Category: Molly

Some Lovely Things to Shift Your Perspective

posted 17th January 2012    Written by: Molly Mahar    CATEGORY: Events, Inspiration, Molly

As most of you know, I keep my list of favorite courses, resources, and books on the Store page — but sometimes I can’t keep up with the lovely things being produced by my colleagues.  And by colleagues I mean amazing women I know personally, who are truly living life on their own terms and helping others shift or grow in some way…

Transform.  Play Bigger.  Cultivate Gifts.  See the World through Fresh Lenses.  Make Huge Decisions.  Celebrate Joy.

If you’ve been looking for some inspiration in the form of a course or retreat (or are just looking for some new beauties to follow online!) please wander through this round up of things I’m digging right now.

Playing Big with Tara Sophia Mohr

I had the honor to teach with Tara Sophia in Seattle at our Brilliant Women Salon last April.  She is wise, tiny sparkplug of inspiration: uber-smart, truly kind, and grounded in a way that I can only admire from afar as I buzz around, flapping my hands as I speak too quickly and laugh too frequently.  Her own Playing Big journey has been amazing to watch — from launching a major program last year (this one!) , to writing for the Huff Post, to some major TV appearances to spread her message — she has truly  walks her talk and has major skills and knowledge to share.

In Tara’s words…

What is Playing Big?

Your playing big isn’t defined on the world’s terms. It isn’t necessarily owning an empire or making millions. You know what playing big means for you. It’s following that inspiration that is in your heart. Seeing it through. It is getting out there – visible – like the women you so admire. It is your voice, your vision, your unique contribution flowing forth, no longer shrunken down, stopped up inside you, or compromised.

Here’s the good news: if you have been playing small, it’s okay. Most of us don’t play big naturally, on our own, without any support. We need tools, support, training – a process – to help us play bigger.

The six-month Playing Big journey gives women the inner foundation and the practical skills that they need to play bigger. We could call it a “program” or a “course” but it’s a revolution. It’s a movement. Women playing big is going to change the world.

And guess what?  We’re hosting a FREE WEBINAR this Thursday night!  It will be 45-60 minute video conversation about how we “Play Big” in our own lives, full of inspiration, big truths and laughter, I’m sure.

All you need to do? Join us at 6 pm PST/ 7 pm MST/ 8 pm CST/ 9 pm EST this Thursday the 19th! 

 

The Photo Essay Project with Bindu Wiles

This just started yesterday, but it’s definitely not to late to join in!  I’m taking it and really looking forward to having a chance to express myself creativity that has nothing to do with my business!  Let it be noted that I’m also a bit nervous — what if I don’t have time to shoot everyday (although since it’s done on iPhones, I don’t really have any excuses…), what if everyone else is totally awesome and I suck, what if [insert fear that's yet to be identified]?

But I’ve had the chance to meet Bindu a few different times and have been reading her blog for quite awhile and this is definitely not that type of course.  No real need for nerves or comparison.

Bindu is a gentle spirit who’s been through a lot, and still truly believes in the goodness of humankind.  My kind of woman!  She’s also quirky (see her penchant for bow ties) and an amazing street photographer, armed with nothing up her iPhone and some sweet apps.   I’m truly excited to learn from her during this Photo Essay Project.

In her words…

What amazes me time and time again is the endless range of emotion that can be held in a face

and how much I see my own feelings on someone else’s face, and how my heart extends to that person.

The practice of iPhone photography has increased my sensitivity and my ability to see deeper into the world all around me and be deeply moved by it, and therefore, able to transcend my own pain and suffering.

In this 5-week online course, I will be teaching a black and white portrait class in the tradition of the street photography period that was roughly between 1890 and 1975.

The iPhone and the incredible photo processing apps that are available, are bringing a resurgence to the street photography of yesteryear and which is now referred to as mobile photography.

 

The Well-Fed Woman Retreatshops with Rachel W Cole

I love Rachel Cole.  Last spring she was my lighthouse in some stormy waters — serving beautifully as my personal coach when all I knew was that I was feeling “off”.  I told her I felt disconnected from what I really loved and wanted to jam on creativity, spirituality, and sexuality.  Um… Talk about some broad topics!

I adored getting on the phone with her every week and even more, I loved meeting her in Portland for a lovely dinner at the Ace Hotel.  She’s a breath of fresh air, a courageous soul, and one of my personal heroines for her ruthless (yet gorgeous) commitment to asking and answering for herself and her clients, “What are you truly hungry for?”

And this is the best part.  She’s traveling around the country leading Well-Fed Woman Mini Retreatshops for lucky women in Petaluma, Berkely, Fort Collins, New York, Providence, Northampton, Alexandria, San Francisco,  Seattle, Portland, Chicago, Minneapolis and Los Angeles.  If you live in one of these cities, you need to get your booty into a Retreatshop.  I know it make a difference in your world.

In her words…

Who are the retreatshops for?

Women who want to say yes to themselves instead of no.
Women who sense that they have more greatness to birth.
Women who desire to know and trust their own hungers.
Women who want to trust their desires.
Women who crave the courage to step more deeply into their lives.
Women who want to explore their relationship to themselves.
Women who know the power of women sitting with other women.

You’ll meet all types of women — young and old, dread-locked and bow-tied, at war and at peace with food, religious and agnostic. There is no one type of woman for whom this experience is designed. If you want to know and feed your truest hungers, at and away from the table, The Retreatshop is for you. Each session will bring together just 15 women.

For me, the word hunger has several meanings. In general, however, food hungers are simply doorways into the disconnection so many women have with their deeper hungers in life – in their careers, relationships, creativity, self-care, and spirituality.

We will explore food-related hungers, and how understanding them can help us understand the broader hungers we each experience. You’ll gain important insights into your personal hungers from The Retreatshop whether you are at war or at peace with food.

______________________________________________________________________

Those are the woman making me sparkle right now!  What have you seen online that you’re digging?  I’d love to hear your recommendations, sugar pop.  See you Thursday for the Webinar I hope!

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Stratejoy Essay Contest

posted 11th January 2012    Written by: Molly Mahar    CATEGORY: Katie, Molly, Stratejoy the Biz

So You Think You Can Write…

We’re very excited to announce a juicy opportunity for YOU not only to have your writing featured on the Stratejoy blog for the whole interwebs to see, but also to win some serious moola!  We’re talking $500, baby!

What would you do with $500? Decorate a room? Pay your rent? Donate it to charity? Take a class? Buy a smashing little black dress and flaunt it in a hot photo session? Here’s your chance to win some extra dough with a side of Stratejoy bragging rights…

Introducing: The 1st Annual Stratejoy Essay Contest!

We get to hear from 10-20 women each year on the Quarter Life Crisis blog (which we freakin’ love), but we want to hear from more of you. We see the heartfelt and loving comments you leave on the blog posts, the Facebook Wall and on Twitter. We know you have more to say, and we want to hear it!

If you’re spreading the word about this Contest, please use the hashtag #essaycontest and mention @stratejoy. Thank you darling!

Got questions? Let’s try to cover ‘em all.

**How do I enter the Stratejoy Essay Contest?**

We’re going to try and make this as simple as possible – we’ve even got your writer’s block covered.  The topic for the essay contest is:

“How do you live life on your own terms?”

Answer that question (in essay form) and send it in to katie (at) stratejoy (dot) com.

That’s it. You’re entered!  And yes, all entries need to address that question in some way, shape, or form.

**Is there a word limit?**

Try and keep your entry at 1,000 words or less.

**How do I know if you received my entry?**

Katie will shoot you a quick response letting you know she got your entry.

**I’m a Stratejoy affiliate / current QLC blogger / QLC blogger alumni /current client of Molly’s/ past client of Molly’s . Am I eligible to enter the essay contest?**

Yes. Yes. and Yes. This is open to any and all women of our tribe.

**What type of format should I send my entry in?**

Please send your essay contest entry in a Word Document. Please don’t send a PDF or any other non-editable format. We want to be sure we can copy and paste your text! Also, please use a readable font (like Times New Roman, Arial, etc.) While we love your creativity, sometimes hot pink/curliques/hidden picture essays are a little rough on our eyes.

**Can I include Pictures, Links, and Vidoes?**

Short answer?  No.  For this contest, we’re really looking for writing content — please concentrate all your love on the written words.  If you are chosen as a finalist, we’ll contact you for a short bio (where you can link it up baby!) as well as a picture for your post.

**Can I submit something that has been published somewhere else?**

Sorry gorgeous!  We are looking for original essays, created specifically for Stratejoy and for this contest.  If you’re not selected as a finalist, you’re welcome to publish your entry anywhere you like!  If you are a finalist, we ask that you allow the contest to reach it’s conclusion (when we announce the winner and hand over the cash!) before you republish your essay on your own site or blog.

**When is the deadline for entry?**

All eligible entries must be received by Wednesday, January 25th, 2011 at 11:30 PM PST. Any entries received after that will not be considered.

**How will the finalists/winner be chosen?**

After all of the entries are submitted by January 25th, 20 finalists will be chosen by the Stratejoy Team (Molly, Katie, and Nicole) based on a number of criteria — knocking our socks off, amazing stories, soul stirring truths, crystal clear writing, motivational mojo, and  adherence to all rules of submission.

Each of those finalists’ essays will be featured (one per day) through the month of February and we’ll be spreading the word far and wide.  We want to show off our talented Tribe!  At the end of February, we’ll open the public voting for one week and one week only. The grand-prize-money-maker $500 winner will be chosen by the intrawebs based on highest number of votes, not by our Team.

**How will the voting happen?**

On February 29th, we’ll post the link to the voting ballot for all of the essays. Then, you can have your friends, family, co-workers and everyone head on over and vote for you! Each person can only vote once! So spread the word! Of course, you’ll also get tons of love from the Stratejoy Tribe who will be casting their votes for the best essay. Also, voting will only be open for 3 days! After we tally the votes, BOOM, we’ll announce the big winner and everyone will throw streamers and sparkles all over. Sound good?

**If I’m a finalist, how do I get people to vote for my essay?**

Blog about it.  Tweet about it.  Shout it from the rooftops. We’ll give the specific details on HOW to vote once all of the finalists’ posts have been featured.  Feel free to start rallying your troops early. More Love = More Votes!

**When will the winner be announced and what will they win?**

The winner of the Essay Contest will be announced on or around March 2nd, 2012. (Or as soon as we tally those votes!) You’ll not only win some serious bragging rights and congrats from us via Social Media Land, but you’ll also be the sole recipient of the $500 Grand Prize!  And Molly will probably call you to squeal in excitement…

Any additional questions? Shoot Katie an e-mail and she’ll gladly answer them for you. (katie (at) stratejoy (dot) com).

Remember, the deadline for entry is January 25th (2 weeks!).

Molly Mahar is the founder of Stratejoy, a positive corner of the Internet that provides thousands of women the tools, strategies and camaraderie to lead authentically joyful lives. She is a full-time coach, facilitator and creator of the online Joy Equation Course , Joy Juice Prompts, and Create Your Magical Year Kit.  A dynamic speaker, Molly has lead workshops for lululemon, The US Army, Ladies who Launch, The Junior League, and CRAVE Business.  She helps women live life on their own terms, celebrate their worth, and change the world through individual fulfillment.  With enthusiasm! And action!  Molly adores any excuse to travel, belt 80′s tunes, drink red wine, and discuss the meaning of life. Oh, and she was just named to ProBlogger’s Top 20 Bloggers to Watch in 2012 and will be speaking at SXSW Interactive Conference this March. Wahoo!

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The Council: Holiday Edition

posted 15th November 2011    Written by: Molly Mahar    CATEGORY: Molly, Stratejoy the Biz, Tips & Tools

Last spring I got to know 40+ of you through a little party we called The Council*.  Guess what?  It’s back, even better than last time!

I’m not going to put out a huge pitch about the Council or spend a lot of time trying to sell you on this, because it’s not that kind of thing.  If it’s for you – amazing!  I can’t wait to get to know some of you on a more personal level- to interact with you on more day-to-day basis for 21 solid, rockin’ days while we wrap up 2011 and starting dreaming and scheming for 2012.

*And yes, if you did The Council in the spring, you can totally do this one!  Brand new material and even some new surprises!

The Stratejoy Council

council: An group of persons called together for consultation, deliberation, or discussion.

Yes! Our Council will be addressing the juiciest issues that come up during the end of the year and the Holidays in an inspiring and useful way.  It will be a safe place for learning, sharing, and growing. With typical Stratejoy moxie, energy, and honesty of course!

What does The Council include?

**Three 60 minute Training Teleseminars on Tuesdays at 5:30 PST, 6:30 MST, 7:30 CST, 8:30 EST. The calls will be recorded for those of you who can’t make the live calls & still want to be involved.

**Follow-up Challenges & Exercises To Be Completed During our Time Apart. No more than 2 hours a week of challenges, ’cause we’re all busy women.  I’m even making art filled worksheets for you to  savor 2011, set intentions for 2012, and really plot out the kind of year you’re craving.

**A Secret Facebook Community where the Council can gather to report on the challenges, share roadblocks, and celebrate success together. This is a really fun part of our weeks together! It’s where we’ll connect with each other on a personal basis and offer support, laughter, and stories of our own experiences.  The Group Page will go live on November 28th and end on December 19th.  And yes, I will be ACTIVELY involved in the page.  (And the even bigger question: Yes, this means we’ll get to be Facebook Friends and you can stalk all my old wedding, backpacking, drinking night out pictures.  Don’t judge me, okay?!)

**Loads of Love to your Inbox.  You’ll get an email on each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday during the council with some visual inspiration and a 30 minute audio recording interview with a Gutsy Girl about how she approaches goal setting/resolutions/manifesting/big dreaming.   9 sweet emails + 6 motivating interviews to keep your energy up, provide some accountability, and help you stay grounded during the pre-Holiday craze.

Who will I be interviewing?   Jenny Blake.  Nicole Antoinette.  Kate Northrup.  Kyla Roma.  Chelsea of Chelsea Talks Smack. Alexandra Franzen.  Ev’Yan.  And then that’s just me in dark sunglasses filling a empty spot in the collage.  I’m the one doing the interviewing…

REGISTRATION

REGISTRATION IS CLOSED FOR THIS ROUND OF THE COUNCIL. That said, keep your eyes peeled for a New Years Package to get your hands on the recordings & worksheets!

Investment: Because this Council is going to require a significant amount of my time, I can’t offer it for free.  I thought about it, but it just wouldn’t make sense! But I can offer it at the most affordable option possible as a huge THANK YOU for being part of the Tribe.

It’s $49 for everything.  I hope that price makes you happy!! I truly hope it’s something you want to do for YOU and for an ushering in an amazing 2012.

When you sign up for your course, you’ll get an receipt from PayPal telling you that you’re all set.  I’ll be sending out the welcome email with instructions for the calls and more details on Monday the 28th. In the meantime — after you register, friend me on Facebook so I can invite you to the secret group!  If you need anything before the 28th, just reach out sugar.

Let me know you’re joining us — Ping me on Twitter and use the hashtag #joycouncil!  We can meet each other there while we wait for the 28th to arrive.

QUESTIONS?  Comment away!

XOXO

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The Aftermath: Joyful Living in a Messy World

posted 18th October 2011    Written by: Molly Mahar    CATEGORY: Life Lesson, Molly, Stratejoy the Biz

If you don’t feel like watching, here’s the very short version of what I say…

Last Thursday’s post opened up very candid conversation about so many different topics: children with disabilities and special needs, the value of a human life, pregnancy, infertility, abortion, adoption, genetic testing, ablelism… Talk about a can of worms! So many strong feelings, but in the midst of the madness there is a lot to be learned about our own choices, language, and the way we treat others online.

I do not believe that by publishing this post Stratejoy is giving implicit “approval” of ANYTHING, except the freedom for each of us to make our own decisions and hard calls. That said, there was absolutely a level of editing that should have been done at my level to make sure the language and tone was not hurtful or discriminatory. I failed to do that and for that, I apologize to you all. Truly.

I can tell you honestly as someone who would never imagine others would accuse her of being anything but loving, accepting, and supportive, I really had to examine my own role in this.  I learned a whole hell of a lot from both this experience and many of the thoughtful comments.

Stratejoy is a community that respects different opinions and is a tool for each one of us to discover OUR OWN TRUTHS.  It’s a platform for my bloggers and clients to make their own decisions based on their own situation, level of knowledge and opinion. That is the kind of joyful living I’m in support of — YOUR own personal version. I’m a facilitator, coach, and teacher; not someone casting judgement.

So what good came of this post? I know that many conversations were had offline between partners, mothers, and friends about ablelism, the choices they would make in a pregnancy, and the power of our words to hurt. They were brought to light because of the intensity of the online response– we were all forced to sort out our opinions.

Thank you for those of you who shared your growth, respectful disagreement, knowledge and experience, and very personal stories and choices with me.

YOU are acknowledged, loved and respected.

XOXO

Molly

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Lead Without Followers

posted 26th September 2011    Written by: Molly Mahar    CATEGORY: Guest Post Rockstar, Life Lesson, Molly

Warning: There is a boy on the blog.  Not just any boy, however… One of my favorite thinkers, down-to-earth philosophers, and upcoming co-teacher for our 2012 Reclaim Leadership Course.

Ladies, I’d like to introduce you to Dave Ursillo.

I met him while jumping out of an airplane in Portland in June and we quickly became fast friends.  I’d been reading his blog for months before that and we’d had a few Skype conversations about being young online entrepreneurs, but to get the chance to hang out and talk about our ideas on the leadership revolution was amazing.

So what’s he doing on Stratejoy?  Well, Dave is a brilliant writer and his book, Lead Without Followers, launches today.  And I feel compelled to make sure I’m doing my part in getting the word out because I believe so strongly in his message (And FYI: I’m not an affiliate and yes, I did buy my own copy!).

Dave was kind enough to take part in a goofy little interview with me (I’m sure most people who interviewed him for this launch were quoting his book and asking deep questions, but I’m always curious in the behind-the-scenes stuff as well…). Enjoy!

MM: Book in 20 words.  And how can we get a copy?

DU: Radically redefining what it means to be a leader based upon what we have within us, already, and right now. You can head over to DaveUrsillo.com, or easily visit the Lead Without Followers page there.

MM: Beverage, music, location of choice while writing.  Be specific!
DU: When I started writing my book, it was: large iced banana hazelnut coffee from favorite South Boston cafe, Explosions in the Sky on iTunes and sun pouring in through shimmering tree leaves outside our apartment kitchen window.  Now that it’s done? I want that to become: Home-brewed chocolate macadamia nut Kauai coffee, Red Hot Chili Peppers bumpin’ on the speakers, on a private beachfront property in Hawaii (alright, maybe just a vacation house?).
MM: How do you think leading without followers specifically applies to 20somethings?

DU: We were born into a world that told us the sky was the limit. As 20somethings, that culture is a part of our core. We dream. We yearn to fly- to soar. Lead Without Followers fuels that fire not with hyperbole, but with concrete evidence and strategies that remind us that…

Leadership comes from within, and not what we are “without.”

 

 

MM: I know you’d been dreaming about writing this book for a long time.  Why now?  How did you move yourself into action?

DU: You helped, Molly.  The more I discussed these ideas, the more it resonated so powerfully within me. Sometimes when I talk about Lead Without Followers I literally begin to shake- almost like my nerves are going haywire. It’s what I describe as a source of purpose, meaning, and passion literally resonating so strongly within me that it is making itself physically felt.

I moved myself into action by just starting. Somewhere. Anywhere. Wherever I was. The decision to commit is an important first step. Then you tell family, friends, the world, and they all help you to remain accountable to that decision.

MM: Biggest Oh Shit Moment?  Biggest OMG-this is amazing Moment?

DU: My biggest Oh Shit moment was the entire month of August. Every time I looked at the calendar, the clock, or my to-do list, I spun off into a poetic soliloquy of curses (It’s a family trait). I put myself “under the gun” to meet my deadlines, which I’m usually opposed to, but this book needed to be pressed to print. It’s been 3 years, after all.

My biggest OMG moment was one of my interviews this past week with my friend Lisa Robbin Young, a biz blogger who is brilliant and amazing. In her interview (she will make you feel like you’re getting interviewed on Meet the Press), she read an excerpt from the book, which I realized was the first time I had ever heard someone read something that I had written. It was a surreal experience. Luckily, it also sounded semi-smart.

MM: The book, person, and website that inspires you.

DU: As a writer: Anything by Thoreau, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Danielle LaPorte’s White Hot Truth
As a 20something: The Art of Happiness in a Troubled World, the Dalai Lama, TinyBuddha
As a regular guy: Tao te Ching, my little cousins, Steve Kamb’s NerdFitness

MM: I heard you’re launching a course with a really brilliant chick called Reclaim Leadership.  What can you tell us about that?

DU: Oh, you mean our paradigm-shifting, world-changing, status-quo-inverting leadership course? Reclaim leadership will teach you a personalized plan for maximizing your inner skills, talents and abilities to become a highly influential leader in your life. Molly and I lay out a step-by-step process through which you gain the tools and tips into naturally becoming “a powerhouse for good,” a radiant and magnetic conduit of the things that you want and need.   (MM note:  Hell yah!  Please ignore our totally out of date splash page, but sign up here if you want to know more about the launch in 2012!)

MM: Why do you love Stratejoy girls? And are you single?

Single? Yes. ;)   When I think Stratejoy girls, I think… Raw confidence. Unabashed openness. Determination. Self-reliance. Purely loving. That’s hot.

MM: What’s the biggest takeaway you want readers of your book to leave with?

A new and empowered perspective on leading in your everyday life, and the incredible impact that you already do have upon the lives of everyone around you.

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