Company Name: Gina Marotta International Coaching
Industry: Career Coach, Motivational Speaker, Business & Legal Consultant
Year Founded: 2012
Location: Level Office The Loop, Chicago
Tell the story of how your business was founded.
“The idea for my business came to me during a big picture life planning exercise with a business book club. I explored questions like “Where do you see your life and work in 10 years?” And this catalyzed a “light bulb moment” where what I really wanted to do became clear. I realized I wanted to teach people what I had learned about being happy.
Years prior, I walked away from a highly successful career as a rising star attorney because I didn’t feel fulfilled or like I even knew who I was. Thereafter, I spent several years studying empowerment and spirituality, and making big life and career changes to align my life with my most authentic self. Now I teach people how to do this for themselves. The goal with all my clients is that they ultimately enjoy work the way I do – they love what they do so much, it doesn’t feel like work, it feels like playing.”
What has been the key to your company’s success?
“Faith is a big part of my success this time around. It was not a part of my career as a lawyer or later as a nonprofit executive, and so those phases of my career felt much harder. Bringing faith and spirituality into how I operate in my business allows me to know and trust that I’ll always have whatever I need to see my visions through and be successful. Thanks to my faith, I experience magic in my daily life like meeting just the right people or connecting with exactly the right resources to help me be of great service.”
What has been the greatest reward in starting a business?
“Hands down, my favorite moments are getting the phone call or email from a client who tells me with full confidence that they are ready to make the big career changes we’ve been working toward. I help my clients tune into their intuition. Once this connection is established, they begin to have a clear inner knowing of how and when to take courageous action like quit a job, start a company, or make a significant job change. Because the types of changes my clients seek involve major personal transformations, we never know exactly when the moment will come that they’ll be ready for their leap of faith. But when it comes, it is unmistakable to them, and that’s when I get the best calls or emails ever!”
What advice would you give someone who wants to start a business?
“To do something great, we most definitely have to get comfortable moving beyond our comfort zone. And to do this, we need inspiration and support structures. When I started my business, the two most useful things I did to set myself up for success were hiring a coach and creating a business mastermind with other ambitious entrepreneurs. I recommend one or both of these strategies for anyone starting a business! A great coach can see your potential, help identify blocks to it, and help create solutions on the unconventional path of turning yourself over to the uncertain and exciting ride of entrepreneurialism. As for a mastermind, it is imperative to be around others who regularly take risks and get out of their comfort zone. Other people who play it safe can’t understand, support, or inspire you with the full force that other entrepreneurs can.”
Why did you choose to move into Level Office’s Loop office space?
“This is my second office space for my business and it was a big decision for me to move. I knew a lot about what I wanted, and so I made a list of all the qualities I sought in an office, including: creative vibe, buzzing with good energy and spacious; opportunity to be both in community and have private retreat-like work space to meet with clients; downtown location with easy commute to and from home; able to bring in collaborators to work in space with me.
All of this was available at Level. And what cinched the deal was how the sales team went out of their way to be creative in getting me exactly what I wanted for the price I wanted to pay. Other similar offices had too many rules and restrictions and so I couldn’t get everything I wanted. Level matched my commitment to resourcefulness and so created with me everything I wanted!”