When the Balls Drop (and Not the Fun Kind)

This episode almost didn’t happen—and that’s exactly why you need to hear it.

If you’ve been juggling a business, your next big idea, family responsibilities, financial realities (hello, tax season), or simply figuring out what’s next in this season of your life, you're not alone.

In this honest solo episode, I open up about the weight of “doing all the things,” what happens when balls drop, and why slowing down isn’t failure—it’s part of the process.

We’ll talk about:

• What’s really been happening behind the scenes in my business
• Why I'm behind on planning Wine Camp 2025—and what I’m doing about it
• How I'm creating new offers like my podcasting course and ChatGPT training for women entrepreneurs
• The advice I give my clients (that I had to take myself this week)
• A simple yet powerful visualization to reconnect with the version of you that isn’t overwhelmed… the one who knows what to do next

This episode is especially for women in midlife—those who’ve raised families, built careers, and are finally asking, “What’s next for me?” If you're feeling stretched, scattered, or like you're behind on your own dreams, this conversation is your permission to breathe.

Because the truth is: there are no questions without answers, and no problems without solutions. But the answers rarely show up in the rush. They come when we slow down enough to hear them.

Subscribe for more real conversations and encouragement for purpose-driven women building meaningful businesses and beautiful lives—without the burnout.

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Wanna sip with us? Join my Sipper Club here: https://pennyforyourshots.com/sip

Learn More, get on the list, or Register for Wine Camp 2025: https://pennyforyourshots.com/winecamp2025

To connect with Penny, get notified, or learn more, check out www.pennyforyourshots.com

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- Or Facebook: Penny (Kuhlers) Fitzgerald

Transcript

When the Balls Drop (and Not the Fun Kind)

​[00:00:00] 

Penny Fitzgerald: Hello my friend. Okay. Real talk. This episode almost didn't happen, not because I didn't wanna show up for you or for the podcast because I always do, but because life lately been a lot and the kind of a lot where you, where you feel like your to-do list grows legs and starts chasing you. And no matter how early you wake up, it still feels like you're running behind.[00:01:00] 

So today I wanna have a conversation with you that's real raw and I hope a little reassuring. This one's for the women who've spent the last couple of decades raising families, managing households, showing up for everyone else, and are finally starting to ask the question, what about me? It's for the women balancing real life grown-up things like caregiving, marriage, career pivots, budget spreadsheets, tax prep. That ever elusive dream, they keep putting on the back burner. And yes, if you're like me right now, that probably includes sorting receipts and doing the mental math to make it all work. It's glamorous, I know, but the juggle is real.

Even if it's invisible. Let me share what's been on my plate lately. I'm preparing for the next round of stop selling, start serving, and I'm so excited about where it's going. We're making it even more aligned with what women like us need. Heart led strategy. That actually feels good. I'm coaching [00:02:00] powerhouse women who are in the season of reinvention, women who've done the mom thing, done the job thing, and now they're wondering how to turn their passion into purpose.

I'm helping others navigate the wild world of social media overwhelm, because let's be honest, it's a full-time job keeping up with the algorithms, the reels, and remembering where in the heck that draft went. I'm deep into planning wine camp 2025, still finalizing the winery visits, mapping out the financials, and dreaming up breakout sessions that feel like a soul reset, not just another workshop.

Think meditation, manifestation and visualization, all in wine country. Yes, please. On top of all that, I'm building out a podcasting course for women who are ready to share their voice, but maybe don't know where to begin. I'm also creating a course on how to use chat GPT as a business strategy partner to brainstorm, organize, plan, and create more ease and oh, less, oh my gosh, what do I post about [00:03:00] today?

And I've got another offer brewing. Now help women build their own chat. GPT Assistant. Truthfully, I don't know where I'd be without mine. I actually call her Addie, and she's the best. So yeah, if you've ever felt like you're trying to do all the right things and still feel like something's slipping through the cracks, girl, I get it and I'm in it with you this week, I had to pause and take my own advice.

Something I regularly tell my clients, but sometimes I forget for myself, we have to slow down to speed up. Yes, I know that sounds backwards, especially when there's so much to do, but slowing down doesn't mean giving up. It means tuning in. It means trusting that not everything has to happen right now for you to be on the right path, and it reminded me of one of my favorite truths.

There are no questions without answers. There are no problems without solutions, but those [00:04:00] answers don't always show up when we're rushing. They show up when we pause long enough to hear them. So let's pause together right now. You don't need to close your eyes unless you want to or you're driving. Don't drive when you don't need to.

Clo, you can close your eyes if you want to, unless you're driving. Don't do that. Be safe, but let's just take a deep breath. Let's do this together. Okay, inhale, hold. Exhale. Inhale. Hold. Exhale. Now, picture this version of yourself. Maybe it's six months from now, maybe it's a year. She's not frantic, she's not doubting herself.

She's not rushing to catch up. She's focused. She moves with purpose and peace. She knows what to do and what to do next. She honors her time. She [00:05:00] honors her energy, and she shows up for her people without losing herself in the process. That version of you, she's not a pipe dream. She's already in you. Every time you pause, reflect, trust yourself.

You get closer to her. You become her. You can open your eyes. How did that feel? Remember that older, wiser version of yourself, she's calling you towards her and she's coming to support you and bringing her, bringing you to her. So here's what I want you to hear today. It's okay if a few things fall through the cracks.

It's okay if a few things fall through the cracks. It's okay if you didn't get the laundry done or finish the course module or reply to that one email from three weeks ago. It doesn't mean you're behind. It just means you're human. We are allowed to drop balls. What? We [00:06:00] don't have to carry the guilt.

You're allowed to take up space. You're allowed to rest. You're allowed to build at your own pace and still do meaningful, impactful. Impactful world changing work. So looking ahead and it's gonna be good. Wine Camp 2025 is shaping up to be something special. Not just a girls trip, but a soul reset in wine country.

Mm-hmm. Stop selling. Start serving is getting a refresh that I know you're gonna love. If you've ever whispered to yourself, maybe I could start a podcast, or what would that look like? I want you to stay close because what I'm building is for you and it's going to walk you through it every step of the way.

Plus, if chat GPT has felt confusing or overwhelming, I've got your back. We're going to make it fun, feminine, and super helpful. So if you're feeling like you've been juggling flaming torches while trying to remember if you fed the dog, filed the [00:07:00] taxes and followed your dream, here's your reminder. You don't have to do it all.

You just have to do what matters most. And sometimes that starts with a pause. DM me the word pause if this episode spoke to you. And I'd love to send you a little something that reminds you to breathe and believe you're not too late. You're not too much. And you're not falling behind. You're becoming.

And that version of you that's calm, confident, and clear, she's already here. Talk soon my friend. Cheers.[00:08:00]