I’ve been thinking about success a lot lately and how I would define it today as an Entrepreneur and Mother with chronic pain & illness. A lot has changed for me just in the last five years. And I bet it’s changed for you too. Honestly, I’m not sure 2021 me would even believe it.

In 2021, we offered the “She Cultivates Success Workshop”. And we are bringing it back August 17^th-21^st, 2026. (registration is open click the link here) Which has me thinking, what was my life like in 2021? Did I feel successful? What were the challenges? And the wins? And what’s changed in the last five years on how I define success.  

In 2021, I was still looking for an official diagnosis for the mysterious 20 symptoms that I had been tracking since 2019. It felt like they appeared overnight. I was practically bedridden with the daily pain and fatigue. My average daily steps were around 1k. It was a rough year.

I had to mourn what I thought life would be and change my goals and aspirations accordingly. I wasn’t feeling successful and I was mad. My entire world had changed, which means my family’s world changed and I was dealing with the guilt of that.

RAYMA Team was in a bit of a mini-rebrand after the covid years and building our clientele and sales. (2022 we would double and 2023 have our first 6 figure year) Finances were tight but motivation was high.

Today, I have a multiple diagnosis *insert eye roll* and an amazing doctor team. I have 5 more years of trauma therapy under my belt, and medication that ensures I’m no longer bedridden with daily pain. I’m more mobile than I’ve been in years and that’s helping me get to a healthier weight for my heart and joints. I’m so grateful for the 3,500 steps I average each day without triggering a flare up. And the fact that I can lift weights again.

In 2026, success means building a company that we love and is sustainable for both Mandy and my health challenges. It means loving what we do, and what we built, and not wanting to burn it all down when the goals are taking longer to reach than we want. Today, I define success as making an income high enough to always have freedom & choices.

There’s also been difficult things this year, like all 3 of my kids are now diagnosed with the same connective tissue disorder. (one for sure has the genetic marker) Like 2021, finances are tight again and RAYMA Team is in a mini-rebrand & rebuilding year. And mental health wise, oh child everyone in this household has been on the struggle bus the last 18 months.

What I know to be true about success today:

• You cannot survive on inspiration alone
• Not everyone cheers for you- even friends and family
• Plant the seeds of discipline, self-motivation, and resilience, and
• Pull the weeds of discouragement and neglect quickly

Over the last five years, life has knocked me down multiple times. I’ve had to learn how to mourn the losses and celebrate the wins. And change my methods when something is no longer working. I’ve ignored goals I no longer care about. And I’ve acted on what really matters.

Ultimately, cultivating success is an inside job. The cheering section is nice. But when push comes to shove no one cares about your success or goals more than you. Success takes action. Messy action. Small Action. Scared action. It all counts towards reaching the goals you have and creating the life you want.

With Grace & Grit,

~Coach Raychel

P.S. If you need to need to take a tiny action step (or big leap!) towards the success you want, and the life you dream about, join us for She Cultivates Success, a 5-Day Virtual Workshop for Women. Spend the week with Coach Mandy & myself on Monday, August 17th through Friday, August 21st at 11:30am central time. Each day you'll discover the essential leadership skills you need to cultivate success in your life, leadership, and career in 2026! Register here for only $27!