“The Lord blesses you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; The Lord [a] lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.”’ Numbers 6:24-26
I go by Jen. Or Jenny. Or Jennifer. Take your pick. Usually Jennifer in business, Jen for most people and Jenny almost as a term of endearment. I have a 17-year-old son Jado and a 15-year-old daughter Jorg . pronounced George, short for Jorgia. We live in West Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley in BC in Canada. God’s country really.
We moved here for the stellar quality of life when I was pregnant with Jado. Welcome to your beautiful life in K Town kiddo… where there is nothing but sunshine from morning till night in the summer months. except in 2020 where nothing is as it were, and we are attempting to embrace the overcast.
I have walked away from a 27-year career in money management. I would say I’m going through a midlife crisis. Legit. Let’s be real. So now I am at this place… Who am I and what does my second half look like? I just celebrated a milestone. And let me tell you 50 is not easy. In fact, I’d say it has felt more like going through a meat grinder. Squeezing every single part of me into oblivion attempting to find meaning in it all but everything resulting in mush. Daily attempts to piece it together but really not sure if it is working at all. still looks like a big bowl of mush to me.
I spent my life helping people with their money. From my life as a Banker to helping people with their Investments, Mortgages, Insurance, and most recently as a Broker of Private Equity raising capital for private companies of all kinds in North America. Exciting yet stressful. Now I am helping to launch a new Network Marketing company called SoulLife. Over the years I have become more interested in health. I have learned that our soil is depleted of minerals which we desperately need. SoulLife is helping us to absorb minerals again. It has been fascinating to see the results in people.
My kids are amazing and yet they are assholes. Am I allowed to say that? I believe I ask them every day ‘what did I do wrong?’ When I am asking for the 17th time to get out of bed, or you will be late for your ‘thing’. Which also makes me a codependent parent I believe. Somehow, I just don’t have the heart to watch them sleep in and lose their job. Parenting 101 FAIL.
Ultimately, I am blessed. Very much so. My parents are alive and very involved in our lives, my kids are good humans at the end of the day. We have a beautiful to us home. I’m still here so I give thanks. Please join me on my journey of not knowing what I’m doing on this crazy roller coaster of life. If you could give your past self some advice, what would you tell yourself?
I would tell my younger self that life is different than you envision it to be. You don’t make it
to
40 or 50 and then coast. Life brings challenges in every season so buckle up. And in every
season don’t forget to enjoy the moment. Learn to take a breath and slow down and cherish
the gift of life through all the peaks and valleys. Choose JOY.
Do you have a mantra or phrase you live by? What is it?
The sun will shine again, and sooner than you think. This too shall pass. Always knowing that joy
comes in the morning. His mercies are new every morning. You will make it to the other side of
every challenge. Let go of the opinions of others and be true to yourself and everything will be
ok.
What is your number one priority when it comes to your career and daily work?
I am a connector. My priority is to nurture relationships because my business relationships have
always brought opportunity, and opportunity breeds opportunity. I am a loyal hard- working woman
and this has served me well in the business community.
What is your favourite thing about what you do in your career and why?
My favorite thing about my career by far is that I can think outside the box and get creative to
make things happen. I do not like to be stifled and I do not thrive in an environment where
business must be done with guidelines and restrictions. As an entrepreneur I am a solutions person
and I like to find a way to get the deal done. I am a risk taker, and this allows me to participate
in concepts and ideas that change our world. I get excited to solve issues and bring solutions to
the world and help to bring these ideas to the marketplace. Business makes my heartbeat faster, it
is certainly in my blood.
What makes you motivated on a daily basis?
I have been a single mother for 13 years and my children are my daily motivation. To create a
fantastic life for them and to show them that anything is possible. Demonstrate for them that they
can surely dream a life for themselves and then create it with hard work and confidence in who they
are. Show them that God has a great big life waiting for them so they can dig deep
and discover their purpose and go after it. Leaving this legacy is my motivation.
