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
Want to learn more?
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