Analiza: Analiza Hi, I'm Analiza Quiroz Wolf, proud Asian American, mama of two kiddos. I went from being a burned out mama to being a Boss Mama, being a boss at work home and play. I'm on a mission to help more women be Boss Mamas. If you want to thrive at work without sacrificing family or self care, you're in the right place. I'm launching my next cohort of women leaders starting in January. The online course is eight weeks and has helped achieving women get the balanced joy and fulfillment they deserve. Go to Analizawolf.com/bossmamas to learn more. Now let's get into today's show.

When you're stressed, what is your go to strategy to calm yourself down? Is it to get a snack, have a drink, or experience a lot of anxiety? What about exercise? Today we're talking with Jennifer Maanavi. She's the mom of three kiddos and also the CEO of Physique 57. Jennifer shares with us her journey to becoming a boss mama after she graduated with a BA from Boston University and then her MBA from Columbia. She fulfilled her childhood dream of a career in finance. She was in finance for about a decade. And then she pivoted to starting her own company Physique 57. It was exciting because this combined her love of dance and her interest in entrepreneurship, but was also incredibly stressful. She was a new mom, and she didn't know how to handle all this stress. It was interesting that when she was stressed, she would go to Peppermint Patties and Diet Cokes. And what she realized was that mother nature actually had the magic elixir for her exercise. So she used to skip her workouts. But instead, when she got really busy, and really stressed, she would make sure that she always always always had her exercise. And that self care routine we talked about in boss mamas that it's about fueling our tank, and that self care is essential. It's how we do our joy for the long road ahead. So Jennifer shares with us her practices of involving exercise, and also having better sleep routines, limiting alcohol, having a better diet and how she involves not just her own routine, but also her family's routine so that they can all support her in this journey of success and fulfillment as a boss, Mama, I'm so excited for you to meet Jennifer. All right, Jennifer, I'm excited to talk with you. And I want to bring it all the way back. Jennifer, did you envision that you'd be opening up this physical fitness company back when you're a kid?

Jennifer: It's a really good question and maybe I should have. But at the time when I was growing up in the 70s, and 80s and even into the 90s entrepreneurship wasn't such a well known concept. I mean, there were entrepreneurs, but they always were like really out of this world kind of crazy people that came up with new types of businesses. But most people in my universe were not entrepreneurs. And I feel like it wasn't until I was working on Wall Street, and it was the late 90s when like Netscape and Silicon Valley. And all of that really started to happen, that entrepreneurship actually became a really cool thing, because it was creating billionaires. And in my growing up, that just wasn't what was happening, or at least it wasn't publicized as much. So I was going up with IBM and Morgan Stanley's and big companies as the focal point, not Oh, everyone should just quit their job and start something new. Like, that was not happening. However, looking back at my childhood, I did start a cheerleading squad when I was in third grade, which is very fun. I was the president of my dance company, and we did some really new things in that arena. So I look back on growing up, and I think I actually did have an entrepreneurial spark, but I just didn't have a language for it, and didn't know much about it. And then also growing up I know people are very often influenced by movies. And I saw the movie Working Woman if you remember where she's working in M&A, and I saw that and that really, really inspired me to think about getting involved in the finance world, or just being a really powerful woman. At the same time, though, another movie that was just as impactful for me was flash dance. So I love Flash Dance and I love Working Woman and it is really funny. It is just terrible to me after all these years like I think I combined Working Woman with a career and with dancers in business. So no, I did not think I would start a fitness studio. But looking back, I think it was just something I didn't even know to imagine. And instead I chose which I really enjoyed was a finance career, a financial services career. And I liked it a lot. And it didn't really dawn on me to start this until the opportunity presented itself.

Analiza: I'm picturing you combining this, I think it was Meryl Streep, right? That was her business movie or Diane Keaton or something.

Jennifer: No, it was the other one, Don Johnson's wife. No, no, not. I can't remember her name. But she's married to him. And now she's married to Antonio Banderas. I can't remember the name. But if I remember, it'll say it.

Analiza: But it's so funny Flash Dance and Working Women. Those are so iconic 80s movies. And you're right, entrepreneurship was not the thing. You want to go to McKinsey, or Morgan Stanley, or Goldman Sachs and get this job on Wall Street and wear a suit, not go off and do this tech startup thing that seemed risky and wild.

Jennifer: Melanie Griffith. That was Melanie Griffith and Jennifer Beals combined. Yeah, I ended up doing my inspiration.

Analiza: So I'm picturing this because now you're working in finance, and it's the dream job and you're wearing the suits? What then got you to lean toward the dance like in Flash Dance, how did you pivot, that's a huge pivot.

Jennifer: So huge for that. Well, I had danced growing up, I danced almost every day after school all weekend, I was in a dance company in high school and didn't dance that much in college, just because there wasn't as much time for it. But I really grew up as a dancer. And I think whether you're an athlete, or a dancer, or musician, when you have other very focused pursuits growing up, they just don't leave you because you really start doing them, and they just become part of your fiber. So even though I don't necessarily dance right now, I was dancing from two to 18 and it's in your body. And so when I graduated from college, and was living in the city, I just still wanted to dance or move and do exercise and do what I was used to and I really just couldn't find anything that I thought was. So let me say this, just in case you don't know this. New York City is the hub, obviously, for dancing and acting and singing and a lot of those areas. So even if a class in New York City is called beginner, that's for like, I'm two days away from being on Broadway, that would be what beginner beginner is. So you can't even really do beginner classes in New York City unless you're almost pre professional. So I didn't really find that many places to dance. When I lived in the city, I took intro classes, and that was maybe more my speed, there was a little bit of dance. But at the time, it was mostly gyms, and some yoga studios, but nothing really in between. So I would go to a gym to take an exercise class. And that didn't feel right for my body, because that just didn't always seem safe or appropriate. And then I'd go to a dance class. And he's like, 16 year olds were having pure weddings all over the place. It's like, oh, my gosh, like, Well, I'll never move again. And then I went to business school, and I was really too busy to even think about it. And then as I was graduating business school, I asked a friend, where do people work out? I haven't been able to find a place that I think is really safe and effective all at the same time. And the recommendation was to try a bar class. And there was only one studio in the city at the time that offered a bar class. So I went there three to four times a week. I'd loved it for five years. And I really love that form of exercise. If I lost dress sizes, I was more flexible, I felt stronger. And more importantly, I felt more confident. And I had not in my past equated physical fitness with mental fitness. I just thought physical fitness was just about maybe being thin, and looking good. And then I realized as I was doing this all throughout my 20s now that there were many more benefits to exercise than just clothing size, it was really more about confidence and self esteem, like renewed interest in trying to do something better. And harder, the more you do it, and I just fell in love. And then I guess you know, sort of fortunately, unfortunately, that studio for really just real estate purposes had to close down so quickly. And when I say quickly, I mean like really quickly, like within days, trying to snatch up. I tried to buy that business, and that didn't work out. So fortunately, the owner gave me the name of the top instructor there. So that's Tommy Becker, the co-founder of physique 57, who 16 years ago, I started cold calling and told her I wanted to keep this business alive or start something similar or whatever we can do together. And I quit my job and we just started it within a really, very few weeks. We started Zika December. We didn't actually have that aim for a while.

Analiza: Yeah, so fast. I mean, you're working in finance. It's really busy. I imagine cramming in the class in between all the things you're doing, you find out the business is closing. I mean, how fast does this happen from finding out talking to her to starting it, and then quitting your job? Like, how fast is that,

Jennifer: Like eight weeks, eight weeks, and the first thing I did was quit, because I just felt like it was a full time job to get started. It's not necessarily advice for all entrepreneurs, because that is a risky proposition. However, I will say, you know, candidly that I have met women who want to start companies, and they're doing it like, on the weekends, or when my child's taking a nap, or over thanksgiving break, like, I really don't think you can truly start a company, you can contemplate starting a company, or you can put some pieces together of what might someday be a company. But if you really want to start a company, it's 50, 60, 80 hours a week, before you feed anything. Before John even said, Yes, I had a real estate agent, I had been in touch with ADP for payroll, I had a branding agency, I didn't know lawyer, and that's all before Tawny to meet me, let alone start a company with me, she was like hanging up on me all the time thinking I was insane. There's a lot to do to start a company and a lot of its infrastructure. That's not something I could have done at night, or on Saturday.

Analiza: Absolutely. And I love that you just took the jump, like you believed in yourself, you had been you threw yourself into lining up all of these different contacts, and you yourself, you're the customer of this business.

Jennifer: And I really believe that it's always been a little bit easier to market to myself. And now one of the challenges is I'm marketing to myself, that was 15 years ago, because our target market is 28 years old, and not 28 years old, but at the time I was close to 20 years old. So we really market to women 20 to 32, it was a little bit easier when I was 22 to 32. So it is very important to keep that group close. Like this morning, I had coffee with an amazing friend who I think is 32 or 33. And I just can't, like I just be with her all the time. And I just want to know everything about her because that's really who I'm marketing.

Analiza: So I want to go back to this piece of you benefiting from the connection to exercise not as a way to stay thin, but also as this powerful way to get into mental fitness. So how did you get really clear on that? Because sometimes you could say, well, I'm on a runner's high. So there you go. But how did you get so clear on that connection? Do you have a story or a moment or anything that really helped you get clear?

Jennifer: Yes, it's bizarre. But yes, I do. So back in the day, when I worked at Morgan Stanley for five years, back then, when a woman went to work, she wore a suit. And like pantyhose, I mean, I don't know if they still sell pantyhose. There's manuals and high heels. And there's that. And then also want to say that my department at the time had about 70 people in it, and or maybe like 100 people in it. And there were only about 10 or 11 women, which I'm sure has changed a lot. And we're not talking about 50 years ago, by the way, this just happened to be my department from 2000 to 2025 just did not have that many women in the department, like associates and above. There's only a few of us in these high heels and these pantyhose, and these Brooks Brothers suits and mostly men, and there was something about going to work and having very sore thighs, and very sore arms and very sore Abs all the time because the exercises are very challenging. So you're sore most of the time. And I would feel like if I was walking into a boardroom quote unquote, or any meeting or just walking down the hall, I was a minority. And I was so young. So as a young female in the department. And just knowing that I had the night before worked out my body so hard that I actually had trouble walking in these high heels. That alone made me feel very strong. So I was like Who else can hardly walk because their thighs hurt?' So who else can hardly laugh because your abs are killing you. And there was something about the fact that the night before I pushed myself beyond physical limits. That made me think I might as well do that mentally and intellectually.

Analiza: That's awesome. I remember when recruiting these banks and consulting firms, they would look for athletes, because athletes did not necessarily have the content, but they had the mindset that it was game time. The same ability to perform under pressure is the same ability out in the boardroom or presenting to an important client and you saying you know being sore knowing you did it you push your to the limit, that same thing applies to business. So I love that so much.

Jennifer: And I just want to give credit to dancers and singers and actors too, because maybe for dancers, it's physical for other taping. So physical. But the beauty I think, and so a lot of bar exercise comes from dance. So when I found bar exercise, it's very much like an adult person stance class. And what I think isn't really talked about enough, and it shouldn't be in this is for athletes and for other performers, is the concept of being so open to edit and revision. So when you're a dancer, and you're an athlete, and if you have a soccer game, or you're a dancer, and you run through your performance, there's always always the notes, you get notes. And they say, Okay, I want me back here for notes. And it's not personal. And they just go around and they say, okay, Jen, when you're doing that, make sure you do it this way, next time, and you have to do this this time, or you have to be louder, you have to stand on the back used to be like, it just you just get your notes and you don't get upset about it. If someone tells you your leg needs to be straighter, you just say okay, note to self, my leg needs to be straighter. And athletics is the same thing. Like you need to, you know, rush to the goal faster, or you need to have a better swing with your lacrosse stick. I'm not at all into sports. So I don't know what those would be. My children are, but you just know that you do something, you get notes, and you do it again, differently and better. And I think that, and then it's also for exercise, that you'll do something and the next time you can do a little bit better or a little bit differently. And I think that embracing the concept of edits, that revision is really important.

Analiza: Oh, absolutely, and even taking feedback, it's so hard to take it or not take it personally and to have a dancer or an artist get so much critical feedback, but then not see it as criticism, but ways in which they can develop their practice. So healthy. So I'd love to take it to now you're starting Physique 57, and you're in the throes of all of the 80 hour work weeks. And at that time you have your own family. So can you talk to us about that? Because how did you fit that all in as a mom, with this dream with a partner trying to expand? How did you stay sane, how to do the word balance, but whatever you call it, how did you manage it all?

Jennifer: One day at a time. And so I had my son. He was one when I started Physique, and then I had a daughter and then another son within about eight years, which is amazing. And so fun. And I do say very often, everyone is a priority. And I give everyone my attention, just not all the same time. And sometimes there are just days that it is kids first like especially with the pandemic, like kids keeps online, you figure all that out. And then sometimes it is work first, like I've worked many Saturdays and Sundays, and not just that, but then maybe another day, I do class pickup, which I wouldn't normally do, or I've taken entire days off during the week just so someone has stayed home as a holiday. So it's really fun. And I just sort of like to take it day by day, I've actually said to my mom before, sometimes I take like every 15 minutes by 15 minutes. Which I know doesn't sound like I don't think we should always live our lives by 15 minutes. But like literally sometimes, like the phone can ring and everything changes. Like this morning, I woke up and my daughter had a fever in this post COVID era. It's like, oh my gosh. So like the amount of things I had to do this morning, because I thought she might have COVID Like the contingency plans and all of that. It's like, really, I did take life by 15 minutes, all day, until now, which they thank you for being so helpful this morning. But it's just everyday you just really don't know what's going to happen. But bringing my kids along on the journey. I mean, there's so many funny physique stories that they're really a part of, and they know all about Physique. 57. And they think it's fun. They're fun to play around in the studios, they've really been a part of it. My older son was 17. I talked to him about the business and he gave good advice on the business. And it's really been fun, and it is 100% all doable. And the other thing I think for women in particular, is that it's very, very hard to plan that with so many young women who say, well, first I'll start this and then I'll have a baby and then dot dot dot like, by the way, like, there's no way for you to plan when you're gonna have a baby like, just forget everything you just said like, just do it all. Just do it when you want to do it. And even if you start and get pregnant at the same time, it's fine. Like in India, actually, we've had two studios, our partners had babies like the day the studios opened. So of course they didn't plan it that way. But it was just by the time everything happened like she literally had twins the weekend that the Mumbai studio and that just happened and then we dealt with it. It was fine. So it's very hard to plan but just sort of bringing them all along for the ride I think is the most realistic way to live your life with children and business.

Analiza: One of the things I admired about your way of integrating fitness and kids and work is that you actually bring them along. And I've never heard of the way that you've done it. So can you share with the audience? How do you get your family to understand that self care and Fitness is important to you? How does that work?

Jennifer: Yeah, well, I think, you know, in some ways, when they see the consequence, on their mom of not planning ahead and not feeling well all around, they then learn that they want to encourage you to do it. So in my house, if I haven't worked out, my older son will say, like, go work out. Because I think they just start to see that I can be a little stressed or a little bit on edge. And throughout the pandemic, I used to take classes in the studios every day. So by the time I came home, I had already worked out, but with the pandemic, like everyone else I was working at home. And so they just got used to it's somewhere between like 6 and 7:15am in the living room, doing some form of exercise. And they just got used to it. And I was in a very good mood afterwards, because of the endorphin rush. And just knowing that I had spent some time with myself. And they just got so used to it. And I would rather you know, I would do the exercise and then maybe get breakfast and then go back to exercise. And there's even jokes, like I'll say, I'm done with my right side, but I haven't done my left side yet. So I can't heat up your lunch to like, do my left side, just very much. So it just becomes part of the conversation. And in my opinion, it just became part of the conversation. And I didn't say, oh, sorry, sorry, I'm working out or I won't work out today, because I'll do this for you. It's like no, like, I do this every morning. And this is what I do. And now they say things like, are you going to be out front in the morning, but which really means am I going to be on the mat in the living room in the morning, like they know where to find me. And I actually think that they find it comforting to know that I'm there. There's so much consistency, like mom's there at this time. And you know where to find me. It can find me other times, obviously during the day. But that's like becoming constant in the family. That's another example of just bringing them along for my schedule. And I'm flexible, but it's pretty much known that that's where I'm gonna be.

Analiza: I think that's great. I also really believe in bringing the kids along each morning, I meditate and go running. And they're so used to it that they're like, Well, I guess I should wake up daddy to get me breakfast. I'm like, well, obviously, you should do something. It's so good. There's not even a question. So I love that so much. So one thing that you have really practiced, you practice what you preach is this idea of healthy eating, and healthy. Not just fitness, but integration into your life and your busy busy life. How do you keep yourself healthy? Because often women say, Jennifer, I'm just too stressed, I don't have time to fit in workouts. I don't have time to eat healthy, I don't have time to think about how to bring in these new things and new styles. And so what does it look like for your household?

Jennifer: Yeah, I think here's a couple of things. One is, I grocery shop and buy groceries only for myself. So there's the family groceries. And that's a whole other conversation. And then there's the me groceries. So I saw us first direct a lot which is a grocery delivery in the New York area. So it might sound selfish. But most of the time when I'm ordering for myself from Fresh Direct, it's just my food just for me. And like I'll throw in like the yogurt with m&ms that the kids like that, whatever that's gone. And I'll throw in potato chips and stuff with the kids. Sure. But mostly that grocery shopping is for me. And you can save your shopping list. And it's, you know, not going to sound so exciting, but it's really healthy. It's the spinach and the peppers and kiwi and, and just whatever. Like the nutrition that I need for the week. And also my dinner and my breakfast and my lunch all have nothing to do with the children. And then separately, the kids grocery shopping, which is a whole other. You know, I've three kids who are all very athletic. So that's all different types of food. I don't expect to eat it. I don't want to eat it. I'm not asking anyone to incorporate my food into their food. I don't ask them to eat my healthy food. They don't ask me to eat their cheeseburgers. So in some ways someone would say like, but shouldn't you all, like live together? And I don't know how you can do that. Why should I be eating what a 17 year old boy eats? It's like the last thing I should be eating because he’s a varsity soccer player. And then I've got a nine year old who loves Cinnamon Toast Crunch. So I'm not going to get involved with that. Luckily, my daughter eats almost what I eat, which is really nice. But I think that it's too high of an expectation for women to think that there's like all these family meals we're all eating together. I'm going to teach my kids to eat what I like. That sets expectations too high, I think it's okay to break away. Like when we sit down for dinner, my dinner is different from their dinner most of the time, no judgment, no nothing. We just have different bodies, completely different bodies. So I don't expect there to be anyone eating all of the same thing. I mean, hopefully, they're all kind of eating the same thing. But really, different. People need different food at different parts of their life. So why should you all eat the same stuff? So there's that and the number two is I really plan my meals in the morning for the whole day. So I know pretty much what I'm going to have for breakfast, lunch and dinner, even like a day head, which is not so exciting.

Analiza: I'm tempted like the French fries at the birthday party or pizza at the birthday party or the wine at the happy hour, or these?

Jennifer: No, it's okay. Yeah, I certainly indulge, for sure, definitely deal with things like that maybe 80% of the time, it's really sticking to the fruits and vegetables and lean meats and the cottage cheese and hard boiled eggs. And it's not fun. But you can, you know, your palate gets used to it. And it's really healthy. In my mind, Food is fuel. So like I did get a start, my daughter loves it. So I got it with her pumpkin, Starbucks Pumpkin Bread, which especially at this time of the year, it's so yummy. So I'll leave that for sure. But I know, I just know that I'm not really doing anything for myself, like that's not going to help me later in any way. Whereas a really good mix of protein, vegetables and fruits just going to give you more energy and have a clear brain. So it's not that I don't eat it, I just know that it's kind of pointless, other than the taste buds part, which is important. It's just not helping you in any way.

Analiza: Yeah, it's interesting, because I find you so mindful about the plan for the day, the way that you order groceries. And then when it comes to a decision point, when there's wine or something, the pumpkin bread, you can even pause before you start to indulge. And all of a sudden, half the bag is gone. You think to yourself, is that going to help me? And then you treat it if you want to, but you pause and think about it, which is really I think mindful.

Jennifer: There is certainly something called Emotional eating, which there's nothing wrong with it. Thinking about why? Why am I eating this? Like there's always that boredom, I open the cabinet and just stare at all that stuff and think about what you want. I really don't want it, I just am interested in staring at it. And so I just sort of take a minute and think, Well, maybe if I even had some water that might shake me I don't necessarily need to drink now.

Analiza: Great. So what would you say then Jennifer to someone who said, wow, everything you say makes a ton of sense. But it just sounds like a lot right now to go to a bar class and plan every meal and have a different feel from the kids and do their cutting board. What would you say to help people start to take on this habit?

Jennifer: Yeah, I think it's just one step at a time. It's one step at a time. And also potentially, which is again, not so fun, but embracing the concept of repetition. And again, also just with an emphasis on the fact that repetition actually frees up your mind to do other things. So like some women I know. And I tried this myself, if I'm really busy with the concept of the uniform. I don't know if you've heard about women, just embracing the idea of a uniform, because it's one less decision you have to make. So like there's women I know that just wear a black turtleneck, sweater, jeans, black boots, Dun Dun, like pretty much every day, I don't think it's the same sweater and the same view. But like they have a uniform. And they say especially if it's like a busy time in their quarter of their year, or for some reason, they might say and I've done this too, like I will adopt more of a uniform, because I have no time to think about what I'm going to wear. And the benefit of that is then I have a whole other half hour or 15 minutes or whatever, to think about something else. So one thing that I would like people to think about is that this sort of discipline, and this repetition, might seem really boring or hard to attain. But actually once you do it, any other way of living seems really complicated. Like if someone said each night I want to at six o'clock think about what I'm going to have for dinner to me like that's like a lot of brain cells. Like I don't even know how to think that way. And that would seem to be very stressful. So while this other way of living might seem stressful, I think the on the fly spontaneous, hey, I'm hungry, I'm going to go find something to eat. That, to me, seems like 10 times more stressful, because you have to think about that when I've already thought about it. And I could sort of check the box a long time ago.

Analiza: Oh my gosh, that's so good. I love your description of the uniform and also these other aspects because it's these habits like brushing teeth and then flossing, or getting up meditating and running. Those aren't decision points for me. Because if they were like, how would I want them to floss my teeth or go running, it's cold outside and I'm kind of tired. Why don't I lay down for longer. But once I remove that option from my plate, it's just, or even having vegetarian versus, you know, meat. It's a lot simpler. So I completely agree. And I love that advice. Okay, so Jennifer, we're gonna go into lightning round questions. Are you ready?

Yeah. Chocolate or vanilla?

Jennifer: Chocolate

Analiza: Cooking or takeout?

Jennifer: Take Out.

Analiza: Climb a mountain or jump from a plane?

Jennifer: Climb a mountain.

Analiza: Have you ever worn socks with sandals?

Jennifer: No.

Analiza: How would you rate your karaoke skills on a scale of 1 to 10 and 10 being Mariah Carey?

Jennifer: Two. And there's only one song that I sing for karaoke.

Analiza: What's a recent book you read?

Jennifer: Right now, there's so many books I've read. There's a book by Norma Kamali that I think is terrific. It's the last one that she wrote. And it's really about her life. And she talks about it in certain decades. So she's in her 70s. Now. So she talks about her life in her 20s 30s 40s 50s 60s. And a lot of tips, a lot of wellness tips. She's just remarkable. So I would say that's maybe not the latest book I read. But that is a book I read recently. And I have like eight books on my bedside table. So a lot of books.

Analiza: What's your favorite way to practice self care?

Jennifer: One way is to give yourself time, give yourself time to do whatever it is that you need to do, I don't actually always give myself enough time. But when I do give myself time, whether it's just doing something like a facial at home, or like I make the salad at night for lunch for the next day, like just spending that time on something that's going to benefit you whether it's something outward or inward. Just giving yourself that time, I think, is really helpful. It's hard to find the time. But when you do, I think it can make you just feel like you took care of yourself.

Analiza: Time is so special. Any good professional developments that you've loved or done?

Jennifer: Yes, there's a lot I have to say. I'm a fan of Tony Robbins. I may be controversial here and there. But when I listen to him, he has so many he has an app and on the app, I think of it like from the last 20 years, all of his different courses are on one app. I don't listen to it every day, but maybe once a week, I'll listen to about 30 minutes of it just walking down the street. And it's like goal setting, having high expectations, setting your goals being mindful, like just reminders of things that we all do. It's just we don't do it with such intention. And he just really gets me going. And then there is another really nice podcast called small things often by Gottman Institute, and I think it's five minutes. And I'm pretty sure they do it about once a week. And it is completely about small things often to enhance relationships. And it's just beautiful, it's like how to listen, how to respond, how not to get angry, it's so good. And it's only five minutes. And small. It's really about doing small things often. And how those little small things often can really, really improve and amplify the benefits of any relationship you have.

Analiza: What's your definition of a Boss Mama?

Jennifer: I think a Boss Mama is someone who's empathetic, but also has high expectations for people. And it's inspiring and also aspires for bigger things. And I really, really care for my team at work very, very much. And some of the people I've worked with, it's been for over a decade. They're just terrific. And I've learned so much from them. And I tried to just by us working together, I think we learn from each other. And I try to be a role model as far as work life balance, and my goals for myself and really asking organizations and people to try harder and raise the level of ambition. And if I could raise the level of ambition for not just people in the workplace, but even outside, then I would consider myself a Boss Mama.

Analiza: What advice would you give your younger self?

Jennifer: I think the advice that I would give is that it's very hard to have control over anything other than yourself. You really have control over your actions and your thoughts, your beliefs, and your habits. And you really just belong to you and everyone else. In your orbit, you can do your best to control but you really have very little control, you have influence, you don't have any control. And so planning out what you're going to do, and then what that person is going to do, you're going to say what they're gonna say and promotions and babies and that you just have zero control over how things break out. And you can just influence it, but you really can't control it.

Analiza: And then two questions left, where can we find you like LinkedIn or anywhere else like that?

Jennifer: I'm on LinkedIn, mostly, I really like LinkedIn. And I'm also on Instagram, Physique 57 posts a lot more than I do personally. But I would say LinkedIn and Instagram, or the Physique 57 Instagram are where you can find me.

Analiza: Okay, and then last question, do you have a final ask recommendation or any parting thoughts to share with the audience?

Jennifer: I think one big piece of advice that I would give or in any, any sharing, what I've learned is, it's gonna sound really simple. But it really is that every day is a new day. And a terrible Tuesday could lead to a wonderful Wednesday. And I've learned that so much is so doom and gloom that no need for doom and gloom because, really, you never know. Like, I have literally answered the phone with an unrecognized phone number only to find amazing news. And then the next day on the phone, and it's terrible you don't know where it's gonna come from. But each day is a new day, each day's a new day. If you really don't know you can plan that just one day at a time. Just one day at a time and nothing is really that bad. Because it can all just get better. And just living with anxiety is useless.

Analiza: So good. Alright with that, thank you so much, Jennifer for the story and wise advice. I love it. Love love it.

Jennifer: Thank you so much. Great to see you. I appreciate your time.

Analiza: Thank you so much for carving out time today to hear today's podcast. Three things before you go. First, if you found it helpful, please leave a five star review. Second, please share it with someone else. You can share the link and post on Facebook and say check it out. Lastly, I want to thank you for being a listener and you can go to get a free self care bonus called juicy your joy at Analizawolf.com/freebonus. Thank you so much.