Molly Mahar is the founder of Stratejoy (which she likes to call 'Strategies for Joy), where she works with women aged 20 something, who have a hard time living life to the fullest and are clearly unhappy or those who feel that they are missing out on something in life to make their life feel more joyous and fulfilling.

Molly likes to call this situation as a Quarter Life Crisis (QLC). Back in 2007 she faced a QLC in her own life and that is when she decided to travel all over the world and introspect within herself. On returning to Seattle after her world tour she started Stratejoy, as a way to help women. In her own words   - " I have a sneaking suspicion that a world of fulfilled joyful women equals radical acts of goodness, widespread emotional and physical health, creative expression, equality, and core level compassion".

She is also a life coach, speaker and community builder for women. She has developed a variety of ways to motivate these women to give up the negative aspects of their personality and imbibe more joy into their lives. She talks about the techniques and courses that she has developed in the interview below, which Molly agreed to do with us very gracefully, in-spite of all the hectic activity in her life and the fact that she is an expecting mum. Read on to find out about more about Molly and Stratejoy and how you can be a happier you.

Molly, please introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a life coach, speaker, writer, fierce love advocate, joy enthusiast and founder of Stratejoy. I’m a through and through ENFJ, a free spirit with a passion for mindful entrepreneurship, and a world traveler.  I have the tendency to swear a fair amount. (But not in this interview!)

My adventures are based from a sunny porch in San Diego and a cabin on the river outside of Seattle that I share with my husband and our soon-to-be tiny boy person.

I have been a fulltime entrepreneur since 2009 and am totally blessed that I get do what I love for a living.

You can find me on Twitter, Facebook, Vimeo and Pinterest. Connect away!


What was it that prompted you to create Stratejoy.com?. Do you have a story to share with us? 

I was an over-achieving Ivy League grad who suffered a total “Quarterlife Crisis” in 2007 after landing my dream job at a sexy boutique hotel in Seattle.  I didn’t know what I was supposed to be doing with my life, but I knew the path I was on was not it!  I wanted “more” but had no clue what “more” meant at the time.

So… I quit my job. I traveled around the world with backpack and boyfriend (now husband) in hand. I sold everything I owned. I began studying Buddhism.  I had some crazy adventures. I journaled my heart out.  I figured out that I wanted to serve women by helping them carve out time and space to create their own joyful world.

When I got back to Seattle, I started Stratejoy.

I wanted to have honest conversations with other women about our big dreams, things that felt like they were holding us back, and valuing our own happiness. It took about a year to really take off a training company, but I’ve been teaching and coaching and writing and continuing to travel ever since!


What is the concept behind Stratejoy?

Stratejoy is a positive corner of the Internet that provides thousands of women the tools, strategies and camaraderie to lead authentically joyful lives.  I concentrate on building a strong community of amazing women with a similar mindset – gutsy go-getters who want to live life on their own terms, whatever that may mean to them!

I provide inspiration and community for women through digital programs, coaching, and a vibrant blog that features “Quarterlife Crisis” Bloggers who write for me in 6 month seasons.

I like to think that I’m changing the world by teaching women how to value their own happiness and strength.  I have a sneaking suspicion that a world of fulfilled joyful women equals radical acts of goodness, widespread emotional and physical health, creative expression, equality, and compassion.


You have different courses on Stratejoy. Can you share with our readers the brief description of each course. 

Here’s a short descriptions of each course we currently offer!  You can find out more by visiting thestore page or if you prefer live programs, checking out the small group coaching page.

The Joy Equation: A 30-day guide to Living Life on Purpose

Feeling off your path? Disconnected to your sparkly self? No clue on how to rediscover the “true you”? THE JOY EQUATION offers you specific tools and guidance to uncover your core values, identify success on your own terms, craft authentic goals, and start making the big dreams reality.  The course is made up of the Joy Plan Workbook, an inspirational email/journal prompt each day for 30 days, and four 90 minute audio sessions that lead you through the process.

The Fierce Love Course

Sometimes you know what you want in life, but something is stopping you from activating your plans. You get in our own way.  You fall victim to self-sabotage and lack of motivation.  The enemy can be self-doubt, lack of confidence, or a missing base of self-love…  Whatever it is, it’s holding you down.
Sounds like it’s time for some Fierce Love and Inner Confidence Training!

THE FIERCE LOVE COURSE is a digital course for women who to want to cultivate a strong sense of self-worth, inner resilience, and delicious kindness.  It’s a self-paced course with a 45-page workbook, motivational emails and digging deep resources, personal challenges, and four 90 minute video/audio sessions to guide you through the work.

Create Your Magical Year

In this downloadable e-course, I’ll help guide you through taking stock of your last year and prepare you for the new year in a way that will get you on the “right path”. Together, we’ll figure out what’s important enough to keep, what should be left in the past, and how to take charge of the next 365 days to make them magical. From guided teleseminars and printable worksheets to inspirational interviews and soul searching journal prompts, this download is chock full of inspiration and actionable steps.

Joy Juice: 120 Journal Prompts for Positive Growth

Journaling is the process I use to engage in conversation with myself, to act as my own therapist, friend and coach. It is my haven and birthplace of all my big ideas.  Joy Juice is a yearlong program of positive journal prompts delivered every 3 days to your inbox. Each month has a theme (Intention, Love, Money, Creativity, Freedom, etc) to inspire honest reflection, true growth, and the chance to listen to the wisest woman in your world–Yourself.

























What is the source of inspiration for your articles? Can you take us through the creative journey that you undertake for writing each article?

I write what I’m experiencing…  That could mean documenting my 4-month honeymoon road trip around the United States, steps I’m taking to build my business, a fabulous new book I’ve read, or the pains of growing a tiny person.

When I’m writing my more coach-focused posts or recording my “Strategies for Joy” videos, I always ask myself, “What wisdom do I need to hear right now?”  If I need to be reminded how to live boldly or conduct a personal quarterly review, I assume my readers do as well!


What is the biggest compliment that you have received as an inspirational writer/life coach?

Hands down it’s emails from clients or readers who tell me that I’m changing their life.  I keep them all in a special folder marked “Love” on my computer so that I always remember why I do what I do.  I’m making a difference in women’s lives…  That’s pretty amazing and humbling to me!


What are your future plans for Stratejoy?

Good question!  There are so many doors I see opening for Stratejoy!

We could start consulting and training awesome companies on measuring happiness in the same way they’d measure profit.  I could decide I want to be come a prolific author and start writing at the expense of everything else.  We could become a media empire ala Oprah with a magazine and television show.  I could get sick of the online world and become a cheese maker and lavender farmer…

Can you tell I haven’t picked a future? Whatever is next, I know I will figure it out when I’m ready.

For now, I’m concentrating on serving more women, being a trusted voice in a crowded market, and celebrating my own life (mama, wife, adventurer) as authentically as possible. In Stratejoy 2.0, there will probably be thriving communities for mamas and entrepreneurs, as well as the fabulous Quarterlife Crisis ladies.


What advice would you give to an aspiring inspirational writer/blogger?

Live your life out loud and fully present, embracing all the adventure, learning curves, and transitions.  Then? Then write about it.

Don’t ever try to write your way into the life you’d like to be living.  Live it first.


Thank you Molly for taking the time for this interview. You are an inspiration for many women and bloggers out there. :) We wish you and Stratejoy the very best in the future.

You can also see one of the videos created for Stratejoy by Molly here: