As we approach the end of this year, I’m the kind of girl who likes to reflect so I can make sense of it all.
It’s by looking back that we can wisely move forward.
So here are the highlights … I hope my recap helps YOU get clarity about YOUR year and where you feel called to go next.
I’ve organized the highlights of 2015 into 5 buckets.These buckets made all the difference for me in making this year so spectacular.
1. Spiritual Relationship
2015 was the year so much opened up for me.
I strengthened my relationship with God.
I healed the trauma around my sister Julie’s death that had been haunting me for more than 20 years.
I released alcohol from my life and am walking the road of sobriety.
After practicing yoga for 13 years, I’ve now added a Kundalini yoga practice to my life. I love it.
I called in my Spirit Guides (all the time) … and do this for my clients too.
I surrendered.
I started seeing miracles EVERYWHERE. It freaked me out at first … then it became my new normal, one that I’m grateful for every single day.
I said YES to being a spiritual leader … and all that comes with it.
Faith became my best friend on this quest. Yes, I’m a woman of faith and I stand strong in who I am and why I’m here.
Here’s what I know to be true …
“We are spiritual beings here to create positive change in the world. Our assignment is to wake up and leave the planet healthier than how we found it. Love is our universal language.”
As I stepped out as a leader of spiritual leaders, the most amazing thing happened: I started attracting in the most AMAZING people into my world. Everywhere I turned, I’d fall deeper and deeper in love with the people in my life.
I started listening to podcasts by spiritual leaders like Rob Bell, Joel Osteen, Ram Dass. I communed with nature. I put my body, mind and spirit FIRST … and in front of my work. Because without my health, nothing else matters.
My spirituality saved me from myself.
From here on out, I co-create with my Creator and have regular conversations with God.
I know I’m right where I’m supposed to be, without a doubt.
Putting my spiritual relationship FIRST has made ALL the difference.
2. Advancing the Get Gutsy Mission
“Here is the test to find whether your mission on Earth is finished: if you’re alive, it isn’t.” – Richard Bach
I’ve been in business for myself since 2008. The first few years are a bit of a blur, but I’m sure that every single move I’ve made has led me to this exact point in time.
“Gutsy” is a word I’ve been using in programs and courses for years. I love the sound of it. I love how it makes me feel. I love the types of clients it attracts.
So when I started writing my first book several years ago, it became clear it wanted to be called “Get Gutsy.”
It felt like a RALLY CRY for this tribe I was leading.
GET GUTSY = listen to your gut. Heed the call of your soul. Be brave. Be courageous. Get out of your comfort zone and build your business around your God-given gifts. Live a life beyond your wildest dreams.
Yes, GET GUTSY is the mission … and has become this GIANT platform for the brand.
It’s so exciting watching it take shape before my every eyes.
When your message lines up, all you have to do is say YES and get out of the way.
Let what’s flowing through you to be shared with your people with courage, grace and love.
This is the ultimate act of wisdom and valor as a spiritual business leader.
Try it and see.
So in January of this year, “Get Gutsy” was self-published and became a #1 bestseller on Amazon on launch day.
My book took me on the ride of my life. I reconnected with long-lost friends, teachers and family members … and opened up to a new level in my business.
Readers reached out to me to share their story and tell me how the book touched them.
All the blood, sweat, tears, time and money I invested in this book PAID OFF.
The mission went to a COMPLETELY new level.
It was humbling, heartwarming and gorgeous.
From there, I conceived of the next creation in the Get Gutsy suite of offerings: Get Gutsy Coach Training School.
I had been tossing around this idea of training the next generation of coaches who want to make a difference AND a great living. There was a total gap in the market and I said YES to filling it even though there was a small voice inside of me (the Inner Critic) saying “just who do you think you are, missy?”.
Launching anything new is exciting (my program is going to change the world!) and terrifying (what if no one signs up? what if people hate it?), but the hallmark of an entrepreneur is to take chances and follow your creative urges by blending strategy and guts.
I am SO proud of the two classes of students who have gone through Get Gutsy Coach Training School AND the awesome gals who have gone on to earn their Get Gutsy Certified Coach designation.
Gutsy coaches unite!
Our next class of Get Gutsy Coach Training School kicks off in in the first half of 2016. Get on the wait list here.
The next evolution of the Get Gutsy message was the creation of a new course – Get Gutsy Book Writing Immersion.
I knew there were A LOT of gals who want to write and self-publish their book and I wanted to help them.
So I created this course and walked these talented storytellers through the process so they could bring their truth to the page. I hosted a Sacred Writer’s Retreat over the summer and watched these women BRING THE HEAT with their message.
I’m so excited for them! I know how much a book changes your business for the better. (Book Writing Immersion is now included as a training inside my larger program Get Gutsy University.)
What happened next? Well, I wanted a spot online for our GET GUTSY tribe to gather … so I created it on Facebook via a private group.
Called it GET GUTSY GALAXY and started welcoming in the most amazing women! The conversations are ELECTRIC and I can feel such LOVE going out and coming into the group.
The next creation to advance the Get Gutsy mission was a podcast!
What did we call it?
Get Gutsy of course.
Finalizing the logo design almost killed me. I think the same could be said for my designer Rayna. We had to go around and around for a bit until we nailed it. Sometimes design is brutal like that, but it’s worth it to get the design that you’re absolutely obsessed with.
Plus, the design has to WORK for the medium. There are MANY factors at play and you often don’t realize the complexities until your knee deep in the project. Breathe through it and stay strong.
Launching my podcast had been a dream for more than a year. The seed was planted when I heard John Lee Dumas of EOFire.com speak at a conference. A fire was lit inside of me. I knew it was only a matter of time and the podcast would be born.
About the podcast …
A cutting-edge show blending business + spirituality, Get Gutsy serves up a potent blend of stories, lessons, and actionable tips to help you make a massive impact in the world through your soul’s work and gutsy life.
No more going it alone. No more excuses. The world needs more brave women saying YES to leadership. Join me each week for interviews and messages that will shift you into inspired action.
I’ve had the pleasure of interviewing some AMAZING guests like Ali Brown, Jennifer Kem, Joanna Garzilli, Suzi Eszterhas, Tara Travis, Laura Roeder and more. And our 2016 lineup is OFF THE CHAINS.
And I absolutely ADORE creating my solo episodes for you.
The coolest part? I feel this effort is sustainable and I can see a direct line between the podcast and increased business. Plus, I feel VERY guided by spirit as I’m creating the episodes.
I LOVE PODCASTING!
The show has hit the “New + Noteworthy” list in all 3 categories on iTunes. Definitely gratifying.
And I ADORE my team for helping me get this baby off the ground. Could not do it without them.
I just hired someone to write the show notes and social media promos for the show. This feels like a HUGE WEIGHT off my shoulders so I can focus on my unique brilliance and leave EVERYTHING else to my team.
Let’s EXHALE together on that. Dreams need teams.
Are you subscribed to Get Gutsy yet?
If not, what are you waiting for? It’s FREE to listen and it will become a treasured part of your week!
The next creation was my new mastermind GLOW, which stands for Gutsy Leaders of Wisdom.
This is my 5th year leading a mastermind, but the first time for GLOW.
I’m so happy I followed the call to evolve my former masterminds (first one was called Gutsy Goddess Society, which morphed into Business Adventure School, which morphed into GLOW!).
When we listen to our Inner Voice, we are never led astray.
I wanted 12 high-vibration leaders in the group. 12 women stepped forward, saying YES to the next step on their destiny.
We kicked off our journey earlier this month and I can feel with every fiber of my being that we are in for quite a ride. These women are FANTASTIC.
Such LEADERS. You’ll be hearing from me about these GLOW girls.
My final creation of 2015 is Get Gutsy University.
This had been brewing inside of me since April or May. I simply needed to give it space to take shape and tell me what purpose it wanted to serve within the business.
Once I gave it room to breathe, WHOA! Watch out.
Launching Get Gutsy University was my BIG GOAL I set for myself when I participated in Jennifer Kem’s rad business incubator called Momentum Pro.
It was through this relentless focus that this project got off the ground, and I’m forever grateful to Jen and Team XOXO (Maureen Saladino, Sonaya Williams, Lorrie Remmington, Pat Romain) for holding me accountable.
It became clear that the purpose of Get Gutsy University is to be the one-stop shop for spiritual business leaders ready to make a BIGGER impact with their work.
This translates into a gorgeous blend of business training, strategic coaching, and soulful community for spirit-driven entrepreneurs doing business (primarily) online.
I decided to put the VAST MAJORITY of my trainings and resources I’ve created over the years inside Get Gutsy University. It simply felt RIGHT.
And we gave students LIVE coaching + training each month with me and one of our Get Gutsy Certified Coaches … because YOU deserve and need this.
And then set a price that can’t be beat. And we made it a program with LIFETIME ACCESS (meaning as long as GGU is running, our students in good standing will keep getting access to it without needing to keep paying yearly membership fees).
Charter memberships are available until THIS Wednesday, December 23. You’ll save $200 and score some amazing bonuses (including an online planning workshop with me on January 4 so we can rock 2016!).
Enrollment will reopen in early 2016 with a higher price. (I’m mapping out that launch now – it will be exciting!)
Would love to get to know you in Get Gutsy University as you say YES to allowing your business to move to the next level WHILE maintaining a strong connection to everything else you treasure (your family, health, spirituality, relationships).
2016 is YOUR YEAR.
Holy!
Just writing all of these elements related to the GET GUTSY mission makes me realize just how much we created this year.
THANK YOU GOD.
THANK YOU TRIBE.
THANK YOU JENNY (me!).
I’m confident I’ve been entrusted with this message and I’m committed to doing whatever it takes to spread it.
I’m committed.
Ready to ADVANCE YOUR MISSION? Two questions for you to get your juices flowing …
What’s your mission?
Why are you on this mission? (Be specific and follow the heat.)
3. Media Darling
A big focus for me when this year started was to be what I lovingly call a MEDIA DARLING.
Why?
Because being featured in the media AMPLIFIES your message big time. It makes your life sooooo much easier. Ideal clients, customers and students come to YOU … instead of you having to find them.
If you’re not working with the media, you’re doing your mission a GRAVE disservice.
This year I was featured in a bunch of awesome media outlets, including some biggies like:
Glambition Radio with Ali Brown
Florida Gator Magazine
Berkshire Magazine
NBC’s TODAY Show Parenting Team
When I got invited, I was READY with my media kit to make the media’s life easier.
Want to get featured in the media? Here’s what you can do NOW.
Have an online media kit on your site. As you start getting more media requests, you can send this page to them instead of having to reinvent the wheel every time.
- Bio
- Short version (50 words)
- Long version
- A few photos (plus links to download them)
- Website
- Monikor (what you want people to call you – ex: Spiritual Business Coach)
- Social media links
- Sample interview questions
- Skype handle
- Biz mailing address
- Press contact (it can be you)
Example >>> http://jennyfenig.com/media
Media coverage can come in the form of …
- Guest blogging
- Guest speaking
- Podcast interviews
- Magazines
- Newspapers
- Radio
- Television
- Social media
4. Magical Mentors
2015 was the year of the MENTOR for me.
I said YES to being GUIDED by women who had something to teach me. I let go of any JEALOUSY I felt because they had something that I wanted.
I allowed the jealousy to dissolve and curiosity to take its place.
The curiosity mixed with commitment led me to sign up for their offerings and work with them up close and personal to help me grow my business.
Big props to:
Forever grateful, ladies.
You gals are absolutely AMAZING.
Thanks for paving the way.
Thanks for being my teacher.
5. Family
Steven, Sean, Luke and Kate are my rocks.
Pure joy in physical form.
Add in our cats Cricket and Michael (who miraculously returned after having disappeared for 20 days!) and rotating cast of fish and there you have it!
My family are why I do what I do.
I want to show them what is possible when you believe in yourself and say YES to following the call of your soul.
I want to show them that you can work for yourself, follow your own rules, and create a gorgeous life.
I want to show them you can build your WORK around your desired LIFESTYLE.
I want to show them you can live anywhere in the world and do work that fills you up and changes the world.
I want to show them what it means to be a leader.
They are my inspiration.
And I’m forever grateful for Steven in allowing me to be ME.
For being SO excited by and understanding about my work.
He’s never threatened by it.
He doesn’t tell me I’m dreaming too big.
He doesn’t insist that I make dinner every night (or any night for that matter!).
He has my back … and he’s on my team.
We want to show our kids what true partnership looks like.
And I think we’re doing a pretty damn good job.
Yes, we run into obstacles, but we navigate them together.
We figure it out.
And we remember we’re on the same team.
Steven and I celebrated 10 years of marriage on June 4. I’m proud of us! I’m excited for what’s to come.
On the family front, I did a lot of forgiveness work for myself and my mom this year. I was holding on to a lot of old wounds and traumas.
Happy to share that for the first time in more than 7 years, I’m spending Christmas with my mom. I WANTED her to spend the holiday with us, which is huge.
Earlier this year I didn’t even know if I’d be able to maintain a relationship with her. We didn’t talk for 6 months. It was hard, but necessary. I wrote an entire post on healing the relationship with her.
What has occurred between us truly is miraculous.
I even invited her to attend my spiritual business retreat ALCHEMY Live … and be a speaker about her career journey!
It was a moment I’ll never forget.
We truly SEE EACH OTHER now.
Isn’t that what we all want?
To be seen.
Heard.
Felt.
Held.
What I’ve learned is this: the people in your life have something to teach you … just like you have something to teach them.
We are each others’ students and teachers.
I learned a lot from my dad Paul this year too … and believe I taught him something too.
He retired earlier this year and we had a party for him here.
In honor of Veteran’s Day, he told me all about his time in the Army (I asked him a series of questions). I saw my dad in a completely new way. He shared a piece of himself I’d never seen.
We had some juicy conversations.
I told him all about the EMDR work I did with my therapist and how I saw angels flying over Julie’s hospital bed the night she passed away in 1994. He got it. He got me.
This experience was hugely healing and I’m so glad I got to share it with my dad.
He listened, and listened, and listened some more.
And I also gave him a book that changed my life – “The Surrender Experiment” by Michael A Singer.
He read it and enjoyed it!
I also had deep conversations with my in-laws who have always been SO kind to and generous with me.
My mother-in-law Doris is an extraordinary woman. She fled from Nazi Germany as a young girl (around 3 years old) and has lived a truly remarkable life. She’s an advocate at her core and one hell of a writer!
So I interviewed her for my clients as an example of bringing your truth to the page in honor of advancing your cause. In her case, she’s been published in the Letters to the Editor section of the New York Times more than 20 times in her life … and she’s still going. She’s very inspiring and I let her know that.
My father-in-law Sid is one of the nicest people I’ve ever met.
Came from VERY humble beginnings and went on to become a successful cardiologist who saved MANY lives. This year I took the time to ask him important questions and listen to his answers. I took time to share more of who I am. I wanted both of us to truly SEE each other.
It was an amazing experience.
When I get to the end of my life, I want to be able to say that I DID MY BEST.
That I LOVED with every once of me.
I want my parents to know I appreciate them – for bringing me here. For doing their best. For giving me what they could … and forgiving them for not giving me what they didn’t have to give.
2015 was a gorgeous year for strengthening family connection.
For speaking my truth.
And standing in my power.
Now it’s your turn!
What are your REFLECTIONS of the JOURNEY that was 2015?
Write them down.
Claim them.
Celebrate them.
And then let’s make space for the best year of your life: 2016, baby.
It’s knocking on the door.
And it’s beautiful.
Fit for a gorgeous leader like you.
P.S. Want my help as you get gutsy, get seen + get paid?
Let’s make 2016 your absolute best year yet.
Experience the ultimate in ongoing training, coaching + community for spiritual business leaders.
REMINDER – Deadline to enroll in Get Gutsy University + score an online workshop with me (plus other bonuses!) + save more than $200 is THIS Wednesday, December 23.
Click here to reserve your spot.
We’ll be exploring these gutsy themes together.
AMAZING doesn’t even begin to describe the experience …
