What does it actually look like to shed the roles, rules, and expectations that no longer fit — and build something entirely your own? That's exactly what Amanda Mulsow did when she turned 40 in the middle of a global pandemic, a personal health crisis, and a mental health emergency with her daughter. Instead of falling apart, she chose a word, created a mantra, and started rewriting the story she had been living by for decades. Amanda is the founder of Grit Marketing and Strategy, a full-service agency helping small and local businesses grow through intentional, strategic marketing. Her story is one of unbecoming — and becoming more fully herself in the process.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Amanda's word of the year for 2020 was "life giving" — chosen before the world shut down, it turned out to be exactly what she needed

• She developed the mantra "No F*cks at 40" as a declaration to stop living for other people's opinions and expectations

• How COVID became an unexpected reset and opportunity for deep personal growth and self-investment

• The power of building your tribe — why community is the second lever alongside personal development

• A peer resource specialist's advice that changed Amanda's inner dialogue: "You would never talk to anybody else the way you talk to yourself"

• Why a solo retreat is one of the most powerful tools for quieting outside voices and getting clear on who you are and where you want to go

• Amanda's MS diagnosis in 2017 and how it forced her to finally prioritize rest and recovery

• The farm upbringing that ingrained "always be productive" — and the leaders who helped her unlearn it

• How three friends in one week told her she had "grit" — and how that became the foundation of her business name and brand

• GRIT as an acronym: Growth Requires Intention and Tenacity

• Why starting her own agency gave her deeper empathy for her clients and made her feel lighter, happier, and more confident

• The value of embracing an experimental mindset: "I don't fail — I learn"

• Perfectionism as a daily practice to rewrite — and why embracing a hobby you're bad at (hello, golf and watercolors) is a surprisingly powerful tool

CHAPTERS

0:00 – Introduction

1:03 – Meet Amanda Mulsow

2:21 – Turning 40 in Chaos

4:05 – Life Giving Boundaries

5:09 – COVID Reset and Growth

10:33 – No F*cks at 40

13:24 – Quieting Outside Voices

17:49 – Rewrite the Rules

20:45 – Pressure on High Achievers

21:47 – Motherhood and Boundaries

22:58 – Modeling Rest for Kids

24:07 – Blocking Time to Recharge

26:28 – Starting Grit Marketing

29:15 – Rebrand and Upleveling

30:02 – Live Boldly, Take Risks

33:15 – New Identity as Owner

34:51 – Failure, Learning, and Regret

38:39 – Rewriting Perfectionism

39:44 – Hobbies That Teach Imperfection

41:16 – Closing Thanks and Goodbye

RESOURCES MENTIONED

• The Hive (https://thehivewichita.com/) — the women's community Amanda joined during COVID for connection and support

• Grit Marketing and Strategy (https://gritmarketingks.net/) — Amanda's full-service marketing agency for small and local businesses

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