[13] When Life Shifts, Surf the Wave
Hey fam — it’s been a minute. I know I’ve been a bit quieter than usual here, and I appreciate all of you who continue to read, share, and reach out. The truth is: the waters of life have been anything but still lately.
I’ve had some exciting changes in my professional world — expanding my role in new (and kind of intimidating but amazing) directions that I’m pumped to share more about soon. With that, I’ve been pouring energy into navigating those shifts while trying not to let my creativity get lost in the shuffle. So here’s my vow to you and to myself: writing blocks are back, and the posts are staying on. Life doesn’t slow down, but that doesn’t mean I stop showing up.
Personally Speaking: Life’s a Balancing Act (in Heels)
While work’s been a whirlwind, my personal life has also been evolving in all the beautiful, chaotic, messy ways that tend to hit all at once. New friendships are blooming, travel plans are popping, and family time has been more needed than ever. But with the goodness comes the pressure: my lease is ending soon, and the hunt for a new place is on. The uncertainty? It’s real. But so is the opportunity to reset, refocus, and maybe even find a place with better water pressure and less questionable hallway lighting. One can dream.
I’ve been reminding myself to be present — even when the future feels heavy. That means putting the phone down when I’m with people I care about. It means actually listening instead of just waiting to reply. And it means finding one moment of joy every day, even if it’s small. For me, that looks like:
A tough lift followed by a satisfying protein shake.
A long walk around Lady Bird Lake with a good playlist and a clear head.
Or my personal favorite: getting out on the water and catching a wave behind a boat.
Those things don’t solve everything, but they anchor me when life feels adrift.
Professionally: Startup Life Is Just… Life, But Spicier
Anyone in the startup world knows: if you blink too slowly, something will have changed before your eyes are even open again. Titles shift. Teams evolve. Priorities pivot. And just when you think you’ve got your flow, the current pulls a different direction.
But here’s the thing — the people who make it through aren’t the ones who resist the tide. They’re the ones who learn how to surf it.
If you’re also feeling like everything at work is happening to you and not with you, here are 4 quick things that have helped me stay grounded when the sky feels like it’s shifting by the hour:
1. Get Out of Your Head, Into a Plan
Stop spiraling. Start sorting. When things feel overwhelming, write down your tasks. Break them into “must do,” “nice to do,” and “can wait.” Half of overwhelm is mental clutter — clean it up.
2. Use Your People
Don’t white-knuckle it. Reach out to peers, mentors, or that one coworker who always knows what’s going on. The work doesn’t get smaller, but you don’t have to carry it alone.
3. Get Scrappy and Solve
Startup life doesn’t reward perfection — it rewards progress. Can’t do it the way you used to? Good. Find a better way. Innovate, iterate, and then put it in a slide deck and make it look easy.
4. Breathe, Move, Repeat
When your to-do list starts to look like an abstract painting, take a walk. Literally. Change your scenery, breathe deeper, and remind yourself: the moment you pause is often when clarity rushes in.
Q2 Game Plan: Keep It Cute, Keep It Closed
And now, because this is still a sales blog at heart — let’s talk about the game plan for Q2. Change might be swirling, but the numbers? The numbers still matter. And as the great sales philosophers say: ABC – Always Be Closing.
Here’s how I’m staying locked in:
1. Calendar Blocks Are Sacred
Set. Them. Up.
Daily prospecting? Blocked.
Follow-up hour? Blocked.
Time to do absolutely nothing and stare at a wall to prevent burnout? You guessed it: blocked.
Treat your calendar like your glam routine — non-negotiable and essential to showing up strong.
2. Weekly Follow-Ups, With Flair
You have to follow up. But please — let’s never be boring. Add a little spice and show your personality.
Here are some of my favorite go-to ways to add personal flair:
GIFs: Yes, a dancing dog can absolutely be professional.
Callbacks: Reference something they told you — their dog’s name, their team’s big win, the espresso machine they were excited about.
Subject lines that pop: Try “Proof You’re on My Mind (and in my pipeline)” or “Your Compliance Fairy Godmother Checking In 🪄”
Remember: people buy from people — not robots.
3. Check Your Energy Before You Hit Send
If your follow-up feels like a chore, your prospect will feel it too. Take a breath, reset, and bring a little joy to your outreach. A good vibe sells faster than a desperate one.
4. End Every Week With a Win
On Friday, send one risky ask. That high-level cold pitch, that bold discount close, that cross-sell you’ve been circling. Make a bold move before the weekend and watch your confidence carry into Monday.
To wrap it up
We’re all doing our best to juggle changes that weren’t on the calendar. But the goal isn’t to have it all figured out — it’s to keep going anyway. To choose joy when you can, and grace when you can’t. And to remember that heels were made for strutting forward, even when the path is rocky.
So yeah — life’s been a little unpredictable lately. But we’re not here to wait for the waves to settle. We’re here to strap on the heels, grab the surf rope, and ride it like we were built for this.
Until next time —
xo,
Jen