By Andrea Mottola Dobkin
In the fall of 2024, I sold my home and jumped into the world of renting an apartment in downtown Salt Lake City. For the first time in a long time, I felt spacious—physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I traded square footage for skyline views, responsibility for flexibility, and began a new chapter with more intention and less noise.
My new home comes with a rooftop pool, sauna, and hot tub that serve up fabulous sunsets and even better perspective. It’s become my sanctuary—where I recharge, reconnect, and dream bigger.
I also jumped headfirst into entrepreneurship—launching my business as a franchise consultant and starting Guide to Franchising, my consulting company dedicated to helping people find businesses that align with their values, lifestyle, and goals.
Yes, I wear fuzzy socks to Zoom meetings. Yes, I light palo santo before client calls. Yes, I believe you can be cozy, confident, and killing it. All at once.
This Is the Glow-Up Nobody Talks About
I’m 61 years old. Divorced. Two grown daughters. I’m living in a downtown apartment. I’m building a business. I’m in the best health of my life.
And I’m not chasing anyone else’s version of success anymore.
In the fall, something shifts in me. The rhythm slows. My rituals deepen. I set my goals this time of year—not in January, but in September. As the leaves begin to fall, I feel a sense of renewal that’s more powerful than any calendar flip. It’s the season of the Jewish New Year, a sacred time to reflect, realign, and begin again—with intention and heart.
Each year, I mark the season with a solo hike. There’s something about being on the trail with the crunch of leaves beneath my boots that reminds me to let go of what no longer serves me. I pause. I breathe. I acknowledge what I’m releasing—and then I set new intentions for who I’m becoming and what I want to create in the year ahead.
For me, it’s not about resolutions. It’s about remembering who I am, what I value, and what’s calling to be born next.
Cozy Can Still Be Bold
When I work with candidates who want to explore franchise ownership, I always ask:
- What do you want your life to look like in three years?
- What’s no longer serving you?
- If fear weren’t running the show, what would you try?
It’s amazing how often the answers have less to do with spreadsheets and more to do with sovereignty. Women tell me they want time with their kids. They want to leave jobs that drain them. They want to feel creative again.
They want to build income on their terms. And they’re ready to move from surviving to designing.
That’s the work I do. And I do it best with almond milk chai in hand, a cozy throw over my legs, and candles flickering on the windowsill. You don’t have to hustle in heels to build wealth. You don’t have to burn out to be taken seriously. You don’t need anyone’s permission to start.
This Season, Start Where You Are
This fall, I’m embracing slowness as a strategy and freedom as the goal. I’m still discovering who I’m becoming—and that’s the beauty of it. There’s no deadline on transformation.
So whether you’re in fuzzy socks or fire boots, know this: you can radiate confidence and comfort. You can build power moves from the couch. You can soak in rooftop sunsets and your own success. And you can redefine what it means to glow up—at any age, on your terms.
I’m living proof. Cozy, confident, and absolutely killing it.
