a billionaire, a gondola, and $15K later...

Let me start by saying: I am not a gambler. Okay?

I don’t thrill-seek for fun. I’m not the person taking wild bets or winging it to see how far I can push my luck.

My “high-risk moves” are things like trying to drink my coffee before I remember the mug exists only when it’s cold. Or letting my phone linger at 2% battery life while I stare at the charger… six feet away. 😈

So, when I tell you that I walked into a room filled with literal high performers—people who think "risk" is just another Tuesday—and decided to bet big on myself, just know: this was my version of skiing down a black diamond. Blindfolded.

The room I’m talking about? It was a GrowthDay event, hosted by none other than Brendon Burchard. A name you might recognize if you’ve ever googled things like “how to stop procrastinating” or “how to get my life together before my to-do list eats me alive.”

There was a moment.

You know the kind I’m talking about.

The moment where you can either decide to stay cozy, sipping metaphorical hot chocolate on your “Blue Run” of life, or you can take the gondola to the top of the mountain and pray you don’t freeze to death (or, in my case, break everything).

For four days Brendon was up on stage, sharing insights about business, clarity, focus, and the habits of high performers. He talked about the power of investing in yourself—not just financially, but emotionally, mentally, energetically. And before I knew it, I’d done something I never imagined myself doing:

I invested $15,000 in mentorship.

FIFTEEN. THOUSAND. DOLLARS.

(Yes, I triple-checked the credit card receipt just to make sure I hadn’t accidentally purchased a small car instead.)

And honestly, it was equal parts exhilarating and terrifying. Like the roller coaster you’re not quite sure you’re tall enough to ride.

But let me tell you—joining Brendon’s mastermind wasn’t just about the financial investment. It was about saying, I’m ready to step into rooms where people dream bigger than I thought possible. 

It was about believing that my work, my growth, and my mission as a wellness entrepreneur are worth every dollar.

And honestly, if the story ended there, I’d already be telling you this was worth it. But, plot twist! That wasn’t even the best part.

Enter Jamie Kern Lima.

Now, if you don’t know Jamie’s story, let me paint the picture for you.

She’s the founder of IT Cosmetics, and her rise from being told “no” by every beauty industry executive in existence to selling her brand for $1.2 billion (yes, with a B) is the stuff of legend.

But Jamie isn’t just a billionaire or a brilliant businesswoman. She’s the kind of person who walks into a room and makes you believe anything is possible—not in a “Pinterest quote” kind of way, but in a “she’s been to hell and back, and somehow she’s still standing here telling you to go for it” kind of way.

And let me tell you, when she spoke, I hung onto every single word.

She talked about rejection—relentless, soul-crushing rejection. About how so many people told her no when she first started pitching IT Cosmetics.

Not just polite no’s either.

The kind of no’s that come wrapped in insult: “You’re not what we’re looking for,” or “Women don’t want to see someone like you on TV.”

(Excuse me? Women like her—us—don’t belong on TV? Imagine hearing that and still getting out of bed the next day.)

But here’s the thing: Jamie didn’t just survive rejection. She used it.

Every single “no” became fuel for her fire.

She didn’t sit down and make herself smaller.
She got louder.
She showed up again.
She doubled down on her belief in what she was building.

And eventually, she created a billion-dollar company and became the first female CEO of L’Oréal in its 100-year history. Casual.

It’s easy to hear that story and think, “Wow, what a legend.” But here’s the truth: while I listened to her, I felt two very conflicting emotions.

First, a spark of inspiration that made me want to charge out of the room and build my dreams bigger than I ever thought possible.

And second, a tiny (okay, huge) pang of self-doubt.

You know the one. The classic, “Who am I to even be sitting in this room? Who am I to think I can do that?”

I sat there wondering if Jamie could somehow tell I didn’t belong. That I wasn’t “enough.” My imposter syndrome was loud.

And then she said something that felt like it was aimed directly at me:

“You are not too much for the right people.”

Oof.

As someone who has spent plenty of time worrying about being “too much”—too ambitious, too intense, too everything—those words hit me like a truck.

I thought about all the times I’d tried to shrink myself, to make my dreams look smaller or more manageable so that they wouldn’t intimidate anyone else—or scare me. I thought about all the moments I’d held back, afraid that being ambitious or bold or big would make me “too much.”

But here’s what Jamie reminded me:

The right people will always make room for you. And the wrong ones? They’re irrelevant anyway.

That one line shifted something for me.

Jamie’s words were a reminder I didn’t know I needed: the right people—the ones who truly see you—will always make room for you. And the wrong ones? They don’t matter.

That line played in my head over and over again as I left the room that day. And for the first time in a long time, I felt like I could breathe.

But—because life is life—this journey hasn’t been all cozy fireplaces and champagne at the lodge.

There have been moments where I’ve felt completely out of my depth. Days where I’ve questioned if I made the right choice. Nights where I’ve stared at my computer screen, paralyzed by the weight of everything I’m building.

That’s the thing about mentorship and growth: it’s not about guaranteeing success or making things easy. It’s about showing you what’s possible—and then reminding you, every step of the way, that you have what it takes to get there.

And here’s what I know for sure:

Tomorrow, I’ll be so glad I made these decisions.
Next year, I’ll be even more glad.
And five years from now? I’ll look back at these moments and see them for what they truly are: the start of something extraordinary.

So now, I want to turn this back to you.

What’s your “gondola moment”?

What decision could you make today that your future self will thank you for tomorrow?

Whether it’s prioritizing your health, taking a leap in your career, or investing in yourself in a way that feels a little terrifying but oh-so-right—ask yourself:

What will I be happy I did?

For me, it was saying yes to mentorship with Brendon Burchard. It was saying yes to being in rooms where people like Jamie Kern Lima could remind me who I am. It was saying yes to growth—even when it felt uncomfortable.

What will it be for you?

I’d love to hear your story. What’s the next big step you’re thinking about taking? Hit reply and let me know—I’m cheering you on every step of the way.

Here’s to betting on ourselves, one terrifyingly amazing decision at a time.

Your (slightly riskier) holistic wellness coach,

Genta 🤍