Feeling Stuck? It's Time to Take Inventory of Your Life! >> Access our 'You Are' Here' Exercise Now
Looking for the Lessons and the Blessings in Every Experience
DISCLOSURE: THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS, MEANING WE GET A SMALL COMMISSION IF YOU DECIDE TO MAKE A PURCHASE THROUGH OUR LINKS, AT NO COST TO YOU. PLEASE READ OUR DISCLOSURE FOR MORE INFO.
What if you could break free from the fears holding you back and step into the person you're meant to be?
In this episode of Recounting Life Lessons, we sit down with Julie Cropp Gareleck, entrepreneur, author, and founder of Junction Creative, to explore the transformative journey of becoming the person you were meant to be. Julie shares powerful insights on overcoming adversity, building resilience, navigating the challenges of a family business, and the profound impact of journaling. She also opens up about leadership, imposter syndrome, and redefining success, offering a raw and inspiring look at the lessons that shaped her path.
Whether you're an entrepreneur, leader, or someone striving for personal growth, this episode is packed with actionable wisdom to help you navigate challenges, embrace your journey, and step into your full potential.
Listen now to discover the mindset shifts and success principles that will empower you to 'Dare to Become' your best self!
5 success principles for overcoming challenges and growing stronger
Julie Cropp Gareleck's journey is filled with experiences that highlight the importance of self-awareness, resilience, and intentional growth. Here are five key life lessons from the episode:
- Journaling is a Game-Changer for Personal Growth: Looking back at past journal entries can help you see patterns in your growth, rediscover lost wisdom, and remind yourself of the resilience you've built over time.
- The Right Mantra Can Change Everything: Julie's phrase—"It's fine. I'm fine."—became a powerful reset button for her mindset. Self-talk matters, and the right words can shift your perspective and energy in moments of stress.
- Adversity Fuels Transformation: Julie's toughest moments—both personal and professional—became the catalysts for growth. Instead of seeing challenges as roadblocks, she reframed them as opportunities for evolution and resilience.
- Your Support System Matters More Than You Think: Surround yourself with empowering people—whether mentors, family, or like-minded peers—can elevate your mindset confidence. At the same time, limiting interactions with those who undermine you is just as important.
- Redefining Success Leads to a More Fulfilling Life: Success isn't about titles, money, or external validation. For Julie, it's not about impact, authenticity, and the value she relates in others' lives—a shift that can bring greater meaning and fulfillment to any career or personal journey.
More ways to listen:
Main Takeaways & golden nuggets from this episode
- Journaling unlocks self-awareness: Revisiting old journal entries helps track personal growth, gain clarity, and recognize recurring life patterns.
- Self-talk shapes reality: The words we tell ourselves in difficult moments determine whether we rise or retreat.
- Entrepreneurship requires resilience: Whether in a family business or your own venture, learning how to fail forward is key to long-term success.
- Support is essential for growth: Building a strong network of people who encourage, challenge, and uplift you is critical for achieving your full potential.
- Adversity is a stepping stone, not a setback: Hardships are often the turning points that forge stronger leaders and more empowered individuals.
There is no one moment that defines our entire life.
For an in-depth exploration of these takeaways and more, be sure to listen to the full episode below.
Tips for applying these takeaways:
Want to apply these insights to your life? Here are some actionable steps you can take today:
- Start Journaling Today: Write about your current challenges, mindset shifts, and small wins. Include major world events and personal milestones to add context. Revisit past entries to see how much you've grown.
- Develop Your Own Mantra: Choose a phrase that grounds you in tough moments. Repeat it daily to train your brain to focus on solutions, not stress.
- Reframe Challenges as Growth Opportunities: When faced with setbacks, ask yourself: What lesson is hidden in this? Document the experience and how you overcame it to build mental resilience.
- Curate a Supportive Inner Circle: Identify who in your life lifts you up and who drains your energy. Be intentional about spending time with those who challenge and inspire you.
- Redefine Your Success Metrics: Shift from external achievements to internal fulfillment and impact. Define what true success looks like for you beyond money and titles.
If you're ready to take these principles even further and create a clear, actionable plan for your success, check out our Best Year Ever Blueprint course. It's designed to help you set meaningful goals, stay focused on progress, and make the next 12 months your best yet.
meet julie cropp gareleck
Julie Cropp Gareleck, a distinguised CEO, entrepreneu, and author with over 25 years of experience. She has consulted with more than 1,000 companies, ranging from startups to Fortune 1000 firms, crafting sustainable, revenue-generating strategies. In 2009, Julie founded Junction Creative, an award-winning strategic marketing agency. Her bestselling book, Dare to Become: From the Corner Booth to the Corner Office, shares personal anecdotes and professional advice, emphasizing resilience in achieving success.
She actively participates as an expert panelist and guest speaker, serving on advisory boards for startups and late-stage organizations. Beyond her professional endeavors, Julie cherishes time with her husband and daughters.
To dive deeper into Julie's insights, connect with her on social media, or work with her, explore her work at juliecroppgareleck.com.
And don't forget to grab a copy of her bestselling book, Dare to Become, here, for invaluable lessons on resilience, leadership, and success!
Listen now to hear Julie's incredible journey and apply these lessons to your own life!
final thoughts: dare to become the best version of yourself
Julie Cropp Gareleck's story is a powerful reminder that success isn't just about external wins—it's about who you become in the process. By embracing reflection, resilience, and intentional growth, you can transform even the hardest moments into opportunities for empowerment and impact.
Whether you're an entrepreneur, a leader, or simply someone striving to live with more purpose, this episode will challenge you to dare to become the best version of yourself.
Stay tuned for more inspiring episodes as we and people from all walks of life share their experiences and we identify the lessons, blessings, and success principles that life is providing—lessons that we can all take advantage of and learn from if we pay attention.
If you're ready to step into your full potential, make sure to listen to the episode and share it with someone who could benefit from this powerful message. And don't forget to subscribe to Recounting Life Lessons and jump onto our Insider email list for more insights, actionable tips, and empowering stories.
We are Sione & Alana
Co-Hosts and Owners of
Recounting Life Lessons
We're a married couple from Hawaii who are now living in Vancouver, Washington.
Two things that we are passionate about are:
1) Uncovering the success principles and life lessons that help us all grow into our best selves.
Our favorite ways to uncover success principles and life lessons are by sharing stories from our own adventures and interviewing inspiring guests from all walks of life on our podcast.
2) Making personal growth and consistently leveling up in your life simple and sustainable, no matter what your circumstances are.
We take special care to craft the programs and resources we create, in a way, that keeps things simple and easy to follow-through on.
Through our blog, podcast, courses, and programs, we aim to empower you to grow into your best self, live with purpose, and make a meaningful impact on the world around you.
Create Your Plan to Make the next 12 Months Your Best Year Ever
Discover the ultimate guide for designing a clear vision, simplifying decision making, and implementing a 3 step-daily plan to make your top goal a reality.
Get Unstuck, Get Clarity, & Take Action
Discover the simple yet powerful framework for turning overwhelm into empowering actions
Unlock Insights for a Better Year Ahead
Grab this free guide to get key reflections for taking inventory of the last 12 month...
Master a New Habit in 100 Days
Grab this free tracker to help you build better habits to transform your life
Inspiration & life's lessons every week!
Join our Recounting Life Lessons community and receive a fresh dose of inspiration, personal insights, and practical takeaways every week. Through life's highs, lows, and everything in between, we share lessons that help you grow, reflect, and thrive. Sign up now to stay connected and uncover the wisdom in your own journey!
