Navigating Life and Business After 45: Wisdom and Insights
In this episode of 'Seasoned Women, Serious Business,' host Isabel Alexander and co-host Jackie Wszalek discuss the journey of entrepreneurship and life challenges faced by women aged 45 and beyond. They delve into personal stories, including life changes, health issues, and the emotional roller coaster of midlife transformations. Sponsored by Crossroads Clarity Solution, the podcast aims to provide support and wisdom for women looking to reignite their passions, build legacies, and seek community support. Stay tuned for more inspiring interviews and discussions designed to uplift and empower women entrepreneurs.
00:00 Introduction to Seasoned Women, Serious Business
01:26 Casual Conversation with Jackie and Isabel
01:57 Reflecting on Aging and Expectations
02:47 Overcoming Physical and Emotional Struggles
05:40 The Importance of Community and Support
07:58 Looking Forward and Staying Active
10:21 Wrapping Up and Future Plans
10:50 Closing Remarks and Call to Action
Jackie Wszalek is a curious community activist, grandma, wife, yogi and peace seeker. Seasoned business owners committed to sharing "lessons learned, lessons lived" while advocating for small business success.
About the Host:
Isabel Alexander
Your Next Business Strategist and Transformation Catalyst
Isabel Alexander's journey from modest beginnings to global recognition epitomizes entrepreneurial resilience and innovation. With over five decades of experience spanning diverse industries, she has become a driving force in shaping economic landscapes worldwide. Noteworthy accomplishments include founding a multimillion-dollar global chemical wholesale business and earning accolades such as Canada's Top 100 Most Powerful Women.
As a mentor and advocate, Isabel empowers women entrepreneurs through initiatives like the Lift As You Climb Movement and podcasts, guiding them from startup to maturity. Serving as Chief Encore Officer of The Encore Catalyst, she dedicates herself to coaching and educating emerging entrepreneurs. Her involvement in organizations like RenegadesReinventing.com and Femme on Fire underscores her commitment to leadership and business development.
Additionally, Isabel's advisory roles with government bodies and trade associations, such as Chair of the Canadian Association of Importers & Exporters, highlight her influence in shaping trade policies and fostering international relations.
Driven by her mantra, "Lift As You Climb," Isabel embodies the ethos of mutual growth and empowerment. With dual citizenship in Canada and the United States, she values her extensive family and embraces global connections through travel and professional engagements. Isabel Alexander's narrative serves as a beacon of inspiration, illustrating how visionary leadership and strategic advising can drive global entrepreneurship and economic independence forward.
Founder:
The Encore Catalyst Facebook page ( https://www.facebook.com/TheEncoreCatalyst )
and
Chief Encore Officer, The Encore Catalyst (www.theencorecatalyst.com) – an accelerator for feminine wisdom, influence, and impact.
also
Author & Speaker ‘Who Am I Now? – Feminine Wisdom Unmasked Uncensored’ https://whoaminowbook.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/isabelannalexander/
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Welcome to Seasoned Women, Serious Business, the podcast for entrepreneurs
Speaker:aged 45 to 75 and beyond who've changed lives, challenged status
Speaker:quo, who are wise enough to want more and gutsy enough to create it.
Speaker:Join me, your host, Isabel Alexander, a seasoned business owner, as I
Speaker:serve up the Knowledge and best practices for life and business,
Speaker:along with unfiltered wisdom from other women entrepreneurs and leaders.
Speaker:Whether you're looking to reignite your passion for your business,
Speaker:unlock new ones that build your legacy or simply shake your head at the
Speaker:folly of underestimating ourselves.
Speaker:You are in the right place.
Speaker:We're serious about business.
Speaker:And we're serious about loving the life that we've worked hard to create.
Speaker:Stay tuned and be part of a community built on collaboration and collective
Speaker:wisdom that dismisses old paradigms and celebrates vibrant women just like you
Speaker:and our limitless potential at every age.
https://web.descript.com/b961cf36-43d2-426c-b4dd-28f0d479279f
https:Isabel Alexander, DOB: You want to record an episode?
https:We should do a shorty.
https:We got a little short one.
https:All right, what would you like to talk about?
https:Hey, welcome back.
https:Seasoned Women, a serious business with the spicy duo.
https:Jackie Wieselik, Isabel Alexander, both in our almost 70s, and
https:we're just sitting on the sofa.
https:chatting with you.
https:Yep.
https:Sharing it.
https:Sharing some things.
https:Jackie Wszalek, DOB: Yeah.
https:Isabel is about to turn 70, as we talked about in our last podcast and
https:our last video, and I've been there and heading toward the middle of it.
https:And we're just talking about What it feels like?
https:Did it meet our expectations?
https:Did it lower, did we have to lower expectations?
https:What does the next decade look like?
https:How much fun can we have?
https:Isabel Alexander, DOB: Oh, I like the idea of looking at the
https:decade in advance, a trip plan.
https:Okay.
https:Yeah, I like it.
https:And I can't believe that those words are actually coming out of my mouth
https:because it wasn't too long ago that I thought it was like the world was flat
https:and I would just fall off after 65.
https:And lo and behold, and I I really changed it up, flipped it down the
https:side, did the hokey pokey, turned myself inside out, because I got a
https:divorce in, I was what, 68 years old?
https:Moved, started a new business, changed my whole Yeah, and a hip replacement.
https:Jackie Wszalek, DOB: And a hip replacement.
https:Also in the middle of that is Which
https:Isabel Alexander, DOB: really helped with my Hokey Pokey, I
https:Jackie Wszalek, DOB: have to say.
https:Now the hips are moving good.
https:Yeah.
https:And that was an incredible journey in and of itself.
https:I think when we're in pain, there's a whole different way
https:to, view the world, right?
https:Because you're looking at it through eyes that are just hanging on.
https:Isabel Alexander, DOB: Yeah I didn't ever want to say this publicly, so here I am.
https:Here we are.
https:We bring out the best in each other.
https:Yeah, I I really did.
https:I had a, I was having a hard time.
https:I was struggling emotionally.
https:As well as physically cause I felt broken, and I also had this story playing in
https:my head that only crippled old people hobbled around like that, had to use
https:a cane couldn't get up off the chair without a lot of grunting and grimacing.
https:So on, on us.
https:And good fucking God, when I dropped something on the floor, , it
https:could stay there , because getting down was not on impossible.
https:Getting up was impossible.
https:Yeah.
https:So yeah.
https:I think that's something worth talking about because definitely, and
https:I know we were going to talk about the decade, but yeah, guess what?
https:Jackie Wszalek, DOB: Honestly, we give it.
https:Isabel Alexander, DOB: Put your seatbelt on everybody.
https:It's going
https:Jackie Wszalek, DOB: to be a bumpy ride.
https:We will be right back after a brief message from our sponsors.
https:This episode of Seasoned Women, Serious Business is brought to you
https:by Crossroads Clarity Solution.
https:If you're feeling overwhelmed and unsure of your next steps, whether
https:it's maintaining the status quo, closing down, scaling up, Selling or
https:transforming your role as a primary shareholder, Crossroads Clarity
https:Solution guides you to the right path.
https:This program is uniquely designed to help female entrepreneurs navigate through
https:critical decisions and align their business with their values and priorities.
https:Find out why it works at CrossroadsClaritySolution.
https:com and don't waste another minute of your future.
https:As promised, we are back with this episode, because you
https:are wise enough to want more.
https:Isabel Alexander, DOB: make very quick turns and we don't always signal.
https:Oh, we are at a stage of our life that parts of us are wearing out.
https:Yeah, we need maintenance.
https:Yeah, we need maintenance.
https:Absolutely.
https:And there's a lot to be said.
https:We're blessed to have great, Medical Advancement and Pharmacopeia, although
https:I am way leaning to a return to natural medicine and food as medicine and
https:what generations of our grandmothers past knew about how to heal ourselves.
https:But there's the emotional part of healing as well, right?
https:and having friends is a big part of that.
https:That's a big medicine because as I got down into that spiral of pity party,
https:feeling sorry for myself, feeling very anxious about being a burden
https:to anybody else because of my lack of mobility it just, it does spiral.
https:It does.
https:Jackie Wszalek, DOB: And I think most of us, At least I can speak.
https:Very hard to ask for help, right?
https:And all that does is isolate us.
https:People want to help.
https:There's no question about it.
https:So we have to learn that lesson for sure.
https:Isabel Alexander, DOB: But it's hard when you've always
https:Jackie Wszalek, DOB: been the one given the help.
https:It's pretty impossible some days or feels impossible.
https:And
https:Isabel Alexander, DOB: so I think that's something, especially for
https:women who have been business owners.
https:Jackie Wszalek, DOB: Yeah.
https:Isabel Alexander, DOB: and Leaders.
https:And we got this.
https:Yeah, we're taking care of everybody else.
https:We're running through, putting people under our arms, charging forward.
https:So it is not
https:something we know how to do.
https:Jackie Wszalek, DOB: No, it's not in our lane, that's for sure.
https:So once you do reach out, you find that people want to help, it's a good thing.
https:Isabel Alexander, DOB: Yeah, so that, that's a big conversation again,
https:because there's lots of different reasons why we may go through some
https:blips with our health or have to adjust.
https:Some of the activities that we used to do.
https:Yeah.
https:But then instead of taking away, there's this like wonderful
https:opportunity to add new Exactly.
https:And add more and add different, and I am not like my friend here who is.
https:Been doing yoga forever.
https:Consistently, I have not taken care of myself physically.
https:That's something that is definitely more important for me now and
https:I'm running out of excuses.
https:I can't say my hip hurts.
https:So I can't do that.
https:But going to the pool in the morning is a big deal for me.
https:But again, don't feel alone if you're out there going Oh my god, I am ashamed.
https:Jackie Wszalek, DOB: Yeah, there's a million reasons to feel bad, there's
https:a million reasons to feel good, and find some friends who are with
https:you in that journey to feel great.
https:Isabel Alexander, DOB: Yeah, and no, you're not alone and if you give voice
https:to it, a remarkable thing happens.
https:You find out the person sitting across from you goes,
https:Oh, I thought it was just me.
https:Yeah.
https:And that's what I love when we get women talking to each other in a safe
https:place, when we're all feeling like we can trust each other to be very
https:vulnerable and then you'd be able to go,
https:yeah.
https:Jackie Wszalek, DOB: And then you can say, we've got this, right?
https:We've got this.
https:How nice is that?
https:Isabel Alexander, DOB: Yeah, absolutely.
https:All right, so we're going to work on that.
https:Jackie Wszalek, DOB: We've got a million things.
https:This might take us till our 90s to finish up these
https:Isabel Alexander, DOB: conversations.
https:I'm glad.
https:I know.
https:I'm really glad because I think this is a joy, and I feel this is a public service.
https:Absolutely.
https:And we hope you think so too, and we really appreciate it.
https:We'll, love for you to spread this out and share with other people because,
https:it's not like we're bored but we feel like we wanna, we want to share this
https:with others and other women and other, and just, gosh, we are all busy holding
https:up the sky, so we gotta help each other.
https:Okay.
https:All right.
https:That was a quickie one.
https:We have another interview coming up.
https:We're going to bring a third person into the living room.
https:So stay tuned.
https:The details of that interview, an episode with a very spectacular woman will be
https:forthcoming, but right now it's a secret.
https:Okay.
https:All right.
https:Yeah.
https:We'll be back.
https:Be back.
https:We'll be
https:back soon.
https:Be back.
https:Thank you for spending your time with us today on Seasoned Women, Serious Business.
https:We really value you and are thrilled to be part of your journey.
https:If you enjoyed today's episode, please subscribe to the channel and then share it
https:with other women who would receive value.
https:Thanks to our sponsors, all episodes are available in audio, video, and
https:transcribed format on all major platforms.
https:Now, if you'd like to share your wisdom or become a co host or a
https:show sponsor, please reach out to me at hello at theencorecatalyst.
https:com or visit our website, seasonedwomenseriousbusiness.
https:com.
https:Also, I'd appreciate it if you submit questions and suggestions for future
https:topics and guest experts to interview.
https:Let's lift as we climb, magnify our impact, and create more
https:for ourselves and others.
https:Until next time, keep thriving, keep vibing, and keep living your legacy.