Solo: Life Updates - Harvard Talk, Book Recs, Fertility, PMS & Sleep Hacks
In this episode of the Pursuit of Wellness podcast, host Mari candidly shares stories of overcoming adversity and pursuing her passion. Despite academic struggles and fertility challenges, Mari reflects on her transformative journey of self-discovery, shattering perceptions, and embracing entrepreneurship.
She opens up about launching her successful business Bloom Nutrition, chronicling her path from rock bottom to delivering a keynote at Harvard. Mari also discusses managing PCOS and anxiety, providing an authentic account of physical and mental health obstacles on the road to wellness.
This is a preview of the Shortform summary of the Oct 10, 2024 episode of the Pursuit of Wellness
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1-Page Summary
Mari's Personal Growth and Transformation
Mari reflects on her demanding college years as both a struggle with academics and feeling less capable than peers, yet also a time of personal growth in finding her true passion. She no longer defines self-worth by academic performance, encouraging young women to pursue their purpose beyond perceived shortcomings.
Hitting rock bottom in college motivated Mari, according to her, to realize her entrepreneurial dreams and aspire to make a positive impact.
Mari's Entrepreneurial and Professional Journey
Mari launched Bloom Nutrition in 2017 and grew it into a thriving business while still in college. Her recent keynote at Harvard showcased her perseverance - given her past academic challenges, speaking there and receiving an award meant the world, she says.
Many young women now look to Mari as a role model as she shares her entrepreneurial journey through interviews and events.
Mari's Health and Fertility Experiences
Mari reveals she still has PCOS but manages it through lifestyle changes. Candid about her fertility struggles, the emotional toll of trying to conceive initially led her to an unhealthy fixation before she achieved a healthier balance.
Mari is also open about her journey with anxiety and depression, eventually finding a sustainable treatment after trying various medications. Her story destigmatizes the use of mental health medication, she believes.
1-Page Summary
Additional Materials
Counterarguments
- While Mari's story is inspiring, it's important to acknowledge that not everyone has the resources or opportunities to turn a personal crisis into a successful entrepreneurial venture.
- The narrative that hitting rock bottom is necessary for success can be harmful and is not a universal formula; many individuals find success through consistent effort without experiencing a significant low point.
- Mari's success as a role model might inadvertently create pressure for other young women to emulate her specific path, which may not be suitable for everyone.
- The emphasis on personal perseverance might overshadow systemic issues that can impede entrepreneurial success, such as access to capital, discrimination, and the need for broader support networks.
- While lifestyle changes can manage PCOS symptoms for some, it's not a one-size-fits-all solution, and others may require different treatments or interventions.
- The narrative of achieving a healthier balance in fertility struggles could be perceived as oversimplifying a complex and deeply personal challenge that can vary greatly from person to person.
- The destigmatization of mental health medication is positive, but it's also important to recognize and advocate for comprehensive mental health support that includes therapy, community support, and other non-pharmacological interventions.
Actionables
- You can redefine success by creating a vision board that focuses on personal values rather than traditional achievements. Start by gathering images and phrases that represent your core values, such as kindness, creativity, or community. Place the board somewhere you'll see it daily to remind yourself that success is multidimensional and not solely based on academic or professional milestones.
- Develop a self-care routine that includes activities unrelated to work or study to manage stress and enhance well-being. This might involve setting aside time each week for hobbies, exercise, or relaxation techniques like meditation or yoga. By regularly engaging in these activities, you create a buffer against stress and prioritize your mental health.
- Start a small passion project or side hustle that aligns with your interests, even if it's unrelated to your current field of study or work. This could be anything from starting a blog about a topic you love, crafting homemade products to sell online, or volunteering for a cause you're passionate about. This allows you to explore and cultivate other aspects of your identity and purpose beyond conventional career paths.
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Mari's Personal Growth and Transformation
Mari delves into her journey from the tumultuous college days to the present, highlighting how she transformed challenges into opportunities that shaped her life.
Mari reflects on her college experience, which was a mixture of joy and struggle
Mari’s college experience was tinged with hardships. She views this period as the most demanding time of her life, where she faced immense pressure, which inevitably led to a point where she hit rock bottom. Despite these challenges, she emphasizes that college was also a time for tremendous personal growth and a period where she began to uncover her true passion.
Despite struggling with academics and feeling less capable than her peers, Mari's college years were also a time of personal growth and finding her passion.
Throughout her academic journey, Mari always felt outpaced by her peers, often dealing with anxiety around studying and not doing well on tests. This feeling of being less capable than others often overshadowed her. Despite these academic struggles, she emphasizes that it was during these years of struggle that she discovered her interests and what truly mattered to her.
Mari's experiences in college shaped her current perspective on the role of education
Mari’s tumultuous academic experience fundamentally changed her understanding of the value of education and self-worth.
Mari no longer believes that academic performance needs to define one's worth or potential, and encourages young women to pursue their purpose rather than be limited by their perceived shortcomings.
Now, she carries the profound belief that academic performance is not the sole indicator of a person's worth or potential. Mari advocates for young women to look beyond their academic struggles and perceived shortcomings, urging them to find and ...
Here’s what you’ll find in our full summary
Mari's Personal Growth and Transformation
Additional Materials
Counterarguments
- While personal growth can stem from adversity, not everyone may find that their struggles lead to clear passion discovery or positive transformation.
- The idea that academic performance should not define one's worth is valid, but it's also important to recognize that academic success can be a significant and valid goal for some individuals.
- Encouraging young women to pursue their purpose is positive, but it's also crucial to acknowledge the systemic barriers that may make this more challenging for some individuals.
- The narrative that hitting rock bottom is necessary for finding one's true calling can be problematic, as it may romanticize suffering and overlook the value of stability and incremental progress.
- The emphasis on entrepreneurial dreams as a path to makin ...
Actionables
- Reflect on your personal journey by starting a 'Growth and Goals' journal where you write down challenges you face and the passions they help you uncover. This can be a simple notebook where each day you jot down any difficulties encountered and how they may be pointing you towards interests or values you hold dear. For example, if you find yourself constantly struggling with a particular subject, write about what this struggle is teaching you about your strengths and interests elsewhere.
- Create a 'Beyond Grades' vision board to visualize your worth and potential outside of academic or professional achievements. Use a corkboard or digital app to collect images, quotes, and symbols that represent your personal goals, dreams, and values. This could include pictures of places you want to travel, quotes from individuals who inspire you, or symbols of hobbies that bring you joy.
- Develop a 'Resilience Map' to outline your path from struggle to purpose, which can guide you during tough ...
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Mari's Entrepreneurial and Professional Journey
Mari Llewellyn's transformation from a college student to a successful entrepreneur exemplifies the possibilities that determination and vision can bring. Her journey with Bloom Nutrition is not only a business success story but also an inspirational narrative for aspiring female entrepreneurs.
Mari's transition from college student to successful entrepreneur with Bloom Nutrition
Mari started her wellness company, Bloom Nutrition, while she was still working to complete her college degree. She reminisces about the thoughts and initial steps of launching her business back in 2017, reflecting on the early days of her entrepreneurial venture and the mindset she held during that time. Her dedication and hard work helped her grow Bloom Nutrition into a thriving business that stands as a testament to her commitment and business acumen.
Mari's speaking engagement at Harvard was a meaningful milestone
Mari Llewellyn recently experienced an event she describes as a powerful full-circle moment: returning to a college campus to speak as a keynote at the Intercollegiate Business Conference, addressing young women in the business field. Speaking at Harvard was particularly special for her, given her past challenges with academia.
Her time on stage was not only an opportunity to share her story but also to serve as an example of what can be achieved with perseverance. Mari was also honored with an award from Harvard, a recognition that she confesses meant the world to her. S ...
Here’s what you’ll find in our full summary
Mari's Entrepreneurial and Professional Journey
Additional Materials
Counterarguments
- While Mari's story is undoubtedly inspiring, it may not be representative of the typical experience of many entrepreneurs, who might face more significant challenges or fail to achieve similar success.
- The narrative emphasizes individual hard work and dedication, but it may underplay the role of other factors such as market conditions, luck, timing, and support networks in business success.
- The focus on receiving an award from Harvard could be seen as perpetuating the idea that external validation from prestigious institutions is a key marker of success, which might not resonate with everyone's values or definitions of achievement.
- Mari's ability to expand her platform and share her story is positive, but it might also be a reflection of a self-reinforcing cycle of success, where initial achievements open doors that might remain closed to other aspiring entrepreneurs without such visibility.
- The text implies that Mari's role as a mentor is e ...
Actionables
- You can start a side project or business while pursuing your studies to gain practical experience and potentially create a new income stream. Begin by identifying a gap in the market or a personal passion that can be turned into a product or service. For example, if you're a nutrition student, consider creating a small batch of healthy snacks and selling them to your peers.
- You can seek opportunities to speak publicly about your experiences to build your personal brand and inspire others. Look for local meetups, industry conferences, or online webinars that align with your interests or expertise, and offer to share your journey or insights. For instance, if you've overcome a significant challenge while starting your business, you could talk about the lessons learned at a local entrepreneurship club.
- You can mentor someone who is just starting in you ...
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Mari's Health and Fertility Experiences
Mari provides an intimate look into her life dealing with PCOS and her mental health while striving to achieve balance.
Mari's ongoing management of PCOS and its symptoms
Mari shares that she still identifies as someone with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), a condition reflected by many follicles in her uterus observed during a scan by a fertility doctor in Austin. Although the doctor's attitude was negative, emphasizing the symptoms such as acne and weight gain associated with PCOS and casting doubt on her ovulation, Mari insists that she does ovulate monthly, tracks her cycle, and has regular periods.
Despite previously suffering from elevated [restricted term] and acne, Mari has adopted a healthy lifestyle to manage her PCOS. She tackles the aesthetic symptoms, such as long-term acne scarring, with frequent chemical peels and plans to undergo microneedling.
Mari's journey with trying to conceive and her evolving mindset
Mari's experiences on her fertility journey have been both intense and enlightening. Considering options like IUI before IVF, she's been candid about the emotional rollercoaster of the two-week wait between ovulation and a potential period, a period filled with false hope and negative pregnancy tests that led her to a destructive headspace.
Initially, every aspect of her life was dominated by potential pregnancy signs to the point of avoiding normal activities. However, Mari has since reached a healthier mental space, choosing to let go of the fixation on pregnancy, realizing that stress does not condu ...
Here’s what you’ll find in our full summary
Mari's Health and Fertility Experiences
Additional Materials
Actionables
- You can track your health indicators by using a personalized health dashboard app that allows you to monitor symptoms, treatments, and lifestyle changes to see patterns and correlations over time. For instance, if you're managing a condition like PCOS, input daily observations such as mood, energy levels, and skin condition, and use the app's analytics to identify what lifestyle choices improve or worsen your symptoms.
- Create a self-care routine that includes activities unrelated to your health challenges to maintain a balanced mindset. This could involve scheduling regular time for hobbies, socializing, or learning new skills, which can help divert focus from health-related stress and contribute to overall well-being.
- Explore wearable technology that helps ...
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