Generous Change

It's DAY 1000 of entrepreneurship! We're shocked that only 8% of start-ups survive their first 1000 days. Put differently, 92% of start-ups fail in their first 1000 days. Those are some seriously tough odds, but we're still here! And we're examining advice on how to be here for another 1000 days.

This is the last week of 4 whole weeks of UPLIFT! 

It's week 3 of virtual UPLIFT and we're gettin' really real. On day 958 of entrepreneurship, we're obsessed with Glennon Doyle’s beautiful book, UNTAMED. Giant questions we're grappling with that we hope will inspire you, too: Why do you think you’re broken when you have a bad feeling? Can you own ALL the pieces of you and be accepting of even the tough stuff? Who are you really and do you have the guts to show all the way up? Are your dreams your plans?

On day 951 of entrepreneurship, we recognize that we're all becoming a different version of who we were before the pandemic. We're inspired by Michelle Obama's book and Netflix documentary, Becoming. Who are you becoming? How can you show up unapologetically and entirely yourself in all contexts? How are you dealing with control and the lack of it in this tough time? Are you focused on perfection and arriving at a goal? Can you focus more on the journey and becoming? Stick with us to the end for a powerful exercise where you can unlock the real advice you need right now.

UPLIFT is our retreat just for women in development planned for June 4&5 in Miami. But, since we can't be together in Miami , we're bringing UPLIFT to you (even if you're NOT a lady in development) throughout the entire month of June! So, the next 4 podcasts will be a little different. We're talking just to the ladies (sorry, guys , but you can still totally listen!) In this first week of UPLIFT, we're exploring joy – not just happiness, but bubbly, bright, sparkly joy! In these past few months, with so much anxiety, sadness and stress, it's been tough to feel joyful. Listen and give yourself a few minutes to discover what really brings you joy. Once you know, you can really focus on it and, best of all, plan more of it. Sign up to receive weekly emails and join our Happy Hours every Thursday through the month of June at www.generouschange.com/uplift!  

On day 913 of entrepreneurship, we're all up in life from home - working, cooking, exercising - just plain old BEING from home every day. We feel like this time at home has shown us who we really are - the good, the bad and the ugly. We're also revisiting The Desire Map (from episode 22) to see how this moment has changed our core desired feelings. How are you holding up? Feeling super-present and super-scattered all at the same time? You are not alone. Let us know how you're doing at team@generouschange.com? Sending hugs.

Day number....um...6 million 625 thousand and four?? Who the hell knows? Ok, we do know. It's day number 892 of entrepreneurship. We're trying to choose the very best contagions - optimism, gratitude, presence. With so much new, so much unknown and so much out of our control, how are you holding up? If you're stressed, worried, anxious, distracted and exhausted - YOU ARE NOT ALONE! Can you find a little joy today? Can you grow just a teeny tiny bit today? Sending you virtual hugs and missing your faces.   Here's a quote Nancy has next to her desk. Hope it brings you some peace.   There are only two days in the year that nothing can be done. One is called Yesterday and the other is called Tomorrow. Today is the right day to Love, Believe, Do and mostly Live. - Dalai Lama

What does it look like to do love? It’s day 836 of entrepreneurship and Valentine’s Day, so we’re sharing our four ingredients of L.O.V.E. and singing a whole lot of love songs. Whether you love Love Day or are a Hallmark Holiday Hater, doing love as a verb every day will make you happier and make the world a better, more generous place.

Are you facing a big decision? Thinking of making a huge change in your life? On day 820 of entrepreneurship, we're interviewing our new COO, Kelsey, about why she took the leap and quit her job (with a pension!) to join Generous Change. As a new mom working for a start-up, she shares her biggest fears and wise advice for anyone at a crossroads. Warning: There are so many "YAYs!" in this episode because three really is a company!! YAAAAY!!  

What if you put your feelings first when setting your goals? On day 806 of entrepreneurship, we dive into a resource that has changed the way we are setting our own goals for 2020 – The Desire Map by Danielle LaPorte. Danielle reminds us that most people don’t actually want the goal itself, they want the feeling they expect will come from achieving it. So instead of constantly chasing goals, take some time (a lot - this is a big book full of big questions!) to explore your desired feelings. This heartfelt approach to setting intentions has helped us kick-off the year with more creativity, inspiration and soul. Listen to the end to hear each of our core desired feelings, and share your own once you check out the book!   Find the book here: https://www.thedesiremap.com/

On day 779 of entrepreneurship, we're not the brightest bulbs on the shelf. But we're exploring a topic that impacts so many of us - meetings! We've heard from so many of you that you're sick and tired of meetings. You're having too many. They're unproductive. They feel like a painful punishment that steals hours of your life and prevents you from getting your real work done. What if you could transform your meetings? Make them more meaningful, more productive and less frequent? We've got some tips! For more, including a cool tool to use for weekly reporting (via email instead of a face-to-face meeting!) check out this blog post. The goal: you might start to maybe, possibly, hopefully love your meetings (or at least stop dreading them so damn much)!

It's the 2-year businessaversary of Generous Change. Wanna know the best thing about being an entrepreneur? The worst? How has entrepreneurship changed Nancy and Jenna? Think they ever wanted to quit? Celebrate, reminisce and dream big on day 730.

Excitement, pride, anticipation, terror, pain, anxiety are just a few of the opposites we're feeling on day 715 of entrepreneurship. Just 15 days away from 2 full years in business, we're exploring the top 10 lessons and crazy paradoxes of livin' the dream.

Day 687 of entrepreneurship has us celebrating our little, unsteady, adorable toddler business. Like other toddlers, it's full of mystery, madness, pure joy and crazy tantrums. Listen for the top 10 tips we've learned for dealing with (and enjoying) your toddler business and life, in general. 

On day 602 of entrepreneurship we want to hear your voice! Do you hate the sound of your own voice? Are you the one who sits in the back of the room hoping you won't be called on? Do you keep quiet to avoid conflict? We see you and we're exploring how to speak up and take a stand.

On day 588 of entrepreneurship, we're celebrating GIRL POWER! We just hosted the inaugural UPLIFT, a 2-day retreat for women in fundraising in Phoenix. Those 21 ladies blew us away and we are still reeling from the connection, honesty and bad-assery in the room. We believe: It's time for a new workplace. Minimum compliance & maximum widget production are in the past. For innovation, collaboration and nimbleness, we must focus on building healthy teams, embrace the personal as integral to the professional & lift one another up.  You decide what success looks like. Get rid of the shoulds. Ignore those flawless Instagram stories. Focus on what brings you joy. Define and redefine what success means to you - not to everyone else. Show up for yourself. Hold workouts, massages, alone-time and girls' trips sacred. Give yourself space to think big. Give yourself permission to cry and to be pissed off. Be all-the-way you and you will find your tribe.

On day 545 of entrepreneurship, we're exploring travel for work. If you travel for work, you know it includes both magic and mundane, retreat and regret, love and loathing.

On day 531 of entrepreneurship, we're exploring trying new HARD things. 3 big ideas: 1) Name your fears. Say them out loud. There's science behind this! Once you give your fears a name, they are less scary. If you're terrified of a change, stressed out about work or a big decision, write down your fears. Then, tell someone! Talk it out. 2) Everyone else DOESN'T have it all figured out. Let's stop trying to appear so damn perfect. Everyone is a beginner at something at different times in our lives. Admit when you're a newbie. Ask questions. Get advice. Find a coach or a mentor. BE a coach or a mentor. Then, do something new all over again! 3) New = Memorable. It's easy to remember our firsts - first day of school, first dance, first kiss, first car, first house. Do more firsts. Make more memories. Grow.

It's day 478 of entrepreneurship! We're pumped about  UPLIFT, our retreat for women in development and we're thinking about growing pains - not the sitcom - the actual physical & mental pain of change. If you're changing ANYTHING, join us to explore: the pain of growth how to embrace piles of failures what to do with wavering confidence the tricky role of ambition your real aspirations the beauty of imbalance

On day 429 of entrepreneurship, we've decided 2018 was the year of feelings. While Jenna is anti-resolution and Nancy is pro, we both agree that 2019 is going to be AWESOME! Feel more feelings with us as we explore goal-setting without self-punishment. Because you're good enough, smart enough and doggone it, people like you!