We recently connected with Jen Guidry and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Jen thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?

My parents taught me work ethic and I have learned one of the most important truths in life – work ethic eliminates fear.

When I was young, we really didn’t have a whole lot compared with kids now-a-days. My brother and I grew up
in a middle-class family in Buffalo, NY. My dad was a cop and my mom had her own photography business. We had a
comfortable home.

My mom taught my brother and I to be very self-sufficient. We had to. Nothing was really given to us, so we worked for it.

At eleven years old, I got a paper route. Back in the 80s, kids mostly delivered newspapers. I had my own wagon for the Sunday papers because they were so full of ads, and then I had my trusty paper bag for the other days. Every day after school, I lugged the heavy newspapers up and down one and one-half
streets and on the weekends I did it early in the morning—rain or snow. Newspapers had to be delivered or I would be in trouble.

I had to put each paper at the front or the side door depending on what each client wanted. I wonder sometimes how I retained that information for the eighty to one hundred houses I delivered to, but somehow I did. Then each week, I had to collect the payment of the newspapers—not fun. Imagine a young kid knocking on your door asking for payment for the weekly newspaper delivery.

I laugh thinking about it now. I had to grow courage to do the job because it was quite intimidating, and I quickly learned that there are a lot of strange people in this world!

When Christmastime came around, it was all worth it. I would rake in massive tips. The other eleven months of thankless
work became totally doable because during the month of December, I would get around $300 bucks in tips. That was a
lot of money for a kid in the 80s. I felt rich! Ha!

Fast forward a few years, I began working at the age of fifteen at a supermarket as a cashier. I would walk there on the way home from High School. Notice I said walk. We walked about two miles a day each way to school, whether rain, snow, or sun. (No, I wasn’t barefoot, and it wasn’t uphill.) I would work for 3 hours or whatever was allowed by law and then either get picked up or walk home.

We didn’t have fancy clothes because we could never afford them, but I really didn’t care about that back then. I didn’t know what those things were. We didn’t have any fancy stuff. All was good in the world. Somehow, I survived.

One of my parents co-signed on a loan with me for $1,200 so I could buy my first car. It was a sexy light green Oldsmobile Supreme. Oh, how I loved that car. I paid it back out of the money I earned from work, about $100 per month for twelve months. The car was mine.

I used to compare myself with others and what they got and honestly, back then, I would get a little jealous when my friends’ parents bought them a car or took them on fancy ski vacations. Now, I am so very thankful to my parents for not spoiling me. I learned valuable lessons. If you want something, you work for it. Such a simple truth.

Many people have asked me what the secret is to my success. When I work, I work. I work hard and I am not afraid. I am laser-focused, and I don’t put stuff off. I get the job done right the first time, which my Dad did teach me.

When things are given to you, entitlement happens. Spoiled kids become lazy adults. It is a disservice people do to their kids when they give them everything.

Why are so many people afraid to work hard now-a-days? Working hard is the only way to be successful. Success is not given, it is earned. You don’t deserve to be successful. You are only successful if you work at it every day.

When you have a great work ethic, you won’t have to worry about making it…or having a way to make money. It is a beautiful thing!

Jen, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

The most simple explanation of what I do is this: I help people make LASTING changes in their lives. I get them unstuck.

To go more in-depth, my methodology is this: By combining somatic practices (mind-body connection work) with success strategies, I teach others how to regulate their nervous system, build resilience and achieve extraordinary results. I help people break free from burnout and self-sabotage so that they can step into their highest self and actually stay there.

With my proven 5 Pillar method, and a compassionate, holistic approach, I’ll guide my clients to reconnect with themselves, release emotional overwhelm, and cultivate a life of genuine well-being and success…not for just a few days, but for a lifetime.

The results – less burn out and stress, more peace, higher productivity, a better mindset and most importantly – a sense of calm that sticks around.

Comprehensive care for your Mind, Body and Spirit. Clarity. Balance. Confidence.

I have a unique blend of expertise. I came from the corporate world and operated at a high level for almost 30 years and was one of the top 175 salespeople in the country out of roughly 500,000 others. I also invested my time and money into going back to school for trauma coaching and practitioner certifications in addition to studying directly under influential leaders in neuroplasticity, breathwork and ministry. You put that all together and you get Jen 2.0 who has a mission to help educate and help as many people as possible.

I retired from the corporate space and have now dedicated my life to helping as many people as I can make changes in their life that stick.

I also speak professionally for corporations, churches and schools about wellbeing, balance, productivity and leadership.

Have you ever had to pivot?

I am going to tell you the story about how having cancer is the best thing that ever happened to me.

I spent almost 30 years climbing the corporate ladder and had unbelievable success.

On the outside, I had it ALL. I was a high producer, making high 6 figures and I looked great.

​On paper.

But, the truth was, I was a low wife, an absent mom, and a crappy friend who worked too much & numbed too much. I was your typical hypervigilant, people pleasing, high-achieving, anxiety ridden mess, who was burned out. Oh, I also had the occasional eye twitch.

​Sound familiar?

​Then, I got cancer. I didn’t have “time” for cancer. It ended up being the best thing that ever happened to me. ​

​My life changed from there. I learned how to prioritize my wellbeing. I discovered and started utilizing techniques to regulate my own nervous system. And then, I mastered them.

​And, when I did…

​I went from a high producer to THE HIGHEST producer. I went from 6 figures to 7. And I enjoyed every weekend, evening and vacation with my family, uninterrupted.

And then the journey continued…

I noticed that many high-achievers took great pride in bragging about their ability to handle high stress. You know…push through those challenges.

“Working harder and longer hours was the key to success” is the mindset that many live by in the corporate world. Performance over people.

​I used to believe that too.

​After learning about nervous system regulation, I realized that managing stress, anxiety and personal wellbeing are not signs of weakness, but a critical skill for sustained success.

So, I quit my 7-figure job to bring awareness and to empower others to regulate to elevate every aspect of their lives. I want to change the narrative of what it takes to be successful.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

I am a huge Napoleon Hill, Jim Rohn and Neville Goddard fan. They are all about having goals come to fruition.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thehighlevellife.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejenguidry/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jen.guidry.10
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jen-guidry-a70b7852/
• Youtube: @thejenguidry
• Other: https://www.thejenguidry.com

Image Credits

Chelsea Patricia McRay