“You need value to even be evaluated.” That was my mic-drop response during this year’s corporate performance review. A bold statement, if I do say so myself. The silence that followed was deafening, and no, it wasn’t the kind of silence where people are processing your brilliance. It was the kind of silence that said, “Oh, she’s not wrong, but we don’t have the budget for honesty right now.”
What followed was the cherry on top of my corporate disillusionment sundae: the one potential ladder rung to climb—the mythical “promotion”—was deleted faster than my enthusiasm for Monday mornings. My department got shuffled under Shipping, which is like being told, “You matter… but only if you can pack boxes.” Spoiler: I cannot.
This wasn’t just a wake-up call. This was the kind of blaring, ear-splitting alarm that makes you sit up and ask, “What am I even doing here?” The truth was hard to ignore: I wasn’t going anywhere. Not sideways. Not upwards. Not even diagonally. And if there’s one thing worse than feeling stuck, it’s knowing you’re stuck and doing nothing about it.
Enter: My Dreams, Stage Left
I’ve had these dreams for years—the kind that creep in during those rare quiet moments between Zoom meetings and existential dread. I’d think, One day, I’ll make this happen. But “one day” kept moving further and further down the calendar, and I finally realized I was running out of excuses.
It wasn’t an easy decision. After all, I’m not exactly rolling in piles of money. My financial situation is more “squeaky shopping cart” than “luxury cruise.” But at some point, I had to ask myself: What’s scarier—being broke but alive with passion, or staying comfortable but feeling like a human placeholder in someone else’s spreadsheet?
Spoiler again: Passion won.
The Terrifying, Thrilling Leap
So here I am, leaping off the cliff and building the parachute on the way down. It’s exhilarating. It’s terrifying. And honestly, it’s about time. I’m finally pouring my energy into what I love—dreams that have been waiting patiently in the wings while I drowned in emails and budget meetings.
Is this risky? Oh, absolutely. It’s like playing Jenga with my finances and sanity, but at least now I’m the one stacking the blocks. For the first time in forever, I wake up excited. My days are filled with creative sparks instead of TPS reports. I’m working harder than ever, but it doesn’t feel like work—it feels like freedom.
A Little Humor to Lighten the Load
To be clear, this isn’t me declaring victory. Not yet, anyway. I’m still in the early stages where success looks less like a triumph and more like not immediately falling on my face. But you know what? Even if I stumble, at least I’m falling forward.
Honestly, the universe better be ready because I am coming in hot. I’ve got dreams bigger than my student loan balance (and if you’ve seen those numbers, you know that’s saying something).
Why This Matters
I’m sharing this not just because I love oversharing (although that’s part of it), but because I know there are so many of you out there who feel the same way I did—stuck, undervalued, and wondering if this is all there is.
It’s not. Trust me, it’s not. And if you’ve been waiting for a sign to take the leap, consider this it. It won’t be easy, but staying stuck isn’t easy either. And if nothing else, at least you’ll have a great story to tell when you’re sipping champagne at your own victory party.
So here’s to new beginnings, scary decisions, and the kind of passion that makes you forget how terrifying it is to leap. This isn’t the end of my story—it’s the beginning of a much better one. Let’s see what happens next.