Finding Joy as an Entrepreneur with Jennifer Cavender
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Are you curious about how to find joy as an entrepreneur? In this episode, I sit down with Jennifer, a former CPA turned entrepreneur, who shares her inspiring transformation from a demanding corporate career to building a life filled with purpose and happiness. Jennifer is the founder of Robin Advisors, with over 20 years of experience as a CPA, leading audit teams and advising businesses on growth and problem-solving. In this chapter of her professional journey, she helps inspired business leaders and their teams move from burnout and confusion to clarity, direction, and joy—unlocking their potential to achieve world-class results. An accomplished speaker, trainer, and bestselling author, Jennifer is passionate about empowering others to overcome fears and uncover their unique superpowers.
Join us as Jennifer shares…
Her transformative journey from a high-pressure corporate life to finding clarity and joy.
How meditation, clean eating, and a bold leap into entrepreneurship during the pandemic reshaped her path.
The steps she took to create a business centered on workplace joy.
Practical strategies for cultivating happiness in daily life.
The powerful Chair of Joy visualization practice for shifting energy and focus.
How this shift has deepened her family connections and enriched her personal life.
Listen in for a treasure trove of wisdom regarding entrepreneurship, personal growth, work-life balance, and finding joy amidst career transitions.
Joyful Reflections from the Past
Welcome to another episode of In Between Homes! Today, I’m joined by Jennifer, who’s here to share what brings joy into her life and how her journey began.
Ten years ago, Jennifer’s life looked vastly different. She was working as a CPA, clocking 60-hour weeks, and feeling a deep sense of confusion. While a part of her sensed there was something more fulfilling out there, she couldn’t pinpoint what it was or why she felt that way. She was disconnected from her core values, experiencing constant physical pain, and searching for clarity.
Her transformation began with a decision to join a program focused on clean eating, meditation, and healthy movement. It was her first introduction to the power of mindset and meditation, which opened doors to self-discovery and profound change. That moment became the foundation for her incredible evolution.
Looking back, Jennifer admits she couldn’t have imagined the life she lives today—one filled with joy, purpose, and alignment.
Life Today
What’s life like for Jennifer now? Does she still experience pain, and how does she feel today?
Jennifer shares that after joining the program years ago, she discovered the food she was eating was a significant factor contributing to her constant physical pain. Within just a few weeks of adopting clean eating habits, she had a breakthrough—her pain, which had been a constant presence, began to disappear.
Fast forward to today, it’s been about three and a half years since she left her demanding career. Back then, she was overworked, frequently traveling, and rarely seeing her family, with little time to prioritize her own joy.
While the decision to leave came with fear, doubt, and plenty of soul-searching, it led her to build a life she loves.
Now, instead of auditing financial statements and preparing tax returns, Jennifer has created a business that helps organizations reignite joy in their workplaces. Her work focuses on fostering employee engagement, productivity, and satisfaction, leading to happier and more connected teams.
Through this journey of self-discovery—understanding her values, strengths, and passions—and taking bold steps to create a life aligned with her true self, Jennifer not only found purpose but also released the physical pain that had once held her back.
Embracing the Scary Step
Was Jennifer ready to take the leap and leave her corporate career? Not at first, but she vividly recalls the moment everything changed.
It was July 4th, 2020. With COVID in full swing since March, her workload had skyrocketed. Working from home blurred the boundaries between life and work, leaving her overwhelmed and exhausted. That evening, as she sat in her home office, struggling to complete a project while fireworks lit up the sky and her family enjoyed movies nearby, she made a life-altering decision.
Hearing the sounds of her neighbors celebrating outside, Jennifer said to herself, "This is it. I will never let this happen again. I am making a shift. This is my year." After seven months of nonstop work—through holidays, birthdays, and even her father's passing—she had reached her breaking point.
That was really her aha moment.
Choosing herself, despite the uncertainty of what lay ahead, she decided to take the bold step into entrepreneurship.
Was it her first time being an entrepreneur? Yes—and it came with plenty of challenges. Jennifer had always told herself she wasn’t cut out for entrepreneurship. She preferred the stability of a job where someone else handled the back office responsibilities. But with her newfound determination, she embraced the possibility of becoming someone she never imagined she could be.
As the sole income earner in her household, the decision wasn’t easy. Over the next several months, she researched, built a framework for her business, and leaned on the supportive community she was part of. That group helped her uncover and release limiting beliefs, ultimately empowering her to trust in her ability to create something new.
By May of the following year, Jennifer officially left her firm. It wasn’t just a career change—it was a transformation of identity, fueled by courage, clarity, and self-discovery.
Shifting Focus to Joy
Jennifer shared how she transitioned from auditing numbers to helping organizations foster joy. Can she explain what that looks like?
This shift was inspired by her years as an auditor, where she spent weeks immersed in businesses. While analyzing financial statements was her role, what truly captivated her was connecting with the people, understanding their culture, and observing leadership styles.
Over time, she noticed a clear link: businesses with positive environments and strong leadership often had better financial outcomes.
Back then, she wasn’t hired to address these dynamics, so those observations stayed in the background. But when she had the chance to create something of her own, Jennifer dove into research and found compelling evidence.
Happy employees are more productive, take fewer sick days, are more creative, and stay with their companies longer.
The need for empathy and compassion, especially during COVID, reinforced her belief in the power of a joyful workplace. With science and data backing her intuition, she developed a program to help companies improve employee well-being, knowing it would benefit both their people and their bottom line.
The Business of Joy
What advice does Jennifer have for cultivating more joy in daily life, especially for those struggling at work or in less-than-joyful environments?
Jennifer emphasizes that joy is a choice—not something handed to us by external circumstances.
The first step is shifting your focus. Instead of dwelling on negatives, look for what’s good, enjoyable, or aligned with your strengths. By focusing on the positives, you can change how you feel, how you show up, and how others respond to you.
Positivity is contagious, and your energy can inspire those around you.
Another powerful tool she recommends is the Chair of Joy practice. It’s about pausing, taking deep breaths, and reflecting on magical, joyful moments from your life. This simple exercise can quickly shift your energy, helping you find calm and positivity, even in tough situations.
Joy starts from within—choose it, cultivate it, and watch it transform your day.
The Chair of Joy Practice
The Chair of Joy practice is a simple yet powerful four-step process: sit, breathe, think, and feel.
Take a moment to sit comfortably, breathe deeply, and release any lingering tension. Then, reflect on a joyful memory and allow yourself to truly feel the emotions it brings.
It’s a quick and transformative way to reset your energy and reconnect with joy.
Want to experience it for yourself? Tune in to the episode for a guided walkthrough!
Integrating Work and Family Life
Jennifer’s leap of faith has not only transformed her career but also her family life. Before, her work schedule isolated her from her loved ones—long commutes, late nights, and missing precious moments like bedtime or family gatherings.
Now, three and a half years later, her life is deeply integrated with her family’s. She shares breakfast with her kids, picks them up from school, attends games and performances, and enjoys simple joys like baking sourdough bread in the morning.
This transition has allowed her to create simple, magical, everyday moments and truly prioritize what matters most.
Growing Together in Love
Jennifer reflects on how her personal growth journey has influenced her 24-year marriage. As she has transformed into a very different person than she was just a few years ago, their relationship has also evolved. With their kids becoming more independent, she and her husband are now navigating new dynamics, including exploring whether he might pursue something he loves outside of his role as a stay-at-home parent. This ongoing learning and growth keep their relationship fresh and exciting.
When asked for advice on navigating a love relationship during personal growth, Jennifer emphasizes patience and commitment. She acknowledges that it can feel frustrating when one partner is moving forward while the other seems stagnant. However, her consistent efforts and personal growth began to influence her husband naturally. Without him reading the same books or attending coaching sessions, she noticed he started echoing insights she had learned, showing how her journey impacted them both.
Her advice: decide that you're going to make it work. Once you’ve made that commitment, there's really nothing that you can't do or overcome.
Financial Freedom and Stability
Jennifer’s journey with finances has been deeply tied to her personal growth and life transitions. She initially chose accounting as a career because it provided stability and consistency—qualities she deeply valued, given her upbringing in a financially unstable household. However, stepping away from a secure career in entrepreneurship was a daunting decision.
To navigate this transition, Jennifer wrote a story about fear that was later published, helping her process and embrace her choice. Over time, she shifted her perspective on financial stability. Instead of relying on a company or individual for security, she began placing her trust in a higher power. For Jennifer, this meant relying on God and the boundless abundance of the universe.
She explains that this shift in mindset brought her a profound sense of stability. Unlike a job or a company—which could face layoffs, bankruptcy, or other uncertainties—connecting with the limitless source of abundance in the universe offers an enduring sense of security. By trusting in this ultimate source, Jennifer has found both financial and emotional freedom.
To hear the full conversation with Jennifer about finding joy, tune in on your favorite podcast platform.
Connect with Jennifer:
Email: jcavender@robinadvisors.com
Instagram: Instagram (@jenncavender)
Facebook: Jennifer Cavender
Something exciting! Jennifer is now accepting one-on-one clients for the first time in 2 years! If you are frustrated with your current way of working and feel like achieving your goals leaves you burned out and disconnected from your joy, Jennifer is happy to help you find joy in the journey again and support you on a better path to success.
Connect with Me:
Check out mine and Shannon’s upcoming Abundance in Love Retreat and Program: REGISTRATION For Retreat
Date Your Finances website: Lucie HAUTREUX
On Instagram:
Instagram (@lucielifeexperiences)Watch on YouTube:
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