Julia Janke Patton

I definitely attribute my success to my Lord and Savior, Jesus. He is the one who has made the way when there seems to be no way. He's the one who saved my life multiple times. I've seen his hand in so many things, from managers finding favor on me and creating positions for me when there was no role available because they didn't want to lose me, to saving my life when I was at my lowest point in high school with my eating disorder. I could have lost my life, but he wasn't ready for me to go - he had so much more for me to do. His presence and guidance have been evident throughout my entire journey.

The best career advice I've received is to always be yourself - be genuine and authentic. I've also learned to love what you do, because then you'll never work a day in your life. Another important piece of advice is to treat everybody with kindness and respect, the way you would like to be treated. This can be challenging, especially working in customer service where guests might yell at you for something that wasn't your fault, but you have to take it with kindness and remember it's not aimed directly at you. And finally, to always do the right thing, even when nobody's looking - to have integrity in everything you do.

I would tell young women entering this industry to take it one step at a time. Know that there are going to be challenges and obstacles, no matter what path in life you choose. But if this is something that you love and desire and want to do, it will be worth it. The hard times make the good times even better, more meaningful, deeper and richer, because you went through the hard. So don't give up in those moments - lean into those moments and see what it is that you're needing to learn. Humble yourself in those times and ask yourself questions. See what it is that maybe you need to learn or experience or grow from during those challenging periods.

The biggest challenge for me, especially when I was starting out as a single person, has been finances. That's always a big thing that gets in the way. Another major challenge is finding the right lane to pursue everything that fits, because I love so many things - helping people, dancing, fitness, working with guests. I get confused on how to make it all fit and move forward smoothly into one cohesive career path. I don't want to get so overloaded with different avenues that it becomes unmanageable, or that I can't help everybody I want to help. I'm trying to figure out how to integrate all my passions - the wellness route, the non-profit work for mental illness, the dance, the personal training - into one business track that makes sense and can actually grow and become bigger and serve more people. As for opportunities, the biggest one is getting to help and touch as many lives as I can. That's what drives me forward.

The values most important to me are leading with everything I do with love and joy, because I think above all, love will always win out. Even in the hard times, I try to remember what I have to be thankful for, knowing that tomorrow isn't promised and today is a gift, so I live in the moment. My personal mission statement is to spread joy and to treat everybody, making them feel like they are the most special person in the room, because they are somebody. Follow-through is very important to me - not just saying something, but actually following through on what you say you're going to do, because words are just mere words, but actions speak much louder. I believe actions speak volumes, so whatever I'm doing, I do it with love and with joy. Compassion and empathy are huge for me. I definitely have a huge heart, especially for those that are hurting and in pain. I want to reach down and help them, hug them, hold them, and do whatever I can. And integrity is big - always doing the right thing even when nobody's looking.