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

Welcome back to Part 2 in this 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 2 and 3 - tools that were surprising to me as well as surprising useful! Hopefully they will be to you as well. Enjoy!StephanieResources:Email: [email protected]: @lifecoachstephfiniWebsite: www.stephaniefinigancoaching.comMentioned in today’s episode:SignsGabby Bernstein BooksManifest: 7 Steps to Living Your Best LifeAbundance Ever After

In this episode you'll learn the reason behind the podcast title and vibe change up (from I'm the Problem to I Have Notes) and you'll also learn the #1 tool I used to get me through 2025, which was a hardest year I've had of many! And stay tuned - this is the first of a 4-part series where I'll highlight each of the other tools that helped me go from "Holy shit" to "I've actually got this handled" in a year where that was not at all a guarantee.Enjoy!StephanieResources:Email: [email protected]: @lifecoachstephfiniWebsite: www.stephaniefinigancoaching.com

Coaching is all great and helpful and worth it...until it doesn't work. You have a goal, you hire a coach, and then you don't get there. So what does that mean? That coaching is useless? Or that your coach was bad? Or that you're just not one of those people who things work out for no matter how hard you try? And what do you do now? In this episode we look at what happens when coaching "fails" - and where to go from there.Stephanie Finigan Coachingwww.stephaniefinigancoaching.comInstagram: @lifecoachstephfiniEmail: [email protected]

If you're going after new goal or trying to achieve something you've never done before, you could do it from a place of anxiety, or a place of confidence. It might not seem like a choice - it might seem like you either have confidence or not. But the truth is, taking action from a place of confidence is how you actually build confidence - and how you get what you want. It's not complicated but most people won't do this - and their goals will always remain too scary and too far away to ever seen possible. This episode will walk you through how to actually create the confidence you need to take the actions you want, starting today. Enjoy!Website: stephaniefinigancoaching.comInstagram: @lifecoachstephfiniEmail: [email protected]

When we're young we spend a lot of time thinking about the life we want...By the time we hit our 40's though most of us have more of a "I've made my bed, time to lie in it" mentality. How many times recently have your actually considered what you WANT to do, where you want to live, how you want to make money, who you want to spend your time with....And as soon as you start thinking about that, how quickly does your brain serve up all the reasons it's not possible for you?In this episode we look at the 2 questions to ask yourself to break through that ceiling your brain has put on your possibilities, and how to start taking steps towards the life you actually want.For coaching or more info on working with Stephanie, email ⁠[email protected]

Scarcity and abundance are talked about a lot in the coaching space, but how do you actually know if you're in one or the other - and how do you move out of scarcity (in money, time, or any other area of your life) and into scarcity? This episode makes the whole process much more simple and practical. Listen in to figure out how to have more of anything you want - it's easier than you think.

You've made some changes, achieved some goals, and are feeling pretty good. Except - there's more.You're treading water; there's more you want to do, but it's also fine right where you are. And you're not quite sure how to make the next shift, the level up, actually happen.In this episode we talk about the mindset shift you need to make in order to go from good to great in any area where you want to achieve MORE.Enjoy!PS - thoughts, comments, coaching? Find me @lifecoachstephfini or [email protected]

It's enough with self care, right? Agreed. Except sometimes self care comes in forms we don't see - and in ways that really help. In this episode we break down a coaching session I had with a client that mirrored my own coaching session not 24 hours later - both about the ways small moves can make a big difference for our nervous system, decision making, and overall well being.

In this short episode you'll learn the one question you can ask yourself to make everything easier....(It's that simple).

It's really easy for life coaching, personal development, or any other self-help or wellness work to feel pretty shallow, self-centered or just pointless when we're in an acute crisis. But personal development work can also be the exact fuel we need to propel us forward during and after times of personal (or global) emergencies. In this episode you'll hear a life coach's perspective on how she balances being an aware, concerned, active global citizen with personal development/coaching work. - and why it matters. Website: stephaniefinigancoaching.comInstagram: @stephaniefinigancoachingEmail: [email protected]

If you’re going through life on autopilot - not really thinking through your choices, not totally sure why you’re doing what you’re doing - then you’re not alone. Most of us do this. But if you want to live your life the way YOU want to, you need to pay attention to what you’re doing and why. In this episode I’ll walk you through an Autopilot Audit, showing you how to become aware of where you may be sleepwalking through your life - and how to wake up to make the choices you really want to make.

Setting one goal and going after it with laser-focus is usually what most coaches tell us to do. Even if you have multiple goals/resolutions/things you want to achieve or change (which many of us do), a one-at-a-time approach is usually considered the best approach. But that’s not how I like to achieve my (multiple) goals or coach my clients to achieve theirs. In this episode I’ll walk you through my Phased Approach to setting and achieving multiple goals, and introduce you to a new 1:1 coaching opportunity I’m offering for those of you who want to go all in on yourselves this year. It’s 2025…what are you waiting for??

This week’s podcast ep is a personal one - I'm giving you a list of what’s actually changed for me since I started getting coached. While coaching isn’t for everyone, it might just be for you, and hearing the ways it’s impacted and improved my own life might be the nudge you need to start investing in yourself. From mindset management to money management to overcoming regret to weight loss, coaching has changed everything for me, and I'm unpacking the specifics in this episode. LFG.

This episode is for you whether you're a runner or not! Stephanie gives you a look inside why, after 14 marathons, her latest run was the slowest (by a LOT) of all time, and why it was also the one she's most proud of, and the 5 lessons she's taking away that can apply to anyone who has suffered a set back or hurdles on the way to a goal.

If you want to make a personal or professional pivot, if you want to level up or change in any way, you are going to probably need to make some choices that people around you don’t agree with or support. You will need to get comfortable with making unpopular decisions. In this episode Stephanie walks through an unpopular decision she made recently in her business, and gives you two tools you can use when you’re making your own unpopular decisions as you’re on your way to your big pivot.

Whether you want to change careers, start a business, lose weight, pay off debt, adopt a child, move cities, write a novel, feel less anxious and more confident in your everyday life, or make any other pivot, these 5 coaching tools will help you get there. In this episode Stephanie gives you an overview of the 5 tools offered in her free training which are designed to help you go from self-doubt and indecision to taking the action steps you need to get you to where you want to be.

Self doubt can creep in and put a stop to even the most confident person’s plans to make a big pivot in their career, personal life, or anywhere else. Self doubt is sneaky because it’s often disguised as us being “responsible” when really, it’s just our fear preventing us from going after the things we really want. In this episode you will learn 5 coaching concepts which can help you move through your self doubt and get you back on track to finally make your big pivot.

In this short episode Coach Stephanie Finigan walks through the many ways (including free ones!) that you can get coached at Pivot Coaching. From free email coaching to 1:1 multi-month deep dive coaching, if you’re looking for help making your pivot (in your personal life, professional life, or anything in between) there is an option that will work for you. Listen to this episode to learn more about the variety of ways to get coached and get pivoting at Pivot.

No matter who you are you probably have one (or many) thing(s) that you want in life that seem just out of reach. It can be hard to believe that thing you want so badly (the relationship, the career, the money, the family, the body, the friendships, the business….) will actually work out for you. And there’s a reason it’s hard to believe - it’s not because it’s not possible for you - it’s because that’s how your brain is wired. In this episode Coach Stephanie talks about the things that she wants that can be hard to believe will actually happen for her, and gives you 4 tools you can use to improve your own belief and increase the odds that what you want really WILL be yours.

Not being sure of what’s going to happen - with the new job, the relationship, your business, your family, or anything else - is scary. It’s also our reality. We can’t predict the future, but there are some situations in life where that fact seems a lot harder to handle than others. In this episode Coach Stephanie walks through her own, current experiences living with the unknown in her family and her business, and gives you 4 steps to help you manage your mind around whatever the unknowns are in your own life.

Coaching is all about thinking new thoughts so that you can get new results in your life. But the tactical, practical nuts-and-bolts way to get rom thinking “I hate my job” or “I am so bad with money” or “I just can’t get in shape” or “I have the worst luck”, to thoughts that are much more useful and will ultimately get you better results in your life, is not something most of us are ever taught how to actually do. Enter today’s episode. Coach Stephanie walks you through how it is that thoughts actually do create your results, with relatable examples from weight loss to money habits, and then walks through the steps you need to take in order to change your thoughts, for the better, and for good. Changing your thinking isn’t magic or even that hard - you just need to know how to do it. This episode will give you exactly that.

There are a ton of good reasons to hire a coach when you want to make a big life change, or uplevel yourself in any area. But no matter what your pivot is - professional, personal, financial, health-related, relationship-related, or anything else, there are 4 key ways a coach will help you unearth your current blocks, address them, and overcome them. In this episode Coach Stephanie talks about the ways her own life coach has helped her in her own pivots this year, the results of that help, and what a coach will do to help you get to wherever it is you want to go.

Coming close to achieving a goal or accomplishing a dream and then having it suddenly slip away can feel like the most helpless, powerless experience, and is the root of so much unhelpful thinking (“See, it’s just never going to work out for me….”). But what if the problem was all based in your mindset? If so, that would mean the solution is there too. Whether you know it or not, self-sabotaging thoughts, feelings and actions are likely at the core of your “so close but so far” experiences. In this episode Coach Stephanie walks you through her own experience of self-sabotage, where it came from, and how she ultimately defeated the mindset that held her back from success for so long. She also outlines a 7 step process that you can follow to defeat your own self-sabotaging behaviors so that you can move forward to accomplish anything - and everything - you really want.

Making your big life change - or your big pivot - os about more than just taking action. Your pivot won’t happen until you get your mindset right. No matter what the change is that you want to make, this episode will outline for you the exact steps you need to take to get your head in the right space to then do what you need to do to get it done. It’s totally possible to make your pivot - and these are the steps that will get you there.

No matter what your big goal (your big PIVOT) is - career change, weight loss, a crazy fitness goal, finding a new relationship, or anything else - and no matter where you’re at in the process of hitting it, there is one thing you should be doing to help yourself get there. In today’s episode Stephanie highlights what this #1 thing is, the reason it's so universal no matter what your goal is, and how to do it even if it seems like it’s not possible for you (it is!).

People pleasing is one of the most common topics people aim to address in coaching. So many of us are in the habit of being a “people pleaser”, and even though it doesn’t get us to where we want to be (because we stay stuck being focused on others rather than moving ourselves forward) we can’t seem to stop. In this episode Stephanie will outline the most important step in breaking the habit of people pleasing, as well as a few other tactics to help along the way - using Bravo’s The Valley as a real (reality) life example. Enjoy!

It sounds like typical, unhelpful coaching advice to say “You can have anything you want, you just need to think better thoughts”. But it turns out that’s true. In this episode Coach Stephanie will break down exactly how our thoughts create our results, and outlines a process anyone can use to create any change, make any pivot, and achieve anything they want. Buckle up, this is the most helpful episode yet for people looking to make their future the best it can be.

In order to make a pivot or meet any big goal, you need self confidence. But what exactly that is, and how to build it, is something we’re rarely taught. In this episode Coach Stephanie walks through the difference between confidence and self confidence, why that matters when it comes to your goals, and how to create more self confidence so that you can have what you need to go after any, and every, goal you want to achieve.

Whether it’s money, weight loss, or any other number of topics that we may be wrestling with, most of us have at least one thing that we can’t believe we haven’t figured out by now…Decades of dieting, paying off credit cards just to run them up again…whatever the issue is, beating yourself up by not having solved this problem “by now” is not the answer. On this episode Coach Stephanie talks about her own “I can’t believe I haven’t figured this out yet” problem - credit card debt - and the 4 step process she uses with clients to overcome whatever their long-standing issue might be.

We all have them - those sneaky, scary worries that we can kind of push aside in the middle of a busy day, but always manage to creep back in in the middle of the night. Whether it’s “I am not saving enough money” or “I’m stuck in this unhappy marriage” or “I should have left my job years ago, it’s too late now” or “It’s too late for me to have the life I want”, it’s hard to deny how real these thoughts seem. In this episode Coach Stephanie unpacks how to shift away from this unhelpful thought pattern and lean into a more productive way of thinking that will actually help you move away from midnight worries and move towards taking actual action to solve them.