From 300 Pounds to Free Spirit: Darcy Volden's Quiet Revolution

Learn AI in 5 minutes a day.

What’s the secret to staying ahead of the curve in the world of AI? Information. Luckily, you can join 700,000 early adopters reading The Rundown– the free newsletter that makes you smarter on AI with just a 5-minute read per day.

Good morning! Glad you’re here 😃 

This week, we’ve got an inspiring entrepreneur who’s all about G.O.A.L.S. (Going On A Living Spree) - her boldness in decision making inspires me.

Plus, if you’ve ever played with AIs and been… unimpressed… you haven’t met Iris. She’s CRAZY good. Know the “Home Alone” face when Kevin tried aftershave? That’s the face I made when I saw her work. I wrangled you an early look.

And… I’d almost like to see a show of hands on this, but I suspect that many of us entrepreneurs are wired differently from “normies.” If that’s you, you probably struggle with focus and productivity sometimes. There’s something coming up soon that’ll help with that.

Darcy Volden stood at the edge of Graffiti Hill in Austin, Texas, sweating in her long-sleeved shirt. Her teenage son wanted to climb the hill, but at nearly 300 pounds, Darcy was terrified.

Stairs were her nemesis.

A hill? Impossible.

But something shifted that day."I may never have another chance to do this with him," she thought.

So she climbed.

Huffing. Puffing. Sliding. It was brutal. But she made it.

That moment sparked a revolution in Darcy's life. A quiet one. No fireworks or grand declarations. Just a woman deciding she was done living small.

Fast forward to today. Darcy's shed 130 pounds, ditched her suburban life, and now roams the country in an RV. She's a self-proclaimed "celestial shaman" and manifesting mastery teacher. Quite the glow-up.

But here's the kicker: Darcy's transformation didn't come from some fancy diet or life-changing seminar. It came from shutting up and listening to herself.

Stillness: The Secret Sauce

"There's so much static in here," Darcy explains, tapping her head. "So much noise going on."No kidding. As entrepreneurs, our brains are like Grand Central Station at rush hour. Ideas, worries, and to-do lists collide in a cacophony of mental chaos.Darcy's solution? Get quiet. Really quiet.

She recommends taking your shoes off and planting your feet on the ground. "It's an amazing conductor of energy and grounding," she says. "It literally pulls all that static and noise out of you.

"Sounds woo-woo? Maybe. But science backs her up. Grounding, or "earthing," has been shown to reduce stress and inflammation. Who knew dirt could be so useful?

I’m working on getting more comfortable with putting bare feet on the ground… it’s taking a while to change early programming (worms?!? is that tingling feeling WORMS?!?)

Writing Your Way to Wisdom

Once you've quieted the mental circus, it's time to tap into your inner sage. Darcy swears by automatic writing. Here's how it works:

  1. Set a timer for two minutes

  2. Write whatever pops into your head

  3. Don't judge, just let it flow

It's like giving your subconscious a megaphone. And trust me, that sneaky bastard has some interesting things to say.

Darcy used this technique to completely reinvent her life. At 49, she ended her marriage (amicably, no less), sold everything she owned, and hit the road in an RV. With $12 to her name and enough gas to reach Shreveport, Louisiana.

Insane? Perhaps. But Darcy trusted her gut. And her gut said, "Go."

The Freedom of Letting Go

"What if you could just trust the decisions?" Darcy muses. "What if you could make a decision and not have to fight it?"

Imagine that. No more second-guessing every choice. No more "what-ifs" keeping you up at night. Just decide and move forward.

It's not about being reckless. It's about trusting yourself enough to take the leap. And having the confidence to handle whatever comes next.

Embracing the Beautiful Mess

Of course, life isn't all rainbows and unicorns once you start listening to your intuition. Darcy's had her share of mishaps. Like the time she drove her 30-foot RV up a one-way mountain pass with no way to turn around.

Oops.

But as Darcy puts it, "There's magic in the mess." Every challenge becomes an opportunity to grow, learn, and maybe laugh at yourself a little.

Your Turn to Get Quiet

So, here's your challenge: Find some dirt. Take off your shoes. And just... be.

Let the noise settle. Listen to the whispers of your intuition. They might be telling you to pivot your business strategy, launch that crazy new product idea, or heck, maybe even buy an RV and hit the road.

Whatever it is, trust it.

Because as Darcy's story shows, sometimes the craziest ideas lead to the most incredible adventures.

And who knows? Maybe your own quiet revolution is just waiting to begin.

Turn Your Everyday Experiences into Content Gold - In Real Time

Create scroll-stopping content from your seemingly mundane day-to-day experiences effortlessly.

What if your everyday life holds the key to impactful, on-brand content?

Join Zhanna Blazej for an interactive Content Creation Party where you'll discover how to transform your seemingly ordinary daily experiences into authentic, engaging content that resonates with your audience.

In this free 1-hour co-working session, you'll:

  • Learn Zhanna's Content That Converts Formula—a proven method to turn everyday stories into posts that drive connection and conversions.

  • Experience a live demo of Iris, the Insight Reflection Companion, Zhanna's crazy sci-fi amazingness AI-powered tool designed to help you brainstorm, refine, and create content effortlessly. (I test-drove it and was FLABBERGASTED)

  • Walk away with ready-to-post content created in real time during the session!

Date: Wednesday, November 20th
Time: 2 PM Eastern
Location: Zoom + Streamed Live into the Collaboration Network For Women In Business + A Few Good Men FB Group.

This is your chance to turn inspiration into action, gain clarity in your messaging, and leave the session with content ready to share with your audience.

EXCLUSIVE BONUS: Show up live for the chance to win access to Zhanna's Content That Converts 17-Day Challenge: Master Messaging and Visibility to Boost Your Engagement and Conversions (Zhanna will be announcing the winner during the live event and sharing more on the challenge then as well)

Easily Distracted?
I thought so.
No worries.
I'll keep this brief.

This is about staying focused.
On what truly matters.
With energy to spare when the day's done.

Sounds impossible, right?

Here's the scoop: I don't know how many entrepreneurs have a touch of ADHD, but I suspect it's quite a few. While I've never been diagnosed, I've had people ask!

My friend Christopher Fern (who calls himself AuDHD) and I have been chatting lately about a possible collaboration. Now, we're inviting you to join us for a live event where Christopher will share the formula to regulate both focus and... oh look, a squirrel!

In this session, you'll get:

  • A preview of tools that help you make the right decision every time

  • Insights on sleep, music, and environment optimization

  • Strategies for maximizing potential for neurodiverse people (and really, anyone who's ever felt scattered)

Plus, he'll dive into energy economics - because having a spring in your step at day's end isn't just for morning people anymore.

Sunday, December 1 at 3 pm Eastern

Don't miss this chance to transform your focus and productivity. Who knows? You might even remember where you left your keys.

Have a fantastic weekend! Get outside as much as you can <3

I’ll be soaking some sunbeams in down in Sarasota with family.

Reply

or to participate.