Recently, my daughter experienced one of those life seasons that stretches you emotionally, mentally, and sometimes even physically. Watching her navigate those big changes reminded me of something we often forget as parents and as leaders: we tend to share the highlight reels of our journeys — the milestones, the titles, the accomplishments. But we rarely talk about the messy middle.
The truth is that my path wasn’t linear. It wasn’t always clear. And it certainly wasn’t easy.
Today, I’m the CEO and Founder of ReEmployAbility, Inc., an organization that’s redefining return-to-work in the workers’ compensation space. But if you looked only at my title, you might assume this was the product of a master plan. It was anything but.
I began my career in retail. I worked hard, learned a lot, and gained valuable experience. But deep down, I knew it wasn’t where I was supposed to stay. There was a quiet voice inside me that kept whispering, there’s something more out there. I didn’t know what “more” looked like, but I knew I had to chase it.
That chase led me to a job at Aetna, a CVS Health Company (formerly Aetna Life & Casualty) as a claims adjuster. A role I didn’t even fully understand at the time. The insurance industry was foreign to me. My dad thought I was making the biggest mistake of my life. I knew it was a step back on paper, but instinctively, I knew it could be a step forward in the bigger picture.
Then came the opportunity that changed everything: a job in California. It was a major leap. One that pulled me away from my home in Florida, from my family, from my comfort zone. This move was about something deeper, a deeper stretching.
I’ll never forget my first night in California. It was raining. I was alone, driving in an unfamiliar city, navigating with a paper map (these were pre-GPS days). The weight of it all hit me: I had left everything familiar behind. And I broke down.
I remember sitting in the car, exhausted and overwhelmed, wondering if I had made a huge mistake. I wanted to turn around, go back to the airport, and undo it all. But I didn’t. I stayed. And that made all the difference.
Instead of running, I leaned into the discomfort. I adapted. I learned. I grew. That decision, that pivot, opened the door to a field I never imagined I’d thrive in. Insurance wasn’t the plan, but it turned out to be the perfect fit. Life had more surprises in store. I met my now-husband. I learned to ski, something I still love. I took risks, made mistakes, picked myself up again, and little by little, my path started to take shape.
Two decades later, I lead a company that’s doing meaningful work in return-to-work solutions. But I didn’t get here by knowing exactly where I was going. I got here because I said yes. To change. To growth. To the unknown.
That’s what I want my daughter, and others navigating their own messy middles, to understand: it’s not about having it all figured out. It’s about showing up, even when you’re unsure. It’s about saying yes, even when you’re scared. It’s about embracing the pivots and the detours, because that’s where real growth happens. That’s where purpose starts to take root.
If you’re in the middle of your own messy season, keep going. The next chapter might be waiting on the other side of a decision that feels uncertain today.
One of my favorite quotes and one I share often is from #JackCanfield: “Jump and grow your wings on the way down.”
That quote has always resonated with me. It’s about trusting yourself enough to take the leap of faith, even before you feel ready. Because growth doesn’t happen in comfort zones. It happens in motion. In essence, that quote reminds us:
- To take the leap of faith, even when the landing isn’t clear.
- To see challenges not as roadblocks but as growth opportunities.
- To believe in your own ability to adapt, to learn, and to rise.
The life you’re meant to lead isn’t waiting at the end of a perfect plan. It’s unfolding right now, in the messy middle.
So, jump! You’ll build your wings on the way down.
