I used to think I was bad at networking.

Not because I never tried—I showed up to the events, sent the LinkedIn messages, and did everything I was supposed to do. But it never felt natural. Small talk drained me. Turning strangers into “opportunities” felt transactional and forced.

So I stopped.

Instead of trying to be good at networking, I started staying in touch with people I genuinely like and respect—no agenda, no scorekeeping. Just real conversations, shared context, and thoughtful check-ins.

That shift changed everything. Opportunities didn’t disappear. They multiplied—through trust, referrals, and relationships that actually felt human.

This is the difference between networking and connecting—and why building depth, not volume, has shaped my career more than any room I ever “worked.”

Gratitude isn’t just a feeling. It’s a mirror.
It reflects who shaped you, what you value, and how you lead.

This week, I’m sharing the two people who shaped my path and the lessons I carry forward in every room I walk into.

There’s a particular kind of discomfort that comes with not knowing what’s next.

Not the “which offer should I take?” kind — the kind where the path you’ve been on no longer fits, but the next one hasn’t appeared yet.

This piece explores how to find clarity and courage in that in-between space — and why movement, not certainty, is what brings the next chapter into focus.

I thought success meant a full calendar, a big title, and being the one everyone relied on.

It looked impressive from the outside but inside, it was exhausting.

Here’s what I’ve learned about letting go of that definition and creating a version of success that actually feels like thriving.

I stopped chasing work-life balance and started asking a better question: What actually fits this chapter of my life?

The answer changed everything.

You don't need to win at perfect. You need rhythms that support what matters most, even if that means letting the dishes wait so you can choose rest over productivity.

After stepping away from a decades-long career and parenting full-time teens, I found myself in the hallway—not the before, not quite the after. Just… the in-between.

In this reflection, I share what it looks like to pause, let go, and begin becoming someone new. If you're navigating your own in-between season, this one's for you.