For many of us Gen X women solopreneurs, “momentum” feels like a scary word. We’ve been conditioned by a hustle culture that tells us we have to grind 24/7 to keep the engine running.
But what if momentum isn’t about running faster? What if it’s about finding a state of flow where the doors open simply and the walls just… disappear?
In this final interview of our Momentum series, I sat down with Janet Tanguay, a woman who truly vibes with the “Gratitude Geek” philosophy.
Janet is the founder of Hammock Way of Life, LLC, a business strategist, and the author of The Hammock Way of Life: Leaping Toward Joy—a book that was recently featured on a billboard in Times Square!
As a former Director of Entrepreneurship who has helped over 1,000 businesses launch, Janet has the business chops to back up her “woo.” She’s here to show us how to get unstuck by embracing a “Hammock Way” of living and working.
Key Takeaways
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- Why narrowing your target market into a hyper-focused niche accelerates business momentum and expands your overall reach.
- How using 3D cake boxes in vision board workshops allows participants to create tactile displays while keeping personal or corporate goals private.
- Techniques for building inclusive workshops for neurodivergent participants and individuals with aphantasia who do not process visual images in their mind.
- How practicing daily gratitude and celebrating small financial wins creates an energetic feedback loop that attracts further abundance.
- The power of protecting your “North Star” by setting firm boundaries, saying “no” to misaligned opportunities, and using intuitive “guiding goosebumps” to scale your business.
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The Paradox of Niching Down
We often suffer from major FOMO (fear of missing out) when it comes to our target market. Consequently, we worry that if we narrow our focus, we’re leaving money on the table.
Janet’s journey proves that the opposite is true. Also, she spent years as a general business coach. But she found her true “groove” when she leaned into a very specific niche: vision boarding for the corporate arena.
This wasn’t a random shift; it happened through the power of relationships. Former entrepreneur clients took “real” jobs in big companies and brought Janet in to lead workshops for their departments. By becoming the go-to expert for this unique intersection of strategy and creativity, her business didn’t just grow—it catapulted.
“The farther I niched down, surprisingly, the more momentum I gained.”
Reflection: Think of it like skiing. In her book, Janet tells a story about being taken to the top of a mountain as a beginner and told to “tuck and go.” She gained momentum, but without the direction of a niche (or the skills of the “bunny hill”), it was just a scary fall. Niching down is the “grease” that lets you slide forward with purpose rather than just crashing into the woods.
Vision Boarding in 3D
Janet has totally reimagined the traditional vision board by moving it into the third dimension using… cake boxes! This isn’t just a fun craft; it’s a strategic tool for psychological safety. In a corporate environment or a public workshop, people are often “guarded” about their deepest dreams.
A cake box allows for a “guarded” manifestation experience:
- Privacy: You can place your most vulnerable dreams inside the box, where they are tucked away from prying eyes.
- Tactile Anchors: Because it’s 3D, you can include physical objects like seashells, house keys, or even a love letter.
Reflection: For the introverts among us, the “Hammock Way” is about refreshing and retreating. The cake box offers that same sense of sanctuary. By creating a safe, private space for your vision, you allow yourself to be more honest—and that honesty is what fuels real manifestation.
Inclusive Manifestation and Aphantasia
One of the most mind-blowing parts of our chat was discussing aphantasia—the inability to visualize mental images. Janet realized that many people feel “broken” in manifesting because they can’t “see” a movie in their head.
Janet practices “inclusive holding,” adapting her work for the neurodivergent and visually impaired. She teaches that manifestation isn’t about a clear mental picture; it’s about impressions, feelings, and imagining.
Reflection: This is a game-changer. If you can’t “see” it, don’t worry—you can still feel the frequency of it. Manifestation is a rhythm, not a visual talent. It’s about tuning your internal radio to the station of your dreams.
The Gratitude Loop (Celebrating the “Tiny Checks”)
Janet and I are totally aligned on this: appreciation is the fuel that keeps the momentum engine humming. She shared a story about receiving tiny royalty checks from her books and her art (which she sells through “Art-o-mats”—repurposed cigarette vending machines!).
Instead of looking at a small check and feeling “is that all?”, Janet celebrates it. She knows that by shifting out of shame or fear and into celebration, she is literally using quantum physics to attract more. I’ve experienced this too—celebrating a tiny ad revenue check for this podcast often leads to three more payments arriving within days!
“The more you appreciate, the more you have to appreciate.”
Reflection: When you celebrate the “tiny checks,” you are telling the universe, “More of this, please!” You are tuning your frequency to abundance. If you stop noticing the small blessings, the momentum stalls.
Scaling Through “Guiding Goosebumps”
How do you scale a business without losing your “Hammock” lifestyle? Janet did it by creating a certification model. She now has over 100 certified coaches across five continents. And she didn’t just “wing it”—her program is accredited by the CPD (Continuous Professional Development) in the UK, giving it serious international “chops.”
She also hosts “Energize Your Vision” workshops, which are like a mastermind for your vision board. You bring your existing board, and the community gives you the feedback and energy to move those dreams forward. Throughout this growth, she relies on her “guiding goosebumps”—that physical intuition that tells her she’s on the right track.
“I’m guided by goosebumps these days because it’s powerful work.”
Reflection: Scaling doesn’t have to mean more hustle. For Janet, it meant building a community that carries the vision with her. When you follow the “goosebumps” instead of the “shoulds,” you stay aligned with your North Star.
Meet Janet Tanguay
Janet Tanguay is a vision board leadership coach, author, mixed-media artist, and founder of Hammock Way of Life, LLC. She is aformer Chamber of Commerce entrepreneurship director who has helped launch over 1,000 businesses.
Janet now leads an international network of 100 certified coaches helping corporate teams and solopreneurs manifest their goals faster.
Disclaimer: Some links may be affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you choose to purchase. No added cost to you.
Connect with Janet Tanguay
- Website: Hammock Way of Life, LLC
- Socials: LinkedIn | Pinterest
- Gift: Free ticket to one virtual vision board session or Energize Your Vision session if you’ve already created your vision board. Email Janet.
- Book: Hammock Way of Life: Leaping Toward Joy
Small Business & Entrepreneurial Resources Mentioned
- CPD (Continuing Professional Development): UK accreditation organization that certified Janet’s vision board coach training program.
- Small Business Development Centers (SBDC): Regional and nationwide centers providing small business assistance, financial modeling, demographic research, and business planning.
- Local Chambers of Commerce: Regional business organizations offering networking, workshops, and business development resources.
- Entrepreneurship for All (E4All): Nationwide organization offering programs and support for entrepreneurs.
- Start Small, Think Big: Multi-state organization providing workshops on legal, financial, marketing, and AI tools for small business owners.
- New York State Entrepreneurial Assistance Centers (EAC): Small business support centers located at organizations like Hofstra University, SUNY Broome, and Queens Economic Development Corporation.
Additional Mentions
- Art-o-mat: Converted vintage cigarette vending machines that vend original miniature art pieces.
- Outlandish: Mushroom-focused business founded by Scottish artist Kylie Dixon.
- Marketing Podcast Network (MPN)
- Creator Collab Mixer
Finding Your North Star
Momentum is only valuable if you’re headed in the right direction. Janet’s “North Star” helps her say “no” to opportunities that might look good on paper but don’t fit her vibe.
To stay on track, she even asks for signs. She asked to see an eagle as a sign she was on the right path—and now she sees them everywhere (I’m manifesting my own eagle right now, y’all!).
What is one “good” opportunity you need to say “no” to today so you can say “yes” to your North Star?
Stay Groovy!
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