“When opportunities arose to expand nationally and internationally, I realized that to leverage those with confidence, I needed financing to strengthen our foundation,” explains Janet Tanguay, owner of the business-strategist and creative-catalyst venture, Hammock Way of Life.
Here’s how two loans from Pursuit are helping Janet meet growing demand and new opportunities.
Hammock Way of Life: A natural evolution of passion and experience
Hammock Way of Life coaches entrepreneurs, corporate and human-resources professionals, nonprofit leaders, and others to help them realize that by being mindful, focusing on goals, and building connections, they make better decisions. The venture, which also aims to help people create work/life balance while building success, evolved from Janet’s previous experiences as part of the Capital Region Chamber of Commerce team and as a teacher and consultant for New York State’s Entrepreneurship Assistance Centers (EAC) program.
“I’ve always had, or created, side hustles,” Janet explains. “One was Art ‘n Soul, in which I helped artists learn business principles that could help them in their careers. Because they’re visually oriented, we started using vision boards to help them ‘see’ their plans.”
That led to one of Hammock Way of Life’s most popular offerings – vision boarding, in which people create physical manifestations of their work and life goals through pictures and text. This has proven so effective that Janet added a vision-board coaching certification program to her extensive slate of offerings.
In addition to her accomplishments with Hammock Way of Life and the EAC work, Janet started a record label, Tanguay Productions, and is working on her second recording. She’s authored two children’s books, has contributed to two new anthologies, and has a new memoir coming out, Hammock Way of Life: Leaping Toward Joy.
“For the memoir, the publisher even secured a billboard in Times Square!” she adds.
Janet also offers minority- and women-owned business (MWBE) certification. “MWBE certification is a game-changer for businesses, but the process can be daunting,” Janet admits. “We have a lot of amazing success stories and I’m so proud and grateful to be part of that.”
Growing beyond goals
Since launching in 2018, Hammock Way of Life has taken off from serving primarily New York State-based clients to a growing national and, now, international presence. “I’m based in Schenectady and although I started by promoting my business to potential clients through my New York State connections, soon I received calls from people throughout the country who wanted to learn more about vision boarding,” Janet says. “That evolved into international opportunities, too.”
She continues, saying, “From a growth perspective, everything was happening all at once. I’m trademarking my materials in multiple countries, my vision-board training is accredited and offered in multiple languages, three books are going to print soon, and I’m ramping up the marketing for each of them. I hired more independent contractors on my team including content writers, social media experts, virtual assistants, and designers, hired international business coaches, and needed materials for larger workshops and travel opportunities.”
Great business ideas need funding to grow
When Janet realized that financing would be essential for growth, she didn’t hesitate to reach out to Pursuit VP and Senior Business Development Officer Keri Pratico.
“Our paths first crossed years ago at various entrepreneurial events and I felt confident that Keri and Pursuit could help me,” Janet says. “And Pursuit has an excellent reputation, so it was a really easy decision!”
After reviewing financing options with Keri, Janet applied for two loans: a Pursuit SmartLoan and an SBA Microloan, both of which closed in November 2025, about a month after Janet first applied. “The loan process was fantastic,” Janet says. “Keri and Pursuit made it really simple and straightforward, so it always felt easy and I felt confident that it would work out.”
Janet continues, saying, “Like many of the entrepreneurs I’ve met over the years, I hesitated to take on business debt. Then I realized that if I wanted to scale my business and fulfill its potential to help more people, I’d need funds in-hand to leverage opportunities and improve cash flow. Pursuit made that possible and the loans are already having a positive impact.”
Keri adds, “Working with Janet has been truly inspiring. Her vision for Hammock Way of Life is bold and she approaches growth with both clarity and heart. By connecting her with the right financing, we helped her seize opportunities nationally and internationally, turning ambitious plans into real results. Seeing her business thrive – and the transformations in her clients’ lives – reminds me that supporting entrepreneurs is one of the most meaningful things I do.”
It’s enough to make one wonder if Janet has time for “hammock life” but that’s the goal, she says. “Things are so busy now, but I’ve got a great team of freelancers that understand our values and goals. We work to support each other’s success, as well as all the people we’ve been fortunate to work with in this journey.”
Financing from Pursuit can turn your vision into reality
For other entrepreneurs who are considering financing, Janet says, “We put so much of our time, resources, and passion into our businesses, but fear of debt can hold us back. The loans I received from Pursuit have been immensely helpful and with great partners, like I have with Keri and Pursuit, it takes away the fear so I can focus on cash flow and scaling.”
Pursuit’s a leading small business lender serving businesses in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Illinois, and Delaware. We offer loans and a line of credit for working capital, commercial real estate, equipment, and much more.
We’ve helped thousands of small business owners get the funding they need to achieve their goals and we can help you, too. Contact us today to learn more.