Hey, Life with Justin Stephens community! Justin here, with a journal entry on the past week—it's been a refreshing one, full of balance, progress, and unexpected joys. As we document this journey through personal finance, success, business, sales, and marketing, these updates remind me how life's pieces can align in surprising ways. WinCo is going great, the handyman hustle is easier to manage, and a new dating connection has me optimistic. Let's break it down.

WinCo: Leaving Work at Work and Loving It

WinCo is going great, and I'm loving being able to show up, do my job, and then leave work at work. I haven't had a job that enables that kind of thinking before—it's been really refreshing. No lingering stress or late-night emails; just solid effort during shifts and freedom after. This balance makes focusing on my blog and side hustle as a handyman so much easier. I can pour energy into creating content and taking on clients without burnout. It's a game-changer for productivity and mental space.

Handyman Hustle: Steady Progress

With that extra headspace, the handyman side hustle is thriving. I've been tackling more projects—organizing, repairs, yard work—and seeing the direct impact for clients. It's rewarding to know I'm providing value while building something of my own. The revenue continues to fund the blog, keeping the momentum going.

Dating Adventures: A Spark with Dani

On the personal side, I've been using dating apps to find someone to share my life with, and I had a really awesome experience with a new girl named Dani this last week. She's incredibly smart, works in the finance world, and agreed to create videos with me before even knowing about my dreams of building a personal presence online. We're calling it "The Many Adventures of Justin and Dani"! Who knows if it will go anywhere, but I'm excited to have someone in my life who wants to be a part of what I'm trying to build and leave behind for my kids.

I've always wanted to work with my significant other—my parents worked together our whole lives, and to me, there's something romantic about building a business together as well as a relationship. Again, we just met, so who knows if there's a long-term fit, but from an initial assessment, it could be a perfect match with the goals and dreams I'm chasing. Only time will tell!

Reflections: Life's Unexpected Gifts

Sometimes we find what we're looking for in the most unexpected places. This week has been a reminder that balance at work frees up energy for life's joys—like exploring new connections while staying grounded in my hustles.

Why This Matters for Your Journey

Updates like this show how work-life balance fuels everything—from finance (steady job enabling hustles) to personal growth (opening to new relationships). It's all about embracing the ride.

At Life with Justin Stephens, we share raw Journal Entries like this, alongside Point of View stories, Life Strategy tips, Resources, and Great Causes to inspire your path in finance, business, sales, marketing, and beyond.

Call to Action: Subscribe at justindcstephens.com for daily motivation. Share if you're finding balance, and comment: What's one unexpected win in your week?

P.S. Tomorrow, a Point of View post from a dating expert on building relationships. Stay tuned!

To your success,
Justin Stephens