Category: Stratejoy the Biz

Glee Season 3! Glitterbombs! Half Off Joy Juice! Today Only!

posted 20th September 2011    Written by: Molly Mahar    CATEGORY: Molly, Stratejoy the Biz

There is no other point to this post except to say that “Glee Season 3 starts tonight!”   Yaaaaaaayyyyyyyy!  I wish I was obsessed with something that more hip, but alas, it’s Glee all the way for me…

To celebrate — I’m offering the Joy Juice Journaling Prompts at 50% off.  Instead of $38 they are just $19! For ONE DAY ONLY!  This gleeful offer is good starting *NOW* until 8 am PST on Wednesday September 21st. After that, it all goes back to normal. Why?  Honestly- it just feels like such a joyous day!  I wanted to share that with YOU!  Glitterbombs!  Slushies! Quinn with Pink Hair!

Click Here to Purchase the Joy Juice

I’m so excited. It’s slightly embarrassing to admit, but there is nothing like a good episode of underdogs singing and dancing to light me up.  I will admit — I’m a total Gleek.  I even saw the 3D movie!  And watched the Glee Project!

Enjoy the Juice!  And the premier of Glee Season 3!

XOXO

Molly

p.s  I definitely feel like I’m defying gravity today!  I do not have cable, so I will faithfully avoid Twitter and Facebook tonight, because I’ll need to watch in on Hulu tomorrow.

p.p.s. Don’t stop believing in yourself, babe.  You can share your true colors with me anytime.  And if you’re a loser like me, we’ve got this amazing freedom to light up the world on our own terms.

p.p.p.s.  I promise to reign in my exclamation points after today… (!)

p.p.p.s.  There are 4 spots left in Monday’s Fierce Love and Inner Confidence Training Group.  Registration closes tomorrow, so if you want in, now is the time.

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How Winning the Stratejoy Scholarship Changed Me

posted 22nd August 2011    Written by: Molly Mahar    CATEGORY: Guest Post Rockstar, Stratejoy the Biz

I felt the support immediately after Molly posted the video me winning the Life Coaching Scholarship – messages and tweets immediately were sent my way with kind words of congratulations from the tribe – and that was only the beginning…

Hello tribe, I’m Ashley, and I am proud to say that I am the first ever Stratejoy Scholarship recipient.  Now that my coaching from Molly is complete, she wanted me to share a bit of the experience with the tribe (and I, of course, jumped at the chance).

When I filled out the application, I was probably the most authentic version of myself I had been up to that point.  Sure, I had started (and re-started) the Joy Equation several times and I had in my head that there were things I needed to work on but I felt overwhelmed and didn’t know where to start.  I had tried to talk to my boyfriend and Mom about things I wanted to change, but didn’t always feel I was getting the most objective advice because they are so close to me and ultimately affected by my life.

I thought I would give the Scholarship a shot, and I have been thankful every day since that I did.

My shift during my time with Molly may not be as eventful as the Season 4 bloggers – I didn’t get married or plan a wedding or have a baby or travel the world – and before, I probably would have described myself as ‘boring.’  My shift was similar, though, in that I learned to face things head on, own my feelings and make big plans. 

In order to do that I had some cleaning up I had to do…

One of the scariest things I have ever done was the hurdle that I tackled with Molly in dealing with men from my past: moving on from deceptiveness of my adoptive father and releasing the anger toward my ex-boyfriend I moved for.  Once I got rid of those cobwebs from my mind I finally had the clear heart to focus on everything else.  I spent years moving on without really dealing with the past; I always told myself I wasn’t running away from things but was running toward things.  Either way, I was running instead of confronting and coping and healing, and it is the latter that has made all of the difference.

The running doesn’t stop there, though, as I do in fact identify myself as a runner.  I started my career as a freelance fitness writer about a year-and-a-half ago after an internship I had in college turned into a Regional Editor position.  It all kind of happened by accident, but then again, that is how most of the best things in life come about.  I was researching and writing about all of these amazing fitness activities but had yet to truly embrace the lifestyle.  I have gotten to try things like women’s boxing, a boot camp, barre classes and much more for articles I have written, but it is running that has stolen my heart.

I consider my running group – Rogue Running – my second home in Austin.

I discovered Rogue while writing an article about them and signed up shortly thereafter to train for a half marathon (at the time, I had only ever run a 5K).  I ran my first half marathon this past April, and though I am taking the summer off to stay out of the Texas heat, I start training again this September – this time for two half marathons that are a few weeks apart.

My running has impacted my fitness writing in a way I didn’t expect.  I knew it would help me understand the lifestyle and dedication of athletes, sure, but I had no idea that it would ignite this passion that I was previously lacking.  I spent time as a local Race Ambassador for my last half marathon and, with Molly’s encouragement, I am working with a local running store to start up a similar program to build community at the store.  I’m also developing my personal brand as a freelance writer with the help of Brandkit (owned by my wonderful friend Andrea, who you all may remember from Season One).

Even though a lot of these things were already in the works, Molly gave me the extra push to really get them off the ground.


Stratejoy has given me so much – from the Joy Equation to the Scholarship to my friendship with Andrea (I emailed her after visiting her Season One posts and we hit it off immediately) – and it has also given me a new-found feeling of authenticity.  I used to be the girl who apologized for everything and now I own my feelings and actions.  I used to carry around so much anger from the past and now I am the girl who is happily living in the present (and living it with my boyfriend).  I used to be the girl who only saw the negative things in Austin and now, though I do miss my friends and family in California, I am finding things I love about the city and have committed to be here for at least the next few years. 

Basically, I used to be someone who got in her own way instead of embracing change and opportunity and just trusting that I had what I needed to truly live a life I loved.

I may not have all of the pieces of the puzzle in place yet, but I am well on my way, and I have learned that the journey is making all the difference.

Ashley, 24, will always identify herself as a Californian, even though she now lives 1,300 miles away in Texas.  She graduated from the University of California, San Diego in 2008 with a degree in Communications, packed up her car and made the grueling drive to Texas.  Fond of a great pair of running shoes, her latest impulse e-reader purchase, ampersands, Helvetica and Pacey Witter, you will usually find Ashley running, reading, writing or watching old television shows on DVD (Dawson’s Creek, anyone?!).  Slowly digging herself out of her Quarterlife Crisis, Ashley is working on her freelance writing career, living with her boyfriend while dreaming up ways to turn their guest bedroom into an office, running around town and learning to love her new home in Austin.

 

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It’s time to apply for the Season 5 Bloggers!

posted 27th July 2011    Written by: Molly Mahar    CATEGORY: Molly, Quarterlife Crisis, Stratejoy the Biz

I know some of you we’re wondering, “Did I miss applications?”  Nope!  This is the official call for Season 5! This is your chance to write about your personal journey for 5 months, September through January. We’re doing a slightly shorter season to make for some cool things in August and in February…

What’s happening in August?  A little experiment I’m calling “Adventures in Flourishing”.  I’m taking over the blog for an entire month to share a bunch of new ideas about joy/leadership/flourishing/spirituality with you!  I’m a little scared about it to tell you the truth, but I hope you’ll love it and really learn some practical ways to live more joyfully day-to-day.

Enough about me already, this is about you!  If you’re interested in building our Stratejoy community by sharing your personal journey as a 20/30 something woman and are currently in the midst of some sort of Quarterlife Crisis, then this opportunity is for YOU!

Wahoo!  Read on, sugar pop.

Just in case you miss this at the bottom:
APPLICATIONS ARE DUE BY FRIDAY, AUGUST 12th.  NO EXCEPTIONS.

WHY?

Here at Stratejoy we value Inspiration, Joy, Authenticity, Courage, Clarity, Camaraderie, and Honesty.  The ultimate vision is a practical and thriving “authentic happiness” movement that reaches woman worldwide. I want to change the world by teaching women how to value their own happiness and strength.  In my mind, a world of fulfilled joyful women equals radical acts of goodness, widespread emotional and physical health, creative expression, equality, and core level compassion.

That’s where you come in!  I want to share your story. I think it’s vital to share our tales of “hitting bottom” in our Quarterlife Crisis, as well as the journey we are on to put our own happiness first.  As a generation, we don’t want to be preached to… We want to recognize ourselves in the stories we read and feel a sense of connection.  We want to see that others go through the same struggles and be inspired by their success.

We don’t want to feel alone. That’s why I need you to share your journey!

HOW?

I am looking for 3-6 women to guest blog once a week on Stratejoy for a minimum of 5 months. The posts will go live in September 2011, but the writing begins in August. I have had an amazing amount of interest thus far and are looking to find the right fit between diverse bloggers, a growing community, and reaching MORE WOMEN!

Position is unpaid, but super cool… You would be doing it out of love of Stratejoy or some need to document this part of your life. I would appreciate you, support you and give you access to all the tools, courses and inspiration I have available. Promise.

Desired

* Attitude. It doesn’t matter if you don’t have your own blog, but I need you to have sass! Or humor!  Or soul!  Or blistering intelligence! Or an amazing authenticity! Or an unique perspective on the world! Or some such combination of fabulousness…
* Desire to share your story in real time in order to inspire other woman without preaching or judging.
* Tech savy with WordPress or other blogging software.

Required

* Honesty. The struggles, the doubts, the celebrations and the breakthroughs.  This is not the place to pretend you’re perfect or create an online “brand”.  This is raw.
* Mad writing skills. Complete and utter love of the written word.
* One post per week with photo(s). Some will be posed questions/themes, most will just be personal updates from your life and require original thought from you.  Posts need to be completed ON TIME and with your best effort.  If you’re applying, you’re telling me you can commit to the workload. Please make sure you have time to write one post per week for the next 5 months.
* Posting with your first name, age, twitter account, city and photo. Last name NOT required.
* Conference call monthly (or at my discretion) with your proud mama (me) and the other bloggers.

Discouraged

* The reason you want to guest blog on Stratejoy is to promote your own business. It’s totally cool with me if you talk about your biz since it’s part of your life and your QLC, but that cannot be why you want to be a part of this project.
* You’re a freelance writer is who looking at this gig as a way to enhance your portfolio.  It will do that! But if that’s the only reason you’re here, it’s not the right fit.
*If you feel totally and radically finished with your QLC. Good for you! But not good for sharing a real time journey…
*You are a Coach.  Sorry dolls, I’m running the show on this site! Can’t pretend otherwise. That said, I am always looking for collaborators/affiliates/business partners who want to get “Stratejoy” certified- so get in touch if you’re interested!

APPLY

I want to hear from you! If you’re interested in blogging for Stratejoy, please send the following information by Friday, August 12, 2011.  Don’t forget to follow all the directions!

1. Name, day job, job-you-do-out-of-love-if-you-have-one, city, age, Twitter/Facebook links & metrics, website (if applicable)

2.  Phone number and best time to reach you.

3. Photo that expresses your most authentic self

4.  250 words on “Why I will make a Rockin’ Stratejoy Blogger”

5.  500 word introduction to you and your story. Great chance to tell me about your QLC…   Pretend you are writing your very first blog post!  Go back and read the first posts of Seasons 1-4 if you want to see some winning entries.

It would be most awesome if you created a word document or PDF with all the information so I can easily print and review. Hurrah! Also, if you applied for Season 1 or 2 or 3 or 4, it’s fine to apply for Season 5– but I do need a new application from you! Just let me know that you applied for a previous season.

Please know that each application is absolutely considered. Final bloggers are chosen at my discretion and based on several factors: writing skill, current situation, diversity, personality, love of Stratejoy and unique contribution.

Send all info to our new Community Manager Katie Colihan. Email applications to katie [@] stratejoy [.] com by the deadline.

<————————- This is Katie.  She loves answering your questions!

I’d like to take a quick moment to thank Katie (of Season 2 fame) for being the most amazing Editor and Big Sister to the bloggers of Seasons 3 & 4.  She’s been an incredible volunteer for the past year and I’m thrilled to officially make her the first paid employee at Stratejoy.  Eeeeekkk!  Thrilling! We’ve got some great things in store for you.

Get writing ladies!

I am so ridiculously excited to read/memorize/adore your application and put together an amazing team for Season 5.

Love,

p.s.  Not interested in blogging, but interested in a volunteer position?  Starting in the fall, I’m putting together a tiny virtual team and looking for women to contribute in the following areas…  Graphic Design, Public Relations, and Website/SEO Madness.  Hit me up if you’d like more information! And it’s seriously happening this time.

p.p.s.  Registration for the 10 week group coaching action programs is OPEN and FILLING FAST!  Is it a fit for you?  Find out Now!

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Signing Off and Thanking You

posted 27th July 2011    Written by: Laura    CATEGORY: Laura, Season 4, Stratejoy the Biz, What I've Learned

Dear Stratejoy Tribe,

It’s just after noon on a Saturday. I just finished a warm, delicious, oceanside yoga class. My mind is clear, my heart open, my feet grounded, my belly hungry, and my shoulders hot from the sun. As I try to preserve the peace for a little while, this is the perfect moment in which to thank you. This is the last time we’ll meet here, at least for a while, and I’m confident the timing is right. Looking back over the last six months, I realize I’ve grown a lot in special, subtle ways.

I abandoned my goal of running a half marathon and instead ran a 10 km with one of my favorite people in the world. We didn’t train properly and we weren’t prepared, but we had fun, felt alive and congratulated ourselves for getting out of bed and showing up no matter what. It was a day to remember.

I gained more clarity about my personal values than I could have imagined. In particular, acknowledging my need for courage and vitality has allowed me to understand myself so much better.

I created wedding plans that felt amazingly right for Hunny and I, and made no apologies for discounting everyone else’s expectations. Knowing I could share my thoughts with you, and that you would totally relate, gave me the conviction I needed. Knowing that you, too, try to listen to your heart above all else allowed me to fully trust mine.

I had the guts to create a family budget and admit my weird money obsessions. In doing so, my anxiety in this area has drastically decreased. Again, your support helped me get there.

I laid a lot of honest expectations, desires and hesitations on the line for my business partners. I found renewed motivation to exercise regularly. I let myself hibernate when I was feeling emotionally drained. I did some serious releasing, through my posts on marriage, fulfillment, love, and obsessions with more. I discovered that alone time is one of the most rejuvenating inputs I can give myself and I started giving myself more of it.

Perhaps most exciting is that I progressed to a place where I’m ready to explore new ideas for expressing my creativity, collecting and sharing my thoughts, and growing as a business owner.

Over these last six months, my accountability to you has inspired me to acknowledge things, seek resolutions, and dig for meaning. For that, I am very, very grateful. I can only hope that you’ve benefitted from reading some of my posts, as I have from writing them. I hope that I sparked some ideas, some reflection, some Mmm Hmms, and some Ah Has.

There’s no question in my mind, my discovery of Stratejoy over a year ago was a tipping point. Feeling entrenched in this world now, I can’t imagine it any other way. From season 2′s Nicole Antoinette and Heather Rae, to season 3′s Doniree, Marian and Nikki – these women and so many others continue to inspire me with their realness. From the things I learned in the Joy Equation, to the growth, connection and friendship I gained from Get It Off the Ground. Not to mention, the countless people, blogs, products, and businesses all of this has led me to discover.

Being a part of this tribe has meant belonging a whole new world – one where looking inward, having balls, speaking up, and admitting we’re scared is par for the course. That world has brought me comfort, joy, inspiration, knowledge, and tools for self lovin’ and honest livin’. Its like one big authenticity orgy. 

As I sign off for the last time, I leave you with this final thought: feelings of uncertainty and restlessness are loaded with potential, and they deserve to be honoured, rather than buried.

For most of us, our thirst for loving, leading and listening will never be fully quenched. It is part of who we are. It’s a defining characteristic of our generation. Which is precisely why I’ll continue to do my best to own that shit and will always be cheering you on as you do the same. So please, keep in touch (@mynameisbigL).

With love, admiration and gratitude,
Big L  -xo

{Photo credit}

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Uncovering Your Brilliance

posted 2nd May 2011    Written by: Amanda    CATEGORY: Amanda, Inspiration, Season 4, Stratejoy the Biz

The road was reckless, strewn with vehicles driving at break-neck speeds and an unknown police presence that made me feel entirely uncomfortable. As I drifted down this concrete jungle highway, determined to arrive on time to what was certain to be an evening of excellent company and enlightening conversation, I was suddenly aware that this was the first road-trip I’d taken (via car and on my own) since October 2010.

Y’know, when I got pregnant.

I was glad that I rented a car, instead of opting for the five and a half hour Greyhound trip.

The highway loomed. The cars hissed past. I narrowed my eyes against the setting sun and clenched my fingers tightly on the steering wheel. Ain’t no way I was going to miss this opportunity.

Finally, my exit. I gently pulled off the highway and breathed deeply; thank goodness that leg of the journey was over. Getting from the I-5 to my downtown destination, however, was proving to be much more arduous than I originally anticipated.

Meaning… I was probably going to be late.

Damn it.

After scouting the area for something resembling a good parking spot (one that wouldn’t require cash money, because I’d forgotten to get American cash before I left the country earlier that day), I finally made my way to the Brilliant Women Salon. About damn time, too, because mama (and ZomBaby) are hungry.

If you’ve ever met Molly in person, you know that the woman you know online precisely matches the woman you meet in person. Upon my (almost) late arrival to the event, she wrapped her arms around me and gushed about how happy she was that I was there. And truly? I was so absolutely overwhelmed with joy, I almost cried.

Yeah yeah, we can only blame the pregnancy hormones so much. I’m a sap. There, I said it.

Tara Mohr is everything you think she’s going to be: wise, articulate, and positively radiates warmth. Within moments of meeting her, I felt this incredible connection to her own brand of brilliance. I felt at home. Deeply comforted. Connecting with Amy Kessel – earthy mama and beautiful soul — was a treat. We talked about babies and my pregnancy as the women practically poured in the doors.

To be surrounded by that much awesome was, well, awesome.

The night was dedicated to uncovering brilliance within ourselves and helping each other to articulate what brilliance was within each of us. Tara Mohr’s 10 Rules for Brilliant Women (if you haven’t read this, please do) inspired the event and as we divided into our various groups, it was clear that there was a lot of other ideas about what owning one’s brilliance looked like.

As the groups shared their stories about brilliance, I saw that there was a lot of doubt. Hell, I had a lot of it initially, too. I love to coax introverts out of their shells and get them to open up about their inward awesomeness. Call it my own special brand of brilliance. It’s why my best friends are introverts when I’m this crazy, wild extrovert.

I see shy people and have this incredible urge to love them right-the-hell up.

Within our little group, we talked about what made each of us brilliant, with the help of the supremely excellent Lynn Baldwin-Rhoades of Power Chicks International. As we went around the circle, these incredible stories unfolded, full of courage, inner strength, and fearlessness. Truth? I was more than a little blown away.

Brilliance is a hard thing to inwardly appreciate. There are things that we each do everyday that make us brilliant in one way, shape, or form (usually more than one, honestly). But we’re so busy comparing ourselves to other forms of brilliance within other people that we can’t seem to grasp it in ourselves. Or, if we do grasp it, we’re quick to dismiss it.

After attending the Brilliant Women Salon, I felt more connected to the concept of “brilliance”. I often feel this intense need to downplay what I do (and who I am) because I’m afraid that I’ll come across as crass and rude. There’s something distasteful (especially to we chicks) about tooting one’s horn. But brilliance? Oh baby, brilliance is one of those things that you simply have to own. We are ALL brilliant.

My three rules for uncovering (and owning) brilliance:

I’d love to know what your rules are for uncovering and owning your brilliance are.

[Note from Coach Molly: Amanda- I almost cried with joy getting to meet you too!  But it was funny how normal it felt as well, like I'd already know you for years...  So honored you made the trip and really happy we got sleepover, and long walk, and breakfast out time too. p.s.  Thanks Mike for "letting" your adorably preggo wife venture across the border! xoxo

And dear readers, sorry our schedule is all batty!  With Launch Week of both The Council and Joy Juice, it's crazytownz around here!   I'm commandeering Thursday's post, so just roll with us, mkay? And speaking of Joy Juice... Here's a tasty sneak peek of what's coming!]




Image found via ImageSpark.

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