Alright, here we go! Time to say THANK YOU and GOODBYE to 2014 as we make way for a brand new year STRETCHED out in front of us.

You ready?

It’s SO, SO, SO important to take stock of 2014 before we barrel into 2015. By taking a solid look at what went down this past year, you can make smarter choices about where to invest your energy, time and talents.

Special thanks to my girl LEONIE DAWSON for her beautiful 2015 WORKBOOK for giving me the space to celebrate and release 2014. I highly recommend you get your hands on this workbook as it will CHANGE YOUR LIFE.

I’ll go first … then I want to hear from YOU in the comments below. Okay? Good, let’s go.

CELEBRATIONS

1. Birthed my beautiful baby GIRL Kate Julie Fenig via VBAC (vaginal birth after Cesearan) on April 16, 2014.

Her soul was talking to me prior to conceiving her. I am SO grateful my husband and I made space for her. She completes our family in the most ultimate, ultimate way.

I labored with her in the backseat of my car on the 1-hour ride to the hospital. As I listened to tribal music by the KDZ Drummers on our car stereo, I felt like a primal earth mother and lioness all at the same time. I squeezed my husband Steven’s hand so tight during contractions. I almost broke his hand!

When we arrived at the hospital, I was fully dilated and it was time to welcome my angel into the world. I listened to my body the entire time, did what I felt called to do, birthed her on all fours as my team surrounded me with love and encouragement and felt my baby just glide out of me. When someone on my birth team whispered in my ear, “it’s a girl,” I balled! Tears of joy as I held my DAUGHTER for the very first time.

Listening to my boys Sean and Luke say her full name brings a massive smile to my face. My late sister’s name is Julie Ann Amon. I always knew if I had a girl, her middle name would be Julie. Three kiddos in and I was able to honor my sister this way. THANK YOU, GOD!

2. I finished my first book “Get Gutsy: A Sacred, Fearless Guide to Finding Your Soul’s Calling and Living Your Dream.”

Seriously the longest project I’ve worked on in the history of any project I’ve ever worked on.

Also the most fulfilling … and the hardest.

I call it “memoir mixed with medicine.” It’s a dream come true!

Book is launching on Amazon.com on January 9, 2015. Make sure you’re on my list (you can subscribe here) for updates about our RAD launch party festivities and prizes. I SO want to celebrate with you as we spread this message in the world! It will change everything for you in the most exquisite, sacred way.

Time to GET GUTSY!

3. Decided to commit to Waldorf education for my children.

This felt like a massive decision for me and my husband. We explored every educational option in our community, had numerous conversations, dug deep and listened to our inner wisdom about what was best for our children and our family.

We are committed to walking the Waldorf path and are SO grateful to have an amazing Steiner school a few minutes down the road from our home. Feels so good to be in this community of like-minded families! Our boys are thriving.

I walked through a fear storm before this decision – not because I didn’t think it was right, but because I battled my Inner Critic that said “Who do you think you are sending your kids to private school? What if you can’t afford the tuition? Can you really step up and deliver?”

This Critic was quite vocal during this decision, but I didn’t let her get the best of me! Every time we’ve had a tuition payment due, my business generates a spike in revenue. How cool is that? I love feeling the FUEL of my commitment. It makes me a stronger woman, mother, coach, writer, human. When you have SKIN IN THE GAME, you rise to the occasion. Try it 🙂

4. I hosted ALCHEMY Live for 50 amazing women from around the world.

This was a brand new event for me … and it just felt so right from the moment I birthed the concept. I hosted ALCHEMY Live here in the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts, which is the spot I call “HOME.” It was the largest event in the history of my business. In a word it was: MAGICAL.

One of the coolest memories was when my family came to the event to check things out. Highlights: My boys on stage singing in the microphone during a break, nursing my daughter in a fancy chair in the lobby, interviewing my husband on stage, and my father-in-law maybe finally understanding what the heck I do!

(Our 2015 dates are set – October 19 – 21! Mark your calendars. Tix go on sale in the next few months! Would LOVE to have you join us.)

5. My mom and I developed a closer relationship.

For this, I’m grateful! It hasn’t always been rainbows and roses with my mom. Our relationship has been very strained at times, especially a few years ago when I initiated a temporary separation from her. I needed some space and time to process and heal and figure out who I was on my own.

Becoming a mother 3 times over has allowed me to understand her in new ways. So has some deep conversations we’ve had this year. Every time she visits, I make sure to book some alone time for just her and I to go out, just us, and talk. This has made such a difference! We are now making plans for a cruise in summer 2015 for my family and her. She’s been talking about going on a cruise together for years. I am finally ready to make space for this.

6. Graduated an amazing group of students in the Business Adventure School … and welcomed in a new class of superstars.

This program has proven to be the most profitable in the history of my company … and the most powerful! A full 12 months of training, coaching, masterminding, retreating, growing and rising up. I absolutely LOVE holding sacred space for the women who have said YES to total transformation AND sharing their GIFT in the most expansive, sustainable, soul-nourishing way. Everything I know about business, online marketing and being a soulful human being is shared in the Business Adventure School. I am HONORED to light the way for my BAS girls! You will be hearing more about these amazing women in 2015 and beyond.

7. Upleveled my biz: Visibility, trademarks and insurance

I scored some pretty big wins when it came to speaking opps. Jonathan Fields invited me to speak at Camp GLP in September (blast!). I spoke on/contributed to about 30 telesummits, podcasts, gift giveaways. And I’ve got some fantastic media scheduled for 2015, including Ali Brown’s awesome podcast Glambition Radio in January! Love doing this message-spreading stuff! Totally FUN and ENERGIZING for me.

Boring yet important details I dealt with in 2013 was trademarking 2 of my program names and investing in liability and workers comp insurance. Snore-worthy initiatives to be honest, but I put on my big-girl panties and made the investments for the sake of my beautiful business.

The bigger you grow, the more you’ll have to make these investments too. And that’s worth celebrating, don’t you think?!

LESSONS LEARNED

1. Never say never.

2 examples here. I said I’d never drive a minivan. With 3 kids, I am a MINIVAN DRIVING MAMA and SO HAPPY ABOUT THIS. What the heck was I trying to avoid? Convenience, ease? I love my Honda Odyssey and hereby say THANK YOU to all who told me I would love driving a minivan. You were RIGHT. (And I still love driving my Audi Q5 when I’m solo or with just 1 or 2 kids.)

I also thought I always had “early” babies. Sean was 2.5 weeks early. Luke was 1 week early. Kate was 3 days late. Boom.

2. Living a splintered life is lame.

Integration is the name of the game. I’ll be sharing more about this learning down the line as it’s pretty personal and I’m still wrapping my head around it, but this is a biggie for me. I don’t compartmentalize areas of my life or the people in it anymore. I’m making one giant stew of awesomeness. Anyone who can’t handle this can’t handle me 😉

3. There are angels among us.

I feel very blessed to have known an amazing woman named Trinity Raifstanger for the short time I did. She passed away from melanoma in November 2014, leaving behind a husband and 3 young children. I keep the program from her funeral service in my office.

It’s a constant reminder at how lucky I am to be alive. I’ve known this for a long time (especially after my sister Julie passed away when I was 16; and my BFF Sonda died when I was 19), but it’s so easy to forget. Just this week I learned that one of my cousins just had breast cancer removed. Deep breaths. We’re lucky to be alive!

The fact that we’re still alive means this: WE HAVE IMPORTANT WORK TO DO HERE. You have an assignment to fulfill and YOU MATTER.

4. Money can’t be the biggest motivator in business.

Money is awesome. Money is important. But money can’t be the reason I get out of bed. It can’t rule me or else I start feeling really shitty and out of alignment. Your mission must be your motivator. The money flows once you match your offerings with a market who values what you’re selling. Be an expert problem solver. Do it with love. The money comes.

When it comes to money, PRICE TO PROFIT. Don’t run your biz into the ground by being obsessed about revenues, but not looking at expenses. YOU MUST PROFIT to stay in business for the long haul.

5. FOCUS, FOCUS, FOCUS.

Beware of Bright Shiny Object Syndrome. Focus in on doing a few things REALLY, REALLY well. Put all of your energy there. Say no to the rest. Release all that stands in your way of focusing on what matters most as you share your message with your tribe.

6. More systems are needed!

The more my business has grown, the more systems need to be created or refined. The same is true for you! Anytime you find yourself doing something over and over again, you need a system! As CEO of your enterprise, you have GOT to be efficient with your time and energy. This is HARD. Sometimes you just want to fuck around on Facebook or do some trivial task because it’s EASY and that feels like candy to our BRAINS sometimes.

Gotta be a #GIRLBOSS though and develop systems so that you can free your mind of minutae that can be delegated, automated, systematized or deleted.

I will be focusing on this BIG-TIME in 2015. Join me?

7. Stop comparing yourself to others. Blaze your own trail. Create your crew of inspiration.

When you compare, you despair. Sure, watching what others are doing can be inspiring … it can also be annoying and not helpful. Don’t spend all of your energy watching the highlight reels of your network on social media. Your best creative energy needs to be invested in YOUR creations. Don’t worry about what other peeps are doing. Don’t worry about mean-spirited critics. Run your own race. Share your work with the world. Unsubscribe and unfollow anyone who makes you feel like shit, derails you from your path, or just isn’t being helpful right now. It’s okay. You’re allowed.

To that end, you DO want soul sisters in your life who can hold you up on the journey … and vice versa. I’m MEGA-GRATEFUL for my mastermind sisters who consistently show me what is possible and encourage me to STRETCH beyond the beyond. These women are A-M-A-Z-I-N-G rays of light and awesomeness and intelligence and love.

Speaking of LOVE, I also LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my girlfriends who love me for me who I don’t talk business with at all.

I adore my clients and customers and tribe (you!).

And my heart shines with fullness that I get to be a WIFE and a MOTHER to my husband and children. They make the journey WORTH IT.

The point: don’t go it alone!

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Okay … there it is, gutsy lady! I could write for days and days on these celebrations and lessons learned when it comes to 2014, but these are my top 7 in each category. Hope my words are helpful!

Thanks for reading. Thanks for being here. Thanks for being YOU.

So … what say you? What are YOUR biggest celebrations and lessons learned for 2014?

Share below!

Let’s rock out 2015, shall we? Time to GET GUTSY.

xoxo