Have The Life You Love! Archives | Smart Women Smart Solutions

My Mountain Retreat Get-Away is Available!

September 29, 2022 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

I’ve had a 14 year dream that has come true and I want to share It with you!

I’ve been dreaming about having my own retreat get-away in Park City, Utah for 14 years and the day has finally arrived! It’s located in the area we’ve always enjoyed with the rail trail close by for biking, great trails for hiking and Aspen trees right off our deck.

Would you like to come see for yourself? It’s available for YOU!

If you love the mountains, skiing, hiking, biking or just hanging out on a gorgeous deck gazing at Aspen trees, my mountain retreat get-away is for you, your family, or your girlfriends. Our place is perfect for:

Private Retreats with me
“Done for You” Solo Retreats (just you & your goals and dreams)
Family Ski Trips
Small Group Retreats (up to 7 guests)
Girlfriend Getaways

Soak it all in at the end of the day in our Brand New Hot Tub.

If you'd like to book my Mountain Retreat Get-away for you, your family or your girlfriends, reach out to Kathy@SmartWomenSolutions.com or call/text her at 310-266-0416.

NOTE: Christmas through New Year's, the Sundance Festival in January and Presidents Day weekend already booked. Hurry!

Do you have Bliss in your Biz?

June 5, 2014 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

Many women I meet tell me that the reason they started their business was out of a passion for something or to make a difference in people's lives.

Yes, we all want to make more money and have a successful venture. And it's fun to have accolades and build something powerful. But it's the vehicle to our bliss.

Ali Brown and I have had this conversation recently and we believe there's so much interest on this subject that Ali has decided to host a LIVE web show on this topic, two weeks from today on June 17 and I'll be joining her!

It's called “Business Bliss Live: More Money, Less Stress, Real Purpose”, and I hope you'll join Ali and I for this special event. It's free and you can reserve your spot here now: http://bit.ly/alibliss

We're calling it a “web show”, because it's going to be a lot more fun than usual. And a few surprise guests! Ali even rented out a TV studio for the occasion.

Go here now to see what we will be teaching and sharing during this special 4-hour LIVE web event!

And of course, reserve your spot now so you can join us!

I'm really looking forward to it!

Be well,

P.S. Bliss is defined as “supreme happiness… utter joy and contentment”. Want to find your Business Bliss? Reserve your spot here now for this free event: http://bit.ly/alibliss

Smart Women Get a “Personal” Check-up

February 5, 2009 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

Recently, my husband Greg was in the hospital for a health issue. 02-05-09doctor He started in the emergency room and was eventually admitted to the hospital. This experience created a lot of thought and reflection for me on many levels. One that I think might be helpful to you is how Smart Women occasionally need a personal or business check-up if they are to truly realize their Big Idea, Dreams, and Goals. This week, I’m going to offer you some simple solutions on your “personal” check-up. Next week, I’ll share some reflections and simple solutions on your “business” check-up.

“What am I passionate about?” “What am I called to do?” “What would provide me with a happy fulfilled life each and every day?” I asked myself these questions 8 years ago. I knew I deserved to wake up every day full of energy and anticipation. Unfortunately, there is no “magic” pill that provided the answers. I needed help. I made a decision to get my own “personal” checkup, and went through a process of evaluation. Follow these easy, simple solutions that I’ve created for you to begin your “personal” checkup:

Get Connected With an Expert – Ask the “Right” Questions. During Greg’s entire stay at the hospital, there was one constant at all times: He was asked questions, a lot of questions. And when you thought there could be no more questions, the experts asked more questions. Why? To clarify what was really going on; to get focused on what seemed to be the root of the problem. It’s important to spend some quiet time thinking about where you are right now in your life and ask some clarifying questions: What’s working? What’s not working? What do I need to change? What do I need to let go of? Get connected to a coach, mentor, or other wise individual that can help you ask the “right” questions so you can get on the right path to a life that you love waking up to every day.

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Smart Women Ignite Their Fire

February 2, 2009 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

01-29-09candle1 As I was getting ready for a day of skiing on a recent family ski trip, I had one goal in mind: Stay warm! I knew it was going to be cold and windy that day, and I wanted to make sure that I kept my body heat inside. This got me thinking about how Smart Women who are living a life filled with passion and purpose do just the opposite: They give themselves permission to release their “fire” of desire and passion out into the world.

As women, we can spend years–if not decades–keeping our “fire” of desire and passion inside of us. We hold our Big Ideas, dreams, and goals at our core because we are nurturers by nature and put others' needs ahead of ourselves. We give care and support to family, friends, colleagues, and community. The great misfortune is that if we're not careful, our fire can get blown out or extinguished. Unsupported, we begin to have conversations with our committee of one about how our Big Idea or Dream “would never work, it's not possible, what was I thinking?” Even worse, if we can become courageous enough to share an idea with someone, we often find a negative judgment or criticism about the “fire” of desire and passion we hold so close in our heart, soul, and core of our being.

Smart Women Have Dreams Too!

January 22, 2009 | By Joy Chudacoff 1 Comment

My son Jack came home from school today with an excited, “Yippee Mom, there's no school next Monday because it's Martin Luther King Day!” A few minutes later he comes running back into the kitchen and asks, “Mom, who is Martin Luther King anyway?” Wow—what a question. How do I answer that one and still have time to get dinner on the table?

So here goes. Martin Luther King was a man who lived in courage and vision every day of his life. He was a man who most likely lived in fear and faced challenges for pursing his dreams and convictions. In August of 1963, he gave a speech entitled, “I Have A Dream”, which changed the way this country saw equality and fairness forever.

What, you might ask, does this have to do with Smart Women? Well, a lot actually. Many times women live other people's dreams. Not because we don't have any of our own. You all know that I believe we are the most creative beings on earth with Big Ideas. Many times we don't even realize that we are not connected to our dreams and desires. Women are so busy helping others to realize their dreams, (family, friends, co-workers) that we don't take the time to ask ourselves the question, “What am I dreaming about?” “What's my vision for my future?” And… “Do I have the courage to act on this dream and vision?”

Smart Women Know What They Want

December 22, 2008 | By Joy Chudacoff 1 Comment

Last week, after my husband Greg read my article “Smart Women Are a Lot Like Rocket Ships,” he had an interesting question: He said, “Every week you write about the same thing—making your Big Idea happen, Reaching your Goals and Dreams, getting the right support, blah, blah, blah… when are you going to write about something else?”

Being a woman who encourages new ideas and new perspectives, I went off to take a bubble bath (a nightly self-care ritual!) and to reflect on his question.

In my work with women, the foundation is always around passionate and purposeful living. In order to live a life full of unlimited energy filled with passion and purpose, you will be making big things happen in your life. You will be connecting with your Big Ideas, dreams and goals. You will seek and find the proper support to help you achieve your goals. This becomes a way of life for women who choose to live without boundaries around what they can and deserve to accomplish.

Smart Women Know How to Work the Puzzle

October 30, 2008 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

This morning, my 6-year-old daughter Jenna decided to work a new puzzle that she received for her birthday. The puzzle, when put together, would represent our solar system. She dumped the pieces out all over the floor and began to realize how “big” this process was for her.

I could feel and see that she was becoming overwhelmed. I sat down with her and asked if it might be a good idea to place the cover of the box in a place where she could refer to the “big picture”—what the puzzle would look like when she’s all done. She agreed and set to work turning over each piece, getting organized, and putting the pieces that looked similar together.

This got me thinking about how Smart Women create a blueprint of what their lives and work should look like, get organized, and then put the pieces where they need to go.

In our personal and professional lives, when a change or transition is looming we can become anxious about what this might mean for us moving forward. Sometimes we want to “dump” our options out all over the floor and quickly choose something so that we can get on with our lives. Change can be a challenge, especially if we have not given ourselves the quiet space and time to reflect on all of the different puzzle pieces in our lives and our businesses. The key is to focus on where we want to go in our lives and create a framework or blueprint to reflect this. It’s important to see the “big picture” and then look at what puzzle pieces would make it come together in the most effective way.

In our personal lives, we need to ask ourselves what’s most meaningful to us right now: self-care, relationships, family, friends, career, community involvement. These are just a few pieces of the puzzle called a woman’s life. We have to reflect and explore which pieces of the puzzle would bring the blueprint of our lives together in the most meaningful way. What makes the most sense right now? What feels “right?” Which pieces seem to fit together?

Smart Women Visit the Magic Kingdom

October 16, 2008 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

Recently, our family took a trip to the “happiest place on earth”—Disneyland! As we made our way to the Magic Kingdom, I noticed a large sign hanging over the entrance that read, “Where old friends meet for the very first time.” I began to smile. This got me thinking about how Smart Women take time to reconnect with their old friend—the authentic self.

Sometimes, our lives are moving at such a fast pace, we can become disconnected from what’s truly meaningful in both our personal and professional lives. We are so busy “doing” everything for everyone around us that we lose touch with that part of us that knows what we should be making time for. Your authentic self is like an old friend. She is secure in knowing exactly who you are and what you are passionate about. She knows every gift you possess and can help you access them. The challenge, of course, is staying connected to this old friend. Life, with its many twists and turns, brings about such “busyness” that we often find ourselves too tired at the end of the day to stay connected to our authentic self.

If you are a woman in business, the beginning of your entrepreneurial journey is about realizing a Big Idea with passion and purpose. You begin to navigate a course to accomplish your goals. There is a lot of excitement and anticipation. Somewhere along the way, you can get off course in your business by working “in” your business rather than working “on” your business. If you are always working the day to day tasks and never giving yourself the creative space to vision the future of your business, the chances of optimal growth are minimal. In my Women’s Success Circles, the space for possibility thinking and a plan to support women in their vision is created so that they can realize their Big Idea.

Smart Women Get Off the Fence

October 9, 2008 | By Joy Chudacoff 1 Comment

While driving along Sunset Blvd. a few days ago, I thought about a conversation I had earlier that morning with a friend about how difficult it is for some people to make a decision. This process can be a challenge and create a lot of anxiety. I’m not sure if people are aware that “sitting on the fence” when it comes to making decisions takes a serious toll on their energy levels and their lives.

I see many people struggle with decision-making. We live in the question in many areas of our lives—where to live, where to send our children to school, what kind of car to drive, who to vote for, should we go back to work or should we stay at home with our children, what to wear, where to eat. It’s exhausting, isn’t it? Why do we have such a difficult time making decisions? One reason might be that we care a lot about what other people think of our decisions. There was a time in my 20’s and 30’s where others’ opinions really mattered to me. I wanted to make the “right” choice so I could be with the “right” crowd. Today, in my 40’s, I make my decisions based on my own passion and purpose and what’s most meaningful to me. I ask myself if this decision will move my journey forward and, if it will, then I take action on it.

When you avoid making decisions, it takes a much greater toll on your life than you might suspect. “Sitting on the fence” between decision and indecision zaps so much energy from our body and soul. Imagine the energy and concentration that it takes every minute of every day by not making a decision for or against an idea or an action. It’s important to become clear about what you want in your life.

Smart Women Create the Right Web

October 7, 2008 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

Earlier this week, I was taking an early morning walk with a good friend and smart woman and we ran into a few spider webs (literally!). It’s the time of year when spiders are spinning and carefully crafting their webs together in a way that will serve and protect them. This got me thinking about how Smart Women always create a strong and sturdy web in their lives both at work and at home.

If you look up the word “web” in the dictionary, one of the definitions is “anything put together in a careful way.” It’s essential that women take the time to put their lives together in a careful and thoughtful way. Why? There are so many options and opportunities for women in the world today. You have so many choices on how you choose to live your life. What’s most important is to make those choices authentically.

And then from that place of authenticity, spin your life together, design and build it with energy and passion. Let it be a life that soars with meaning to you, the designer. If you choose not to do this, then your life just “happens.” It can begin to unfold in unpredictable ways with no meaning or direction. Putting your authentic life together involves having people who are supportive and loving, an environment that provides relaxation, and a place for inspired creativity.

In your business life, when you have a Big Idea, dream or goal, it’s essential that you build a web that is super strong in its marketing message as well as making sure that you have solutions on how to manage your time well so that you get the right things done during your day. When my friend ran into the spider web, it was a challenge to pull all of the sticky threads off her hat and sweatshirt.

A well-designed spider web is very sticky. Have you created a product or service that carries a message that will “stick” with your target market? When your target market needs your product or service, do they immediately think of you or someone else? A spider knows that in order to build a strong web, she needs the support of strong tree branches to protect her from the wind and other elements. This is true for you as well. Having a strong support system in your life (both personally and professionally) is key to making it happen—to help you go to the next level.