I just turned 56 and I have some news—I finally launched my Substack! After thinking about it for two years (sound familiar?), I made it happen on my birthday. It’s called YNTFO with Jen, and I’m so excited about this new way for us to connect and be in real conversation together.

This episode is a quick one where I’m sharing what’s on my heart as I step into this new year. I’m talking about putting your health first, being present with the people you love, and why leading with love and compassion matters more than ever. Plus, I’m sharing what I learned from hosting my recent event and why I’m feeling like I’m finally back in sync with what I’m meant to do in this world.

Listen if you want to:

• Hear about my new Substack and how we can connect there (it’s free!)
• Get a birthday reminder to prioritize your health and stop white-knuckling through life
• Be inspired to take one small action that creates ripples of change
• Remember that women supporting women is how we move forward
• Feel the permission to be exactly where you are right now

You’re Not Too F***ing Old! To launch a Substack!

Learn more about Jen Marples at https://www.jenmarples.com

Want to work with Jen? Book a complimentary 20-minute call HERE. 

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Unedited AI Transcript Here

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Your Midlife Voice Matters: It’s Time to Stop Waiting

You Have Something Important to Say—Here’s Why Now Is the Perfect Time

Maybe you’ve been thinking about starting that project for months. Or years. You tell yourself you’ll do it when things calm down, when you have more time, when you feel more ready. But here’s what nobody tells you: that perfect moment? It doesn’t exist.

If you’re a woman in midlife wondering whether it’s too late to launch something new, share your voice, or build the community you’ve been dreaming about, this article is for you. Because the truth is, your experience matters. Your perspective is valuable. And the world needs what you have to offer—right now, not someday.

Do It Messy: Why Perfection Is Your Enemy

You’ve probably noticed how easy it is to overthink things. You want the website to be perfect. The messaging to be flawless. Every detail polished before you share anything with the world. But here’s what happens when you wait for perfection: nothing. Absolutely nothing gets done.

The most successful people don’t wait until everything is perfect. They start messy. They launch before they feel ready. They iterate as they go. This approach feels uncomfortable because we’ve been taught that showing up with anything less than perfection makes us look unprepared or unprofessional. But the opposite is true. Starting messy shows courage. It demonstrates commitment. It proves you’re willing to learn and grow in public.

Think about it this way: every expert you admire started as a beginner. Every polished product you love began as a rough draft. The difference between people who succeed and people who don’t isn’t talent or resources—it’s willingness to begin before they’re ready.

Build Real Connection: The Power of Two-Way Conversation

One of the biggest frustrations in midlife is feeling like you’re shouting into the void. You create content, share your thoughts, put yourself out there—but it all feels one-directional. You give and give, but you don’t get much back. Sound familiar?

The solution isn’t to create more content or work harder. It’s to build platforms that allow for real conversation. When you create spaces where people can respond, share their experiences, and connect with each other, something magical happens. You stop being a broadcaster and become a community builder. The difference is profound. Broadcasting is exhausting and lonely. Community building is energizing and fulfilling.

This shift matters because midlife women crave connection. You want to feel less alone in what you’re experiencing. You want to share resources, support each other, and learn from women who get it. When you build two-way conversation into your platform from the start, you create something far more valuable than a following—you create a community.

Your Health Comes First: You Can’t Pour from an Empty Cup

Here’s a hard truth: none of your goals matter if you don’t have your health. You can have the best business plan, the most exciting project, and all the motivation in the world—but if you’re running on empty, you won’t get far. And in midlife, health becomes non-negotiable.

Too many women try to white-knuckle their way through everything. You push through exhaustion. You ignore the aches and pains. You skip the doctor’s appointments because you’re too busy taking care of everyone else. But this approach doesn’t make you strong—it makes you stuck. When your physical, mental, and spiritual health aren’t in alignment, everything else becomes harder than it needs to be.

The breakthrough happens when you stop treating your health as something you’ll get to eventually and start treating it as the foundation for everything else. Book that mammogram. Get your blood work done. Address that nagging pain. These aren’t luxuries or things you do when you have extra time. They’re essential investments in your ability to show up fully for yourself and everyone you care about.

Women Supporting Women Isn’t Optional—It’s Essential

You’ve heard the phrase “women supporting women” so many times it might feel cliché. But here’s why it matters more than ever: the progress women have made didn’t happen by accident. It happened because women before you fought hard to create opportunities you now have. And the progress that still needs to happen? That’s on us.

The trap is thinking your contribution doesn’t matter. You look at women doing big, visible things—running for office, leading companies, starting movements—and you think your smaller efforts pale in comparison. But that’s not how change works. Change happens when millions of women do millions of small things that create a massive wave. Your ripple matters. Your local action matters. Your choice to support another woman matters.

This isn’t about grand gestures or superhuman effort. It’s about showing up consistently. Support your friend’s business. Donate to causes you care about. Mentor a younger woman. Heal yourself and create a happy home. Every single action sends ripples that reach further than you’ll ever see.

Take Action: Your Roadmap to Getting Started

You’ve read the insights. You’ve felt the pull. Now it’s time to move. Because understanding what to do means nothing if you don’t actually do it. The gap between inspiration and transformation is action—messy, imperfect, start-where-you-are action.

Here’s your roadmap: First, stop waiting for permission or perfection. Choose one thing you’ve been putting off and commit to launching it in the next 30 days. Make it messy. Make it imperfect. Just make it happen. Second, prioritize your health like your life depends on it—because it does. Book those appointments you’ve been avoiding. Address what’s not working. Get your foundation solid. Third, build real connection. Choose platforms and practices that create two-way conversation, not just broadcasting.

Fourth, show up for the women around you. Find one specific way to support, uplift, or champion another woman this week. Make it a habit, not a one-time thing. Finally, step fully into your power. Trust that your biggest work is still ahead of you. Use your voice. Share your gifts. Stop shrinking and start shining.

The world doesn’t need you to be perfect. It needs you to be present. It needs you to be brave. It needs you to show up exactly as you are and share what only you can offer. Your age is not a limitation—it’s your superpower. Your experience is not outdated—it’s invaluable. Your voice is not too late—it’s right on time.

So what are you waiting for? Stop rehearsing and start performing. Stop planning and start doing. Stop hiding and start shining. Because you’re not too old, and it’s definitely not too late. Your midlife spotlight is waiting. Now go claim it.