Reflecting on Courage, Love, and New Beginnings

My birthday happened this past week.  

There's something about taking another spin around the sun that gets me a little pensive. I found myself reflecting on what happened to me over the last year, the work I’ve done to get to this point, and who I want to be in this new season.  

This year's birthday, while not one most would think of as a significant milestone, felt extra important to me. If you've been here for a while, you know I'm big on turning pages. Something about 34 felt like the ending of one chapter and the beginning of an entirely new one.

I spent the days before my birthday chasing my family's history.

I've been wondering for a while about the people and places I truly come from, and how those stories and histories have played out in my lineage and life. Thanks to the work of a dear friend, Maija West, I’ve been encouraged to begin this inquisition about my ancestors. I found myself wandering the back roads of Tennessee, waiting for something bigger to appear to help me find my way forward and offer me answers.  

If you’re anything like me, this past year has been a bumpy one. That’s not to say it hasn’t been without successes or reasons to celebrate, but it has also been a year of great loss. A year full of questions about what exactly I—and my company—are doing. It feels like that journey has been ongoing for several years, but something about this past week made it feel like I was finally reaching a turning point.  

Maybe it was because I started talking publicly about the massive transformations my business has undergone over the last few years. Or perhaps it was finally owning up to all the ways I messed up and got lost along the way. It might also have been the timing—Thanksgiving falling so close to my birthday this year, reminding me of the most important relationships in my life, the ones that chose me.  

Every year around this time, I start contemplating my plans, strategies, and intentions for the year ahead. I jump into this a bit earlier than most because I’m both a strategist and a Sagittarian, so my "new year" starts a month earlier. But as I’ve been contemplating my plans and purpose, one truth has become clear:

The way I’ve been leading hasn’t been working.  

If you know anything about astrology, you’ll know the joke about Sagittarians—we’re the ones who play both the lover and the fighter.

For the first 34 years of my life, I took my fighting role as the most important one. Whether it was fighting for social justice in the world or equity in my own life, I’ve always been someone willing to step into the front lines. But as burnout has crept back into my body, a new message has emerged, thanks in part to this video from Chris Miss: 

What do I do with my warrior?

What do I do if all I’ve ever known is battle?

If justice and integrity are my highest values, how do I navigate a world that feels so misaligned with them?

 I bring this up because it has been on my mind a lot lately.

This season has brought many critiques to my doorstep—far more than I’ve experienced in the past decade. Many of these criticisms have come from strangers whose opinions I take with a grain of salt, but some have come from people I once considered friends or family. Sitting with this challenge, checking my own ego, and asking if I’m the problem has been humbling.

The words that keep coming back to me are from teachers like Brené Brown:

When I asked those in the arena with me for honest feedback about how I could be a better leader, the topic came back to something I’ve been contemplating for a long time: the hardness I’ve held around my heart. This hardness was a way of protecting myself and my people. But it’s time to soften.  

This past year has taught me that what we need most in the season ahead is not more wars, but more love.  

This might sound too mushy for a time like this, but it’s the only truth I can hold onto right now. When I look back at the hardships I’ve endured—inside and outside my company—the only thing that kept me going was love: the love I had for my people and my work, and the love I received in return.  

As I look ahead, I’m asking myself:

What am I ready to let go of to make space for more love in my life?  

What does leading with love look like for me?  

For entrepreneurs especially, it’s hard to keep going if you don’t feel called or connected to your work. We spend so much of our time building something—it’s essential that we truly love the work we do and the people we do it with.  

My hope is that these questions might unlock something for you too:

What does leading with love look like for you?  

What are you ready to release to create space for what matters most?

As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Drop me a note if this resonates.  

With love, Madeline

This holiday season, we at Fearless Foundry are thrilled to share some love through a special sale at our Fearless Fights Back merch store! Every purchase you make supports incredible give-back organizations that are close to our hearts. It’s more than just merch — it’s a chance to invest in change and spread some fearless energy this season. Head to our store, snag your favorites, and help us make an impact while you gift boldly. 

Together, let’s give back and fight forward!

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The holiday season can be especially challenging when you’re navigating life after divorce. That’s why our Friend of the Foundry, The Crazy Ex-Wives Club, created Holiday Heart-to-Heart — a $37 offering designed to bring you comfort, guidance, and healing through the holidays. With bite-sized audio sessions, meditations, and a thoughtful healing journal, this resource helps you find peace and joy amidst the seasonal chaos. Gift yourself the support you deserve and make this holiday one of reflection, growth, and self-care.

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Ready to build a business that empowers and protects your community? Join Fearless Foundry for our next workshop, Entities as an Act of Equity: Creating a Company to Connect and Protect Your Community. This session will guide you through choosing the right business entity structure to align with your values and ensure your community thrives. Learn how legal decisions can be powerful tools for equity and inclusion. Don’t miss this opportunity to create with intention and build a business that serves the greater good.

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