Julia Batchelder

After graduating college, Julia Batchelder pursued a rewarding career in the medical field. During her time as a nurse, she advanced her skill set and cultivated positive working relationships with colleagues and patients. While she thrived in her position, Julia also sought greater and unique challenges. After a period of searching, she found herself in outside sales for a medical supply company.

Julia Batchelder is a goal driven individual and enjoys the challenges that accompany her current role. As one of the top sales performers in her region, she takes pride in offering her clients the best possible solutions.

Where did the idea for your career come from?

I have always loved helping and meeting new people. I really enjoy that sales allows me to earn while doing something I love. My main client right now is the small business owner and what I am selling is something they need. They are going to need the cleaning supplies, the aprons, all of that. What they are looking for is the best value. They want to save money and I want to be the person that gives them those savings. Closing those sales is what draws me. Finding the best solution for everyone is the goal.

What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?

Mondays and Wednesdays, the team will meet in the office and go over results and goals. Other than that, I am on the road making deals. I like to schedule my appointments so that I have a few on one side of town before I head off to the next grouping. It’s more efficient to plan it out this way so I don’t waste time going back and forth all day.

How do you bring ideas to life?

I have always been pretty detail-oriented and goal-driven. The best way to bring ideas to life is just to put them into practice. I am still fairly new to sales. I spent time early on paying attention to what methods worked and what didn’t. From that, I envisioned strategies I felt would work and so far it’s been doing well for me. In this field, you have to be prepared to hear the word no. You have to be ready for something to not work, then change things up so it does.

What’s one trend that excites you?

One thing I’ve noticed more now than ever before is that, in general, people are being nicer to each other. Social media has let us see just how similar we are to each other, even if we live on opposite sides of the world. That is a great trend that I think we all like to see. We’re more connected than we have ever been.

What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?

Being organized is key. I’m a natural planner, I really enjoy getting everything organized. I think that has been a huge help as I learned this new field. I am prepared to answer any questions my potential clients may have. I am ready to show why our products are the better option for them.

What advice would you give your younger self?

The best advice I can think of would be to not sweat the small stuff. I think we spend a lot of time worrying about what other people think about us and it is such a waste of energy. Looking back, I can remember plenty of times I stressed over something that really wasn’t worth the energy I spent on it. If I could go back and tell myself that, I think I would have found myself here sooner.

Tell us something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on.

Honestly, I think that idea about the world being nicer may be something others wouldn’t agree with. I choose to look for the good, but I think many people may see the divisiveness online between different political parties or opinions. If you focus on things like that, it is all you will see.

As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?

Take care of your physical and emotional health. Our society tends to reduce the importance of this. We think we have to be on the go all the time and learn to push our own needs to the back. I’ve learned doing that just wears you down faster. Take time to exercise, eat healthily, and make time to relax. It will benefit you much more in the long run than working nonstop.

What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business?

Listening has been the best strategy for me. No matter what you are selling, being in this field is all about providing a need for someone. You won’t know how to pitch it if you don’t have the proper understanding of what their needs are. This is where my love for meeting new people really helps me out. I really enjoy the face-to-face interactions I have with new people. Listening to their needs and concerns allow me to tweak the pitch as needed to close the deal.

What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?

I have failed to close a few sales. Some of them would have been a pretty big deal. Getting comfortable with hearing no is just part of this industry. Sometimes you think things are going to work out and, for some reason, they don’t. I’ve learned to overcome it by not taking it personally. They chose what they felt was best for them. They didn’t choose against working with me.

What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?

I would recommend looking into anything that would make it easier to shop from smaller shops. Something like DoorDash, but for products instead of food has the potential of being a good startup. All the big retailers are offering online purchasing and small businesses are kind of left out. I think looking into bridging that gap would be a good idea.

What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?

I recently subscribed to a local online publication. I think being in the know is very important and I do my best to stay on top of current issues.

What is one piece of software or a web service that helps you be productive?

The CRM I use daily has really helped me stay organized. It’s a customer relation management software where I can store my calendar and my contacts. It really helps me throughout my workday.

What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?

I am reading a book called Emotional Intelligence 2.0 right now. It is written by Travis Bradberry and Jean Greaves. It discusses the importance of having a high EQ to have a happier life.

What is your favorite quote?

“Be the change you wish to see in the world”

Key Learnings:

• Be a good listener
• Be adaptable
• Be kind