Entrepreneurship rarely follows a straight path. For many women, the goal is not just building a successful business but creating a life that allows for flexibility, presence with family, and the freedom to choose how time is spent.
Julia Bocchese, an SEO, Pinterest, and AI search strategist and the founder of Julia Renee Consulting, shares how community has shaped her journey, how her definition of success has evolved, and why building a business that supports the life you want matters just as much as the work itself.
How Online Connections Turned Into Real-World Support
How has community helped you on your journey to where you are today?
I have always tried to find some kind of community throughout the years. In the early days, I connected with a bunch of people on Instagram from all over, back when Instagram was a lot more casual. You could make friends pretty quickly there.
The retreat I just went on was run by someone I met on Instagram several years ago. We had never met in person before. That was the first time we met face to face because she lives in Dallas. It is kind of crazy how community can influence your business decisions or help you make business friendships.
One of the reasons I like Habituelle so much is because it is a local, in-person community. You can find business friends who live down the street from you or connect with people who run businesses you are really interested in and want to support, like restaurants. Philly has so many great restaurants.
Finding any type of community, whether it is just one friend or a larger group, has always been something that helps in business.
Building a Business That Leaves Room for Family
What does a life that you love look like for you today, and are you living it?
I think I am pretty close to living a life that I love. Having a flexible schedule so I can be there for my kids is really important to me. Right now they are 18 months and three and a half.
When they are older and have school events, I want to be able to take time off and go see whatever play they are in or whatever activity they have. I like that I do not have to report to someone or ask for permission to take time off.
It is also helpful when emergencies come up. That is not something anyone likes to plan for, but having flexibility makes those moments easier to manage.
The only thing I would really change right now is making sure I take more time for myself. With kids this young, a lot of things revolve around them. I am trying to make sure I still create space for myself too.
The Freedom to Decide How You Spend Your Time
How would you define success today in your life and business?
Success is essentially being able to do what you want.
That could mean spending a lot of time on your business and making as much money as possible because you enjoy it. Or it could mean working part time because you want to spend more time with your kids or simply do not want to work as much.
To me, success is having the freedom to choose how you spend your time.
When Fear Focuses on What Could Go Wrong
What do you think keeps women from taking an opportunity that might come their way?
I think what keeps women from saying yes to opportunities is focusing on the worst-case scenario instead of the best-case scenario.
To reverse that, it helps to think about what could go right. Instead of thinking, I do not know if I have time for this or I am not sure if I am experienced enough, it can help to think about what you might gain from the opportunity.
Sometimes it can even help to write down all the things that could go right and what you could learn or gain from the situation.
Boundaries, Contracts, and Trusting Red Flags
What is a hard lesson you have had to learn, Julia?
I have not had too many hard lessons in business. I usually try to approach things with the mindset of asking what I can learn if something goes wrong.
There have been a few unhappy clients over the years. That pushed me to improve my communication and pay closer attention to red flags early in a project. If I see those signs now, I know it is better to step away instead of forcing something to work that probably will not.
For example, I once had a client who added me to a group text with several people I did not know. After that experience, I decided I would not do business calls over the phone anymore and that clients would not have my phone number. Everything is handled virtually.
I have also updated contracts when boundaries were crossed or when clients expected responses to emails late at night. Over time, it has been a lot of small lessons that helped me reshape my contracts and set clearer boundaries.
Why Life Rarely Follows the Plan
What advice would you give younger Julia, knowing what you know about life now?
I would say do not plan too rigidly. I never imagined I would start an online business. I did not even know what SEO was when I was in college.
So I would say not to worry too much about sticking to a specific plan because life can lead you in directions you never expected.
Teaching Her Daughters to Follow Their Own Path
What is a legacy that you want to leave behind?
The legacy I want to leave for my girls is the idea that they should follow their own path, even if it does not make sense on paper.
You do not have to be restricted to a traditional job. You can pursue what you are interested in, even if that means trying a few different things before you figure it out.
About Julia Bocchese
Julia Bocchese is an SEO, Pinterest, and AI search strategist who helps businesses get found online and attract the right clients through search. She’s the founder of Julia Renee Consulting, where she builds clear, sustainable strategies focused on real growth, conversions, and long-term visibility—without the confusing jargon. Julia has her hands full with two little girls and a Siberian Husky who all enjoy helping her in the garden.
