within our first two to three sessions, I saw a massive improvement overall in how I was doing things. I began making space and asking myself deeper questions that I hadn’t bothered tapping into before.”

Julie signed up to do the  Peak Performance Accelerator three-month coaching program with the goal of getting her life back and finding balance.  

“There was so much success around me and I wasn’t taking the time to appreciate any of it. It was just work, work, work, work, work,” explains Julie. “I wasn’t able to look forward to what would help me grow further or take a step back and truly appreciate how far I had come. I didn’t realize any of this until Chris and I started working together.”

Over the following three months Julie and Chris connected regularly, weekly or bi-weekly for one-hour coaching sessions. They focused on setting goals, developing new habits and taking time to reflect.

“Chris is so down to earth and fun to work with, but we always got down to business. I walked away from each session with a game plan and tangible things to work on. That made all the difference for me, having those action items and then seeing the results my changes were making,” says Julie. 

Initially Julie and Chris worked on setting boundaries as a short term goal. With the internet open 24/7 as her competition, Julie felt she had to respond to clients immediately and but through her coaching she began to understand that losing a client or waiting four hours to respond wasn’t detrimental to her business. In fact, slowing down gave her space to grow her business in a sustainable, healthy way.

“Chris asked me, if you do end up losing a booking, what does that look like for you? That was a question I had never asked myself,” shares Julie. “He really put things in perspective. Allowing myself grace and breathing room made me a better consultant overall and ironically, more productive.”

After working with Chris for three months, Julie signed up for another three-month coaching program. She wanted to keep the momentum and continue to focus on her long term goals which included bringing Bernardo into her business as Marketing Director. Chris prompted her to shift her marketing approach and stand out at conferences to showcase her brand in the unique way she wanted her business to be seen.

“Chris really tailors his coaching to the individual, flaws, success and all,” explains Julie. “There is always a level of grace, but there’s also a lot of accountability, to yourself and to Chris. He was always cheering me on and each session I was excited to show him the progress I was making.”  

In the fast-paced travel industry, leadership and innovation are moving targets and burnout is not uncommon. “Coaching has allowed me to slow down and prioritize the things that I need to focus on and appreciate,” continues Julie. “I also became a much better leader for my team. They have definitely benefited from the results of my coaching! And even beyond my business, I’ve seen improvements in my health, my marriage and my family life. The new perspective touches all the aspects of your life.”

The Peak Performance Accelerator three-month coaching program involves regular weekly or bi-weekly one-hour coaching sessions focusing on goal setting, habit development, addressing challenges, and exploring leadership opportunities. Chris works with each client on their approach to conflict resolution, impactful communication, strategic direction and time management. Together they set short and long term goals and tailor a plan for each individual to achieve their targets while adopting lasting mindset shifts.

“Coaching is the best investment I’ve ever made in my business,” says Julie. “Leadership coaching is pivotal for all entrepreneurs out there, but especially those who lead teams. Working with Chris really changed the dynamic of my business. Coaching is a business hack that we don’t talk enough about; I can’t recommend it enough!”

Learn more about the Peak Performance Accelerator Program with Chris March Coaching: Services-