I Have Notes with Coach Stephanie Finigan

Being over 40 has a way of making you pause, look around, and ask some uncomfortable questions. Whether you’ve checked all the boxes you were “supposed” to or feel like you’re behind on the timeline, this episode dives into the very real cycle so many people experience in midlife.In this episode I break down why that stuck, restless feeling shows up, how societal milestones shape our expectations, and the stories that keep us from making changes even when we want to. I walk you through practical ways to identify and question those thoughts, so you can separate what’s actually true from what you’ve just been taught to believe.And then I offer you a different approach: instead of trying to overhaul your entire life overnight, start by getting clear on what you actually want and the feelings you’re chasing - and begin creating more of those now in order to get unstuck and get you to where you really want to be.If you’ve ever thought “How did I get here?” or “Is this all there is?”, this episode will help you interrupt that loop and start moving toward something that actually feels like yours.Get in touch:Email: [email protected]: https://www.instagram.com/lifecoachstephfini/Email List Sign Up: https://mailchi.mp/4a50337878b2/newsletter-list:

In this short, personal episode, I share an honest reflection on grief - specifically the kind that doesn’t wait for a clear ending.After two years of navigating intense challenges I'm now in a new phase: one where the urgency around one situation has quieted, leaving space for something I've been avoiding - grief.In this episode I share a bit about what it means to grieve someone who is still here, and how avoiding difficult emotions doesn’t prevent them, it simply delays their arrival.This episode is a grounded reminder that grief isn’t just about loss after death, it’s about what’s changing, what’s missing, and what could have been. And that facing it, however imperfectly, is part of moving forward.Get in touch!@lifecoachstephfini@Ilovethatforyou

Starting something new, especially a business, almost always triggers the same emotional pattern: excitement, effort… and then the moment when results don’t come as quickly as you hoped. In this episode of the Notes from an Entrepreneur in Progress series of I Have Notes, I break down the self-doubt cycle that many entrepreneurs experience.From the initial burst of motivation to the “crickets” phase that often follows, I talk about why self-doubt shows up, how it causes many people to pull back from the very actions that would create success, and why that reaction is what actually stalls progress. But recognizing this cycle can help you interrupt it.So this episode focuses on two key tools: keeping your vision of your future self front and center, and learning to notice when your brain is reacting to temporary results rather than objective reality. When you understand the pattern, you can choose to keep moving forward instead of retreating.If you’ve ever launched something, heard crickets, and immediately wondered if you’re not cut out for it, this episode is for you.

Recently, I finished writing a book in 10 days, which is something I've never done before. In this episode, I break down what actually made that possible: 1) recognizing the voice in my head that says “this is stupid,” 2) setting an aggressively short deadline, and3) looking for evidence that what I wanted to do is possible. If you’ve been sitting on an idea for years, this episode is your nudge to finally go for it. You get to decide it's possible.

You worked for the goal, chased it, achieved it… and its not what you expected. In this episode, I unpack why hitting a milestone doesn’t always bring the fulfillment we imagine, what we’re actually chasing when we set goals (hint: it’s a feeling, not the achievement), and 3 questions to ask yourself to help you move forward when hitting that goal feels complicated. Get in touch:Email: [email protected]: https://www.instagram.com/lifecoachstephfini/Email List Sign Up: https://mailchi.mp/4a50337878b2/newsletter-list: Make it Make Cents course

Ever cringe when you think about a past money decision? You’re not alone - and you’re definitely not stuck there.In this episode of I Have Notes, I am sharing one of my favorite lessons from her Make it Make Cents Money Mindset course, breaking down how financial guilt, regret, and old money stories quietly shape your current results (and how to stop letting them).You’ll learn why most “money mistakes” aren’t actually mistakes, how your brain made the best decision it could at the time, and how releasing financial shame can unlock better, calmer, and more confident money choices moving forward.Inside this episode: • Why your past money decisions still influence your financial life today • The hidden cost of carrying financial regret • A simple mindset shift that helps you stop sabotaging your own progress • How self-compassion can become a powerful wealth-building toolThis episode is pulled directly from my newMake it Make Cents Money Mindset course, a 20-lesson private podcast designed to help you understand your money past, take control of your money present, and intentionally build your money future.If you’ve ever felt like you “should be better with money by now,” this episode will help you reset the narrative and start fresh.Get Make it Make Cents here! Make it Make Cents courseGet in touch:Email: [email protected]: https://www.instagram.com/lifecoachstephfini/Email List Sign Up: https://mailchi.mp/4a50337878b2/newsletter-list:

What does it really look like to grow a business or passion project while juggling a full-time job, family, and everyday life?In this episode, the second in the Notes from an Entrepreneur series, I share a core mindset strategy I use while building my business in real time: committing firmly to my goals while staying flexible in how I reach them. I pull back the curtain on missing a recent revenue goal and how I reframed it as valuable data instead of failure.If you're trying to build something meaningful alongside the rest of your life, this episode will give you a practical and realistic way to stay consistent, adaptable, and moving forward.Get in touch:Email: [email protected]: https://www.instagram.com/lifecoachstephfini/Email List Sign Up: https://mailchi.mp/4a50337878b2/newsletter-list:

This episode kicks off a new series where I pull back the curtain on what it really looks like to build a business while working full-time, parenting, and living a full life.I share the honest story of how my coaching business started as a “jobby,” why I struggled to take it seriously for years, and how caregiving, fear, and self-doubt shaped the path I took. I talk about what it’s like to want more, to feel behind, to carry ambition alongside responsibility—and why I’m finally ready to go all in.This isn’t a how-to. It’s a real-time look at building something meaningful in the margins of a busy life, and figuring it out as you go.If you’ve ever wanted to build something bigger but weren’t sure how to do it with everything else on your plate, this series is for you.Get in touch:Email: [email protected]: https://www.instagram.com/lifecoachstephfini/Email List Sign Up: https://mailchi.mp/4a50337878b2/newsletter-list:

In this episode, I talk about perfectionism, fear, and the stories we tell ourselves that keep us stuck—especially when we’re trying to build something new. Recording from my car (because real life), I dig into why so many of us wait until things feel “ready” before we take action, and how that instinct is often just our brain trying to keep us safe from discomfort.We talk about why perfectionism isn’t actually about high standards, how fear disguises itself as “being responsible,” and why waiting to feel confident or polished is usually the thing holding you back. If you’ve been sitting on an idea, a goal, a project, or a dream because it doesn’t feel ready yet, this episode is your reminder that momentum matters more than perfection—and that you’re allowed to start messy.Get in touch:Email: [email protected]: https://www.instagram.com/lifecoachstephfini/Email List Sign Up: https://mailchi.mp/4a50337878b2/newsletter-list:

In this episode, I talk honestly about trying to stay grounded, motivated, and intentional while living in the horror of the Trump era and the very real harm being caused by policies like ICE enforcement. I wrestle with whether it even makes sense to focus on goals, growth, or building a business when so much feels so much more urgent and broken.I share a personal reflection on asking myself, “Do I still want this?”- and how learning to tell the difference between quitting because something is hard and realizing it’s no longer aligned can change everything. If you’ve been feeling stuck, conflicted, or unsure how to move forward right now, this one’s for you.Get in touch:Email: [email protected]: https://www.instagram.com/lifecoachstephfini/Email List Sign Up: https://mailchi.mp/4a50337878b2/newsletter-list:

If you’re building something on the side while juggling a full-time job, family, and real life, this episode is for you.In this episode of I Have Notes, I break down five mindset shifts that will help you stop feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or behind — and start making real progress on the thing you keep saying you “don’t have time for.”We talk about:Why protecting your energy matters more than telling everyone your big plansHow black-and-white thinking quietly sabotages progress (and what to do instead)The difference between being rigid about deadlines versus being rigid about how you get thereWhy investing in help isn’t indulgent — it’s strategicAnd how to make decisions from the version of you who’s already successful, not the one running on exhaustion and panicListen in if you’re ready to stop spinning and start moving forward — even with limited time, energy, and bandwidth.

In this episode of I Have Notes, I’m talking directly to anyone who has a side project, a business idea, a book, or a creative dream they can’t seem to make real - because life is already full. I break down the real reasons most people stay stuck (time, money, other people’s opinions, and self-doubt) and why waiting for the “perfect” moment is usually the thing holding us back. I talk about the power of doing B-minus work, collecting feedback, and letting momentum do its thing. If you’ve been sitting on an idea you care about but can’t seem to move forward, this episode is your reminder that you don’t need perfection, you just need to start.Enjoy!Get in touch:Email: [email protected]: https://www.instagram.com/lifecoachstephfini/Email List Sign Up: https://mailchi.mp/4a50337878b2/newsletter-list:

In this episode, I’m talking about money, mindset, and what The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills accidentally teaches us about power, identity, and financial responsibility. Using Dorit’s very public money unraveling as a case study, we dig into why mindset has to come before spreadsheets, why “just take action” isn’t enough, and how identity drives every financial decision we make. If you’ve ever felt anxious, avoidant, or ashamed around money, this one’s for you.Enjoy!To sign up for early access to the new Make it Make Cents money mindset course (and special bonuses), make sure you're on the email list: https://mailchi.mp/4a50337878b2/newsletter-list: Get in touch:Email: [email protected]: https://www.instagram.com/lifecoachstephfini/

Today's episode is a modified lesson from my upcoming money mindset course: Make it Make Cents. The course will cover all aspects of your money mindset - looking at your Past Self, Current Self and Future Self with money - and will help you see how your thoughts about money are creating your results with money.The good news here? You can change your thoughts, and by doing that you will change your results with money.Whether you're underpaid, overwhelmed, in a mountain of debt, or just ready to take your earning and money to the next level, this course will help you get there - and today's podcast episode will give you foundational principals found in the course which you can start applying TODAY to start changing your mindset, and your results, with money.For more information on the Make it Make Cents course, including early access to the course when it launches and bonus coaching opportunities, sign up for the I Have Notes newsletter here.Enjoy!Email: [email protected]: https://www.instagram.com/lifecoachstephfini/Email List Sign Up: https://mailchi.mp/4a50337878b2/newsletter-list:

Welcome to 2026! Not quite a “new year/new you” episode, but in this one we’ll go over what it is I am taking with me from 2025 into 2026 - habits, though patterns, actions - and what I’m leaving behind (I’ll miss you, Diet Coke and complaining about my lack of time!). Resources mentioned in today’s episode:Gabby Bernstein appGet in touch!Email: [email protected]: https://www.instagram.com/lifecoachstephfini/Email List Sign Up: https://mailchi.mp/4a50337878b2/newsletter-list:

We’ve all been there - or we’re there right now - overeating, overspending, just doing way too much around the holidays, and then deciding “I’ll deal with it in January”. There’s nothing wrong with any of it - unless you decide that there is. In this episode we’ll talk through how using your Future Self will get you through the season - massive Visa bill and all. If you’re interested in going deeper on this work, let’s connect. Reach out over Instagram @lifecoachstephfini or email [email protected]. Merry Merry!

This episode of the I Have Notes podcast is a lesson from the upcoming Make it Make Cents money mindset training I’m about to launch! You’ll get a sneak peek inside the audio-based course by listening to this episode, which covers the concepts of scarcity, sufficiency and abundance, gives an overview of why our brains default to a scarcity mindset, and the steps you can take to start cultivating an abundant mindset, starting today.The Make it Make Cents course will be available soon - get on the email list here to get early notice and a discount.Merry Merry!

This short episode will go over every new discount and offer this Black Friday - including brand new coaching programs:Discount on 12 session 1:1 coaching packageDiscount on 1 year 1:1 coaching packageNEW Small Group Coaching program for New EntrepreneursNEW Money Mindset Self Paced Coaching ClassNEW 1/2 Day in person 2026 Self Identity workshopNEW 1/2 Day in person Over Spending workshopOffers open through 12/5 at midnight. Let's do this!Contact for details, pricing, or a quick call to learn more:IG: @lifecoachstephfiniEmail: [email protected]

Welcome back to Part 4 in this short series highlighting all of the tools and practices that got me through the hardest year I’ve ever had. In this final episode of the series you’ll learn about the last 3 tools I used to navigate 2025 - and that I plan to keep using in the year ahead.Hope you enjoy!StephanieContact:Email: [email protected]: @lifecoachstephfiniWebsite: www.stephaniefinigancoaching.com

Welcome back to Part 3 in this short series highlighting all of the tools and practices that got me through the hardest year I’ve ever had. In this episode you’ll learn about Tools 4 and 5 that I used to navigate 2025 - and one tool I’ve had for years that I actually dropped this year as well.Hope you enjoy!StephanieContact:Email: [email protected]: @lifecoachstephfiniWebsite: www.stephaniefinigancoaching.com