Growth mindset

My Focus 2026: Rebuilding My Life Force in a Season of Transition

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As I step into 2026, I find myself in a season of transition — one that feels unfamiliar, a little disorienting, and surprisingly freeing.

I’m leaving full-time work and entering what I like to call my rewirement phase. It’s not quite retirement, not exactly a second act with a clearly defined script. I don’t yet know what my goals will be for the next five years. And for the first time in a long time, I’m learning to be okay with that. ...  read more

Beyond Money – 7 Signs Your Mindset Is Leveling Up

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Lately, I’ve been reflecting on something I didn’t expect to be thinking about so much after leaving full-time work: contentment.  Not success. Not achievement. Just contentment.   For years, I chased financial goals believing that once I hit certain milestones, I’d finally feel “good.” Safe. Satisfied. And sure, money brings options and peace of mind—but it doesn’t automatically bring ease. It doesn’t create that deeper sense of being okay with yourself and your life. ...  read more

Why Saying “Yes” to New Opportunities Can Be Your Career Superpower

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I’ve been thinking a lot about the power of “yes” lately. It’s been just over a month since I said farewell to my last job, and instead of jumping straight into what’s next, I’ve intentionally made space — and within that space, I’ve said “yes” to things I wouldn’t have before.

  • Yes to spontaneous lunch or zoom calls with new people.
  • Yes to volunteering for a nonprofit’s AI fundraising project (completely unfamiliar territory!).
  • Yes to showing up at events just to see who I might meet or what I might learn.

And honestly? The results have surprised me. I’ve made more meaningful connections and sparked more ideas in these five weeks than I usually do in half a year. It’s reminded me of something important: you don’t have to leave your job or make a big life change to open yourself to growth. You can start saying “yes” right where you are. ...  read more

Farewell and See You Out There

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rollercoaster ride

After 4+ unforgettable (and occasionally truly unhinged) years, it’s time to say farewell.

When I joined, I thought I was signing up for one job… but 4 months in, surprise! A merger turned all of our jobs upside down and gave us a front-row seat to a masterclass in change management (and “how to bond with strangers over shared chaos”).  From there, it only got more interesting—company collapse, another acquisition, new teammates, new systems, new acronyms. ...  read more

Embracing Change: Why Leaving My Job Feels Like a Blessing

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A Surprising Calm in the Face of Change

After two weeks of traveling, attending conferences, and meeting with my boss in person for the last time, I received my year-end review—solid performance, full bonus payout, no surprises. But the bigger conversation was about what’s next.

Since I had turned down an offer to lead Risk & Control for digital, the writing was on the wall. My boss, Sam, even fought to keep me, but the decision was made. They needed my salary to fund that role, and my work was too far ahead of their priorities. Plus, as Sam put it, I was “too expensive” to be redirected elsewhere. (Guess I negotiated well five years ago!) ...  read more

How Making a Career Limiting Move can Lead to Greater Opportunities

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A lot happened last week, leaving me with a tough decision. I received an unexpected invite from my big boss (let’s call him Richard) for a one-on-one meeting at 8:30 AM on Tuesday. The invite simply stated that he wanted to discuss “upcoming opportunities.”

Unsure of what it meant, I reached out to my immediate manager (let’s call him Sam) to see if he had any insights. Sam speculated that it was likely about me helping out with some risk-related work we had discussed plus some Chief of Staff responsibilities. ...  read more