Can a comedian change the way you define success? Jennifer Fulwiler changed mine.
She has six children born in eight years, drives a minivan, and lives in a three-bedroom house with her husband in Austin, TX.
Instead of feeling trapped by six complicated pregnancies, she overcame what most folks call limitations by finding and firing up her blue flame.
Your blue flame is your natural talent in action, making the world beautiful.
Nothing can hold you back if you follow Jennifer’s fundamental principles for success.
Success law #1: Find your blue flame with motion
Motion leads anyone to discover their blue flame.
Jennifer Fulwiler’s dream of making people laugh grew from a childhood love of prank calls.
She learned that humor and entertainment are her blue flame.
The only way to find out is to do something. Swing into action.
So, she asked God what to do next.
By the way, Jennifer Fulwiler was an atheist until she met her future husband.
They went on a spiritual journey that led them to Christ.
That’s when she received “clarity” to start a blog.
Writing to make folks laugh made her come to life; she knew she was onto something.
Success law #2: Forget later and start now
She didn’t wait until the kids grew up. She blended her blue flame with the family.
Writing the blog and her new Christian faith led to a regular talk show on Sirius XM’s Catholic Channel.
The talk show’s momentum fanned her curiosity about stand-up comedy.
As a result, she writes a comedy set and performs it at an Austin club on open mic night.
“The key is to follow whatever small sparks are present in your life right now and be fearlessly open to wherever they lead you.”
— Jennifer Fulwiler, You Can Find Your Blue Flame, p. 36.
Her books, Something Other Than God (about her conversion from atheism to Christianity) and One Beautiful Dream, are bestsellers, and her comedy act, Maternal Instinct, sells out comedy clubs all over the U.S., all while she is a wife, mother, and homeschooler to six kids.
“Shoot for the moon! If you miss, you’ll be in space where no one can hear you scream.”
— Jennifer Fulwiler’s motto on her desk
Success law #3: Confidence in strength and faith in weakness
I embraced my blue flame in a similar chaotic fashion in the 80s.
I was on a Christmas ski vacation with the family when I called and checked in with the office. The owner of my company brutally informed me he was closing the business and taking all of the clients.
I screamed.
I had just bought and remodeled a house in University Park, TX, all through creative financing, meaning no money of my own, but with the bank’s money at a very high interest rate.
So, I did what any unreasonable person would do: I started my own financial planning company.
It was a good idea, except I had no clients, guaranteed income, or office support.
Instead of a job with another firm, I used my blue flame, public speaking.
Scanning the Dallas Morning News business section led me to organizations seeking speakers.
I found one, the local chapter of NIRI, the National Investor Relations Institute.
A few weeks later, after a phone call recommending me as their next speaker, I stood and spoke to the biggest names in the Dallas business scene.
None of them hired me, but a guy just starting his PR firm liked my ideas and convinced me to hire him even though I had no clients or income.
Within weeks, I was in newspapers and on radio and TV shows in Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and Austin, explaining why President Reagan’s economic agenda would transform the high interest and inflation rates of the 1980s to low interest and inflation rates similar to the 1950s.
Business took off, and my blue flame was rewarded.
Success law #4: Keep your blue flame burning
Since I first published this article, Jennifer’s story has taken an unexpected turn.
In 2025, her 19-year-old daughter, Lane, was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumor. Jennifer stepped away from much of her national speaking and comedy career to help care for her while raising her five other children.
As I follow Jennifer’s journey today, I’m struck by something.
The same woman who once challenged people to find their “blue flame” is now living her own message under circumstances she never would have chosen.
- She still finds reasons to laugh.
- She still points people to faith.
- She still encourages others.
Success isn’t always standing on a stage before thousands.
Sometimes success is quietly showing up every day with hope when life has given you every reason to lose it.
How has your definition of success changed?
Stories like this are part of the reflections I write about life, resilience, and purpose explored on my About Stephen Blaising page.
Always learn something new from your blog, Steve, i.e., blue flame – Still searching for my third-third “blue flame”… time is short however!
It sure is Jeff. Watch for my Halloween post about that.