We had the good fortune of connecting with Dominique Stasulli and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dominique, what do you attribute your success to?
I do my best to lead my brand with kindness, authenticity, and intellectual humility; passion is also a relentless undercurrent in all that I pursue. I have an endless curiosity, a hunger for knowledge, and a willingness to learn and grow over time; these traits have opened many doors that I was then able to explore and others that I learned I needed to close. I believe in putting people before profits, always. I have found that when you genuinely care for people, the business takes care of itself. I am whole-heartedly invested in my clients as both athletes and, more importantly, as humans. Everyone deserves to feel valued and appreciated and I hope to offer a safe space for people to be themselves without judgment. The coach-athlete relationship can be incredibly powerful and valuable; it transcends far beyond the training and competition, with the potential to truly bring meaning into a person’s life. Living out these values defines success in my eyes. At the end of our days, what matters is not the number of accolades we collected or profits we made, but the relationships we fostered along the way.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My path to teaching and coaching was a non-traditional one. I grew up in a small, economically depressed town in the coal region of Pennsylvania and come from a hard-working, blue-collar family. My home environment was oppressive and I learned quickly that if I wanted to be successful, I would need to seek out resources and create my own opportunities. I knew that I wanted to have a positive impact through my work, but I needed exposure to different cultures, backgrounds, and perspectives to deepen my worldview and shape my values. I volunteered in a few underserved places abroad including Honduras, Kenya, and South Africa, and each time I walked away with a complete shift in the trajectory of my life. I left with an indelible passion and desire to be more involved on a personal, cultural, and community level. I had plans along the way of entering a career in forensics, scientific research, medicine, and even global policy, but I finally landed in both education and coaching after graduate school. I wanted to work on the ground level, shaping individuals on their own journeys, whether it be in the classroom or in their sport. I took a leap and started my own coaching business a few years ago and I can honestly say it has been the best ride of my life. I truly believe we are all placed on this earth to see one another through and that gives me a sense of purpose and meaning behind my brand today.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If I had a friend visiting Colorado, I would want to show off all my favorite sites around the state. It would certainly be an outdoorsy trip filled with equal parts running/hiking adventures and relaxing in nature. I’d love to take a tour of my favorite mountain towns like Crested Butte, Telluride, Ouray, and Leadville. We would surely have to visit a natural hot spring along the way and see some live music. Hanging by the creek, enjoying some farm-to-table food, and appreciating the progressiveness of Boulder would be a great way to cap off a trip to this beautiful state.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
This shoutout is dedicated to all the teachers who served as mentors and role models for me at every developmental stage along my journey. I would never have made it this far without your unconditional support and optimism. These transformative teachers have power that extends far beyond the classroom, molding us deep within. They are the real heroes and healers of our lifetime; I will be forever grateful for your kindness.

Website: www.zealendurancecoaching.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zealendurancecoaching/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zealendurancecoaching

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