Before the written word got whittled down to 140 characters, morphed into photos, and replaced by snippets of video, many of us clicked on our computers and got cozy with posts from our favorite bloggers.

And just as the technology transformed, so did the ladies behind said blogs.

I watched as Stephanie from Olive & Tate graduated from a newlywed with an eye for design to a hilariously honest mom of two turned home renovation addict. Jenna of Eat, Live, Run went from a single, twenty-something trained chef and runner to a barre3 enthusiast to a Beachbody coach, and now a mom of three inspiring followers with her delectable recipes and insights into mom life. And Kendra from Hen & Co. grew as a young mom blogger and graphic designer to an influencer on all things lifestyle, an owner of a best-selling Etsy shop, and an inspiring entrepreneur and essential oil enthusiast…all while raising four babies with a fifth on the way (just days away, actually).

Kendra and her crew: Norah, Baylor, Bellamy, Winnie, and Collin.

Kendra’s been inspiring me (and her incredible following) for years, not just because of her giftedness or all the things she does but because of the way in which she’s aged. She’s pivoted when her priorities have shifted, and—in my opinion—she’s never been more authentically herself than in this point in time, which is truly the most inspirational thing of all.

Kendra has packed more into the last ten years than many people do in their entire lives. In her early twenties, the self-proclaimed “go-getter” and “maximizer” left the cubicle and commute grind and started her own design business knowing that she’d be successful. “Hen&Co was built out of ‘I hate my job, and I know there’s a better way…I’m in control of this and can do this. I have enough gifts and can figure out something else,’” she said. Kendra’s shop started with prints and invitations, grew to include baby onesies, and now primarily offers clothing for women and children with punchy sayings.

With the birth of each of her kids, she’s allowed herself to take breaks and learn to rest but not quit. She’s allowed room for change, too, focusing less on her designs and more on her essential oils business, something she said she never thought she’d be doing but views as a dream come true and her current life plan. Through every season, she’s blogged or posted updates and now shares daily videos of her family and businesses, which give her friends and followers insight into how this achiever is highly productive and shockingly peaceful among the chaos of keeping up with four littles ages 6 and younger.

If you asked Kendra what her 20-year-old self would say about the success she’s earned, the family she’s been blessed with, and who she has become in the last decade she’d say, “I wouldn’t be surprised, but I would probably say I feel like I have a long way to go. I wouldn’t look at myself and say, ‘I’ve made it.’ I have four amazing children, an amazing husband, and for the most part I would be happy if this was it…but I know it’s not.”

Kendra works tirelessly to grow her oils business and contribute financially, with goals of hitting one of the top ranks in the company, to retire her husband, Collin (who is an inspiration himself—more on that later!*), and empower others along the way. The Hendersons are currently making plans to build their dream home, and someday Kendra would like to write a book (“too many little kids right now”).

By now you’re probably wondering, How does she do it all?

First and foremost, she hates this question and says the idea of balance is garbage. She is shameless about the conveniences and “hacks” she employs to make time for work and to get things done, which is incredibly refreshing. Kendra has help two mornings a week, works in the cracks and crevices of time most people rest or try to catch up on Netflix, doesn’t workout, enjoys the services of a housekeeper, and makes no bones about the fact that she’s not a cook. She proudly admits she is completely unapologetic about these and quite a lot of other things.

“I’m not a people-pleaser at all, so that sometimes works to my advantage,” she said. “I make a lot of sacrifices in order to do what I do. I don’t show that stuff [on social media] because I don’t see the purpose in that. I think it’s important to shed light on feelings, but I’m not going to lead with that.”

And now you might be thinking, That’s great, and thanks for the honesty, but still…how does she do it?

Kendra said she’s developed her own way of doing things that doesn’t involve traditional “organization.”

“I don’t stay organized,” she said. “I am highly functional unorganized. My office is a nightmare. I’m not organized in terms of…well, there are piles everywhere, my taxes are a nightmare, but I’m very productive. I can get stuff done excessively fast. I’m very productive in place of organization—that’s what happens.”

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She takes mental and creative breaks and “doesn’t force things.” She has a paper calendar and sits down once a month to swap dates with her husband who travels for work. But mostly, she said, she just flies by the seat of her pants.

“I just keep moving,” she said. “Doing things will keep you motivated. The secret to staying motivated is movement. Just do something, and you’ll inspire yourself.”

So if you’re reading this and feeling like maybe you don’t have the time to do something you’ve always wanted to do, aren’t sure if the odds are in your favor, or have a bit of fear about who you might become after having kids, hopefully Kendra’s story can provide a bit of encouragement that with a positive mindset, a can-do attitude, and yes, a whole lot of work…the best truly is yet to come.

IN HER WORDS:

Advice for dream seekers?

“Jump. If it scares you, do it. Just go. You can’t dream too big. Do not limit. Just start.”

Other females who inspire you?

“Ellen DeGeneres, Serena Williams, Casey Weigand, and anyone who’s just doing THEM, unapologetically!”

Favorite kitchen utensil/can’t live without ingredient?

“The Uber Eats app! (Ha.) My griddle—for a big family, I can cook as many pancakes or grilled cheese.”

Go-to recipe?

“We are not foodies, but here are a few: Paula Deen’s Monster Cookies, Martha Stewart’s perfect chocolate chip cookies, bacon-gruyere and grilled onion paninis, and a mom hack…go buy a vegetable tray from Costco—much easier than chopping all those veggies!”

You can find and follow Kendra here:

BLOG: https://henandcompany.com

LIFESTYLE INSTA: @henandco

OILS INSTA: @thismagicmama

*But wait, there’s more: Kendra’s husband Collin is an outstanding mindset and performance coach, author, speaker, former standout collegiate athlete, and just as much a go-getter as his other half. Check him out here: https://www.thecollinhenderson.com and here: @collinhenderson.