“So you’re really not working?” he said, dumbfounded.

I suck in a breath. “Yep, I’m really not working. Taking a bit of a break before I jump into my next thing,” I attempt to explain while sipping lukewarm coffee, realizing that for some audiences, my explanation will never be enough. They simply can’t wrap their heads around it. For that reason, I keep it simple in most company.

“So when’s your next interview?” he inquired, with confidence. Of course there must be an interview.

“I don’t have any scheduled. I have been dying to hear about your trip to Costa Rica, though…” I answer simply, shifting the topic to anything else but me, even if I have to hear about how awful the shop owners apparently are in this area of Central America.

The funny thing is, even I can’t believe it some days. I grew up as a hard-working, athletically minded, super charged, high energy perfectionist (double-Capricorn, IYKYK), charging forward to my goals with gusto. I’ve spent the last 10 years of my career leading teams, supporting growing companies, using my own skills to help others be better. And now my pace is very different.

Without boring you to death with the whole story—though I will if you really want me to—I was blessed with a unique opportunity starting in 2018 through mid-2023 to serve on the executive team for a fast-growing, multibillion dollar company in the fleet & financing sector. Over the course of my tenure at Merchants Fleet, I oversaw marketing, innovation, ESG, and project management at various times, while also serving in a Chief of Staff capacity, supporting strategy and the executive team.

I had the time of my life.

Never would I have expected to have gotten a front row seat in a real-world MBA classroom several times over, while also leveraging my skills to bring value, and ultimately help sell the company to Bain Capital and ADIA in 2022. I will never forget the experiences I had at that company, but most important I cherish the friendships and the people. My greatest successes at Merchants were those we completed as a team and those where I got to the see people I led grow and achieve in their own careers.

It was a dream. But it also took a lot out of me. I wouldn’t trade any of the weekends or late nights I spent helping to build that company and support my teammates. However, I knew that whenever I decided to take the next step in my career, I would take a break in between. Because I understand myself enough to know that whatever I do next, I will pour my heart into like I have before in what I’ve committed to. I’ll need to reset my energy in order to do so.

That break happened in June of 2023. I said goodbye to my colleagues and friends from the past 5+ years, walking out after 7:00 pm on that Friday, my last day, not wanting to miss a minute of those final hours. There aren’t words that can express the feeling of gratitude I have for that time, and those people. Thank you.

As I walked out that door and into the next steps of my journey, for the first time in a long time I did not have a plan. No agenda or pretty little spreadsheet with a checklist. But I did have a focus. My focus was me. Spend the next few weeks launching the summer, and taking the time to really focus on my unwind and on the self care that I had set aside for years, knowing that I “should do it), but also knowing that my brain couldn’t fit it into its own mental agenda during that time. No excuses now.

Time has expanded. And it’s soooo weird.

I won’t go into all the details now, that’s what this blog is for. I’m going to be chronicling my “temporary retirement” over the next little bit here, until this medium no longer feels supportive. I’m also going to be sharing all of the interesting things I’ve uncovered—whether they be lessons or tools or resources or simply entertainment—because there’s been plenty of that, too.

Many of my Baby Boomer friends cringe at this concept, but I have to share with you that the lens I operate from in this life is one of trusting my path and seizing opportunities as they come up, ones that feel aligned with my energy and vision. I’d love to tell you that serving as an executive of a $2B company was on my 10-year plan in 2012, but at that point I was just happy to be able to read (more on that later too). But I did know that I love being on teams, I love to provide value, and be creative, and manage projects, and lead people, and MORE…and all of those things were in my last job and will be in my next opportunity. I know that my path will be lined with the experiences I need to see that vision continue to come to life, and I also trust the redirect. In short, I have an absolute zest for life, and I deeply love my people.

Join me on the journey! Subscribe to receive blog updates below.