The Anchor Shift

What happens when the safety net disappears?

Mood: Reflective

Vibe: 6:30am, the house is quiet

View: Watching the sun slowly rise from my window

Tune: Cleo Sol Radio on Pandora, currently playing one of my favs “The Sweetest Thing” from the Love Jones Soundtrack

I’m no longer a 9-5 girlie (well, not currently).

My truth is this: my anchor has shifted. For so long, I’ve tied myself to my dual identities of 9-5 and 5-9. Those roles weren’t just jobs or side hustles—they were part of who I was. Now, I’m trying to figure out what a 5-9 really looks like for me in this season of my life, without the 9-5 as my safety net.

That was a mouthful—stay with me.

For the past few months, I’ve been wondering: Is it my confidence? I’ve literally asked myself, “Has your confidence wavered?” But after lots of reflection and conversations, I don’t think that’s it. Sure, confidence has its moments, but at my core, I’ve always been sure of who I am and what I bring to any table.

Here’s the thing: My 9-5 never defined me, but it anchored me. Those big brands and titles provided a sense of structure and credibility that I leveraged in my 5-9 world. They made it easier to say, “Here’s who I am, and here’s why you should care.”

But now, without that anchor, I feel… a bit exposed.

Questions that come to mind:

❓ Have I done enough?
❓ Am I enough to be my own anchor?
❓ Or, maybe I’ve always been my own anchor, and I’m just now realizing it?

The irony is not lost on me. I’m someone who empowers others to own their worth outside of roles and titles, and yet here I am, questioning my ability to do the same in this season.

Is it fear? Maybe. Fear of the unknown? Fear of success? Honestly, it could be both.

What I know for sure is that I’ve been hesitant to go all in. I’ve been dipping my toes in this new chapter, putting myself in uncomfortable situations to grow, but I haven’t fully leaned in. Not yet.

There’s still work to do.

For the first time in a while, I have no idea what the future looks like. And honestly? That’s terrifying. But I know a shift is happening, and it’s up to me to define what I want that shift to be.

The truth I keep coming back to is: I am enough. Even when the doubts creep in, even when the path isn’t clear, I’ve done enough.

This moment is an invitation—a loud, clear one—for me to create the tables, the lanes, and the spaces I want. But this time, it’s different. I’m not just creating for myself; I’m building something bigger.

Wow. Talk about a mirror moment.

In the spirit of the not-so-humble brag, get into some recent wins:

👏🏾 Led my second workshop for The LevelUp Program in partnership with The Brooklyn Public Library and Goldman Sachs One Million Black Women initiative, where I shared my newly created workshop: Elevate Your Brand.

👏🏾 Kicked off the Alumni Facilitator Series for LIM College where I led a virtual session of my new workshop.

👏🏾 Participated in an Entrepreneurship panel for The Black Wharton Undergraduate Association at The Wharton School of Business, UPenn.

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📌 As Always, share my substack with a friend to subscribe (sharing is caring) and grab some time on my Calendly to chat, interview me or have a consult!

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