Today we’d like to introduce you to Julian Leonard.
Julian, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
For the majority of my 20’s, I’ve been trying to find what truly makes me happy in my professional career. There are so many people in this world who are going to work every day and don’t love what they do. I always knew I didn’t want to be one of those people, but I feel like we’ve all been there before, right?
I originally went off to college at Southern Polytechnic State University (now Kennesaw State University) to major in Architecture. Being an Architect is all I could ever see myself doing from the time I was a little boy. There was no Plan B. Designing floorplans and seeing my drawings come to life was my ultimate goal. I entered college as 17-year-old thinking that I would graduate at 21 with a degree and working at a prestigious architecture firm, but the cards didn’t play out that way.
I would go days without getting any sleep, and I still was taking a full course load of core classes that I was barely passing. Not to mention, one of the con’s of growing older is that as each day comes, we all grow closer to death.
During my first two years in college, I went to three funerals (two being my grandparents) that really took a toll on how I performed in school and slowly diminished my love for Architecture. In early 2011, I switched my major.
By December 2013, I graduated with a B.S. in Technical Communications and a couple of months after that, I jumped into the corporate world. My uncle always told me for years prior that I always would need to work on my public speaking skills, and besides working a 9 to 5, I had free time, so I decided to join a local Toastmasters Club in May 2014.
A little under two years later, on March 26th, 2016 to be exact, I knew that I had found what would make me happy professionally. I was competing in a speaking contest on the area level, and I gave a speech titled “Can Anybody Hear Me” where I was talking about my grandmother and her battle with Alzheimer’s. If you ever dealt with somebody battling Alzheimer’s, it’s a truly heartbreaking experience.
To see someone who you loved and interacted with you your whole life now not recognize you is still something I find hard to accept. I made a conscious effort to describe the downturn in her health in hopes of teaching people that you should be patient, kind and be willing to sacrifice if you are dealing with a family member who is suffering from Alzheimer’s.
When I finished the speech, not only did I win 1st place but two women walked up to me teary-eyed. It turned out that their mother went through the same battle and died practically under the same circumstances. It took them forever to get their words out because they were filled with so much emotion. It was at that exact point that I found out what I was meant to do and found clarity on how I was going to impact the world (even if it started with just one person at a time).
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It’s been far from smooth, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. In the speaker industry, you have to prove yourself over and over again. To simply put: Why would someone sit still for 30 to 45 minutes and listen to what you have to say? Why do you feel like what you have to say that important? How will you provide value to your listeners?
Even if you can answer these questions, each time you touch the stage you have the first couple of minutes to capture your audience’s attention and during the rest of your assigned time, you must provide value. Self-care has also been a challenge for me in various capacities.
I’m constantly working on getting my business steady flowing, while still working a corporate job. I also drive Uber to help pay for traveling to conferences, marketing and other needs in my business. It’s a constant challenge to balance everything out, but I don’t have any regrets with how I’m approaching it.
My words shouldn’t be mistaken for a sign of complaining. Public Speaking is what I’m passionate about. Being able to help others improve their Public Speaking skills is what brings me happiness. I’m not at the point where I can be comfortable. I never want to cheat my clients by not continuously perfecting my craft, and that takes a lot of personal sacrifices.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into The JLeonard Group story. Tell us more about the business.
I founded The JLeonard Group because I have encountered so many adults who would put more work into avoiding anything related to Public Speaking rather than simply putting in the work to build a skill set that will drastically improve their opportunities and trajectory, no matter what industry they are in. Within my company, I provide services through two avenues.
First, I provide motivational speaking to high school and college students by focusing on three topics: Long-Term Thinking, Failure, and Communication. This is my way of focusing on encouraging students to keep going no matter the odds because in today’s world they have all the tools they need to achieve anything. I’m proud to say that I’m doing my part to motivate the next generation.
Fortunately, students are open to listening to what I have to say, so I focus on topics that I feel would be beneficial to them for the foreseeable future. Lastly, I provide public speaking coaching through one-on-one management coaching and team communication coaching in the small to the medium business sector, as well as one-on-one coaching for high profile clients in the sports and entertainment sector.
I help my clients work on their communication skills in the workplace and also focus on Public Speaking as a tool to expand one’s brand outside of their chosen profession. I’m also proud to say that I’m breaking down the self-imposed barrier that most people put up when dealing with Public Speaking and helping clients expand their brand/spread their messages.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I’m not a big fan of the word luck. I think what is meant to happen, will indeed happen. It might not happen on your timeline, but if you put in the work, your goals will manifest.
I’ve been putting in the work for three years now and each year has been better than the last.
Pricing:
- For Public Speaking requests, Julian is now booking keynote presentations and workshops at high schools and colleges for the 2019 – 2020 school year. Please send an inquiry email to contact@thejleonardgroup.
com for more information. -
For Public Speaking Coaching requests, please send an email to contact@thejleonardgroup.com so we can set up a FREE consultation call where we will figure out your exact needs and map out your Public Speaking goals.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thejleonardgroup.com
- Phone: 7708806560
- Email: contact@thejleonardgroup.com
- Instagram: _julianaleonard_
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