By Nancy Juetten
I’ve been in the online space since 2008. I’ve seen it all.
The laptop-lifestyle dream, the six-figure launches, the adrenaline-fueled hustle… and the burnout that often follows.
Most entrepreneurs start their business to work for themselves, escape “the man,” and create more time, money, and freedom. Somewhere along the way, that dream can turn into a grind.
I’ve watched driven founders scale for growth, only to end up exhausted and miserable.
They can’t keep the right team.
Their events don’t fill.
Their bodies are screaming for rest, but they keep pushing.
Adrenal fatigue, fractured relationships, and constant overwhelm are common, though rarely admitted out loud.
Winning in business while quietly losing in health, relationships, and joy is a dangerous game.
The Turning Point
In 2022, a life-threatening health issue stopped me in my tracks. When I got well, I knew I wasn’t going back to the same hamster wheel.
I wanted to love my business and my life without sacrificing one for the other.
So with a nod to the Broadway musical “Wicked,” I decided to Be My Own Wizard. That meant pursue success on my own terms without waiting for permission or gatekeepers.
I chose to create my own spotlight, cast my own spell, and lead my own way.
This is my stage of life and my choice and not a one-size-fits-all prescription.
For me, it’s about playing real, not playing small.
What mattered in my 40s isn’t what matters most now, and that’s a good thing.
Here’s what it looked like. I:
- Created a mastermind and personally invited the right members.
- Debuted done-with-you and done-for-you premium offers I love to deliver.
- Became discerning with partnerships, aligning with people whose values matched mine.
- Arranged integrated promotions with icons of influence so my expertise reached clients ready to invest.
- Stayed open to aligned opportunities without overloading my calendar.
The result? Life and work began unfolding with intention and ease.
An Unexpected Gift
One delightful outcome was being invited to serve as a paid faculty member for an icon of influence who is building a $10-million company.
I get to work squarely in my genius zone of marketing messaging in service to her clients, without being the guru whose name is on the door. After 24 years of being that person, I’m surprised how much I love this role. I get to contribute meaningfully without carrying the full weight of the business.
This, too, is part of being my own wizard: showing up real, not rehearsed… creating a business that honors my life, not devours it… and doing it with grace, grit, and maybe a little glitter.
Rethinking the Stage
In entrepreneurial circles, there’s a lot of talk about getting on more stages to grow visibility.
The stage I’m most interested in is the one where I design a business and life I love without constant hustle, endless livestreams, or the frequent-flyer circuit of 3-day events.
Some of us are at a time of life where we’ve been there, done that, and got the t-shirt.
We’ve hosted launches, partnered with top players, hit bestseller lists, won awards, built channels, and earned plenty of money.
We no longer need our name in lights.
We’re ready to bring that experience to a leader we respect, helping them shine while we work in our own brilliance.
These days, this stage is all about contribution, purpose, and being a beacon for something radical: enough.
The Big Win
If you’re an icon of influence looking to grow and scale, look around your network. You may already know the all-around players who could help you and your clients win big.
Maybe for you, it’s time to redefine what success looks like and to claim the stage that feels true now.
Being your own wizard isn’t about doing everything alone. It’s about knowing what matters most, claiming it without apology, and building a business and life that work for you.
Because here’s the real magic: it was never in the gatekeepers, gurus, or golden tickets.
The magic was in you all along.
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About Nancy Juetten
Nancy Juetten is a marketing messaging strategist, speaker, and author who has guided thousands of entrepreneurs to clarify their message and build businesses that work beautifully with their lives. A 24-year entrepreneur and cancer survivor, she champions the Be Your Own Wizard philosophy: creating success on your own terms without waiting for permission. Download her free Wizard Syndrome Breakthrough Checklist here: njuetten.lpages.co/the-wizard-syndrome-breakthrough-checklist
