The word no is one that often comes with a feeling of dread, most especially for aspirants who are on their first steps toward materializing their dreams. After all, the utterance of no—whether callous, offhanded, hesitant, remorseful or apologetic—means doors being closed on one’s face and opportunities out of reach. For budding entrepreneurs, it could herald the end of their vision to make a name for themselves in the world of business. But Rechelle Balanzat, the acclaimed founder of Juliette, emphasizes that there is power in hearing no. As she continues to carve a path toward the summit of her industry, she hopes to serve as a voice of courage and hope for others, sending across the message that so long as they persevere and remain steadfast in their goals, no combination of letters could hinder them from success.
A graduate of Fordham University, Rechelle Balanzat is a highly accomplished fempreneur whose experience in finance, branding and technology has allowed her to disrupt the laundry industry. Since 2013, she has stood at the helm of Juliette Cleaners, a New York-based provider of premium laundry and dry cleaning services that boasts its own app. From the get-go, her brainchild has managed to impress the City that Never Sleeps because of its simple and straightforward approach to the needs of its clients.
In the years since Rechelle Balanzat first dipped her toes in the cutthroat commercial space, she has snagged not only a long string of achievements under her belt but has also gained an in-depth understanding of how the economic landscape works. Among her realizations is the extent to which the word no can galvanize people.
“When I decided to pursue entrepreneurship, I had no idea of the adventure that lay ahead. All I had was the energy and desire to back up my concept. In my head, it made perfect sense,” recalled the awe-inspiring go-getter. “I hit the ground running. Frantically researching and calling cleaners and laundromats like a madwoman, I then got a lot of nos.”
This particular experience resonates with countless self-starters worldwide as it is common to be denied the resources necessary for starting and scaling a venture, may that be a partnership, an investment, a loan, and more.
While it did sting to be on the receiving end of an answer she didn’t want, Rechelle Balanzat soon understood the electrifying impact of hearing no. “It forced me to develop a different set of survival skills that sharpened me and made me perform better. It taught me to know the difference between which leads are promising and which are a waste of time. It also taught me to know the difference between which ideas are worth pursuing. But, most importantly, it enabled me to be keenly aware and attuned to who might be interested in listening to me,” she shared.
For Rechelle Balanzat, it was knowing those differences that made all the difference. Today, she spearheads her purpose-driven companies with that recognition in mind. Also, she goes out of her way to impart much-needed insights to those who are starting their journey toward the forefront of the entrepreneurial realm.
Learn more about Rechelle Balanzat by visiting her website.
