This is my 13th newsletter. I’m rational – but I’m also wildly superstitious. And this week? It lived up to the number.
As I write this, my father-in-law is dying. It’s the kind of life moment that shatters your perspective. Everything else suddenly feels small.
There’s nothing I can do to fix it. And for someone who thrives on action, that’s excruciating.
But I can be present. And here’s what I’m deeply grateful for:
I didn’t have to ask for time off. I didn’t lose income for choosing to be with family. I didn’t think twice before flying my entire family across the world.
That’s why I left corporate.
Not to do more.
To be more.
This moment—this raw, painful, beautiful one—reminds me exactly why I walked away from the paycheck, the title, the so-called security.
It’s the same question I ask every client I coach:
Why do you want to leave your 9-5?
If you don’t have a clear answer, the how doesn’t matter. Because you’ll end up rebuilding the same trap—just with new furniture.
As Dan Koe put it:
“Most people try to build a business with the mindset of an employee, not an entrepreneur.”
“They search for businesses to start instead of first deciding how they want to live.”
Clarity is strategy. Your WHY isn’t fluffy mindset work. It’s the foundation.
I see it over and over again in my Skills to Profit Audit (currently in Beta Testing): the women who move fastest and with the most confidence? They were crystal clear on their WHY.
Let’s help you get there too.
Quote of the Week
“When you know your ‘why’, you can endure any ‘how’.”
Friedrich Nietzsche
The Hidden Cost of Skipping This Step
Most women start a business focused on the what—a service, an idea, a product. But when things get hard (and they always do), they burn out or stall.
Why? Because they skipped the why.
Without a North Star, you end up recreating the same stress, overwork, and people-pleasing—but now under the banner of “freedom.”
A strong WHY doesn’t erase fear. But it will carry you through it. It also gives you permission to say no—to the wrong clients, the wrong business model, the wrong goals.
Let’s get honest: Why do you want to leave your 9-5?
Not the polite answer.
The real one.
The one that wakes you up at 3am.
The 3-Part ‘WHY’ Framework
Let’s build your clarity from the inside out:
1. What Are You Running From?
- Burnout and overwork
- Micromanagement
- Invisible effort and zero autonomy
- Feeling stuck in a box you’ve outgrown
✏️ Prompt: What’s draining the most energy from your current life?
2. What Are You Running Toward?
- Freedom and flexibility
- Ownership of your time
- Work that aligns with your values
- Being present for your family without guilt
✏️ Prompt: What does a perfect weekday look like for you six months from now?
3. What’s Your North Star?
This is the belief or value that keeps you going when things get hard.
“I want to build a business that lets me be fully present with my kids and still have my own income.”
“I want to show my daughter what financial freedom looks like.”
“I’m done living life for someone else’s approval.”
✏️ Prompt: What matters enough to you that you’re willing to figure this out—no matter what?
Your WHY Deep Dive: 20 Reflection Questions
A powerful WHY isn’t found on the surface—it’s buried under years of people-pleasing, burnout, and ‘shoulds.’ These questions are your shovel. Let’s dig.
Part 1: Life Before vs. Life Ahead
- What aspects of my corporate job no longer serve me?
- How has my perspective on career and life changed since my 20s and 30s?
- What specific changes do I hope entrepreneurship will bring to my daily life?
- How do I want my work to impact my family’s future?
- What will I regret most if I don’t pursue this opportunity?
Part 2: Personal Alignment
- What are my top three non-negotiables in this new chapter of my career?
- How do my personal values align with this career transition?
- Am I more motivated by flexibility, creativity, or financial independence? Why?
- What unique strengths or passions do I want to bring to my business?
- How will I measure success beyond financial outcomes?
Part 3: Legacy & Impact
- Who am I trying to inspire or serve with my business?
- What legacy do I want to leave for my children or community?
- Who or what has inspired me to consider this path?
- How will entrepreneurship allow me to prioritize what matters most to me?
- What long-term personal goals will this transition help me achieve?
Part 4: Inner Readiness
- Why am I drawn to entrepreneurship at this stage of my life?
- What challenges or sacrifices am I prepared to face for this transition?
- How does this decision align with my current priorities and responsibilities?
- What specific milestones or achievements will help me stay motivated?
- How will my life look if I don’t pursue this change?
💡 Copy these into a journal or Notes app. No edits. No judgment. Just let it all out. The clarity you’re looking for is already inside you.
This Week’s Action Plan: Find Your Why
Step 1: Journal for 10 Minutes
- What am I no longer available for in my work and life?
- What kind of life am I committed to building?
Step 2: Write a One-Sentence ‘Why Statement’
Keep it personal. Keep it raw. This isn’t for Instagram—it’s for your soul.
“I’m building a business so I can stop asking permission to live life on my terms.”
Step 3: Say It Out Loud to Someone You Trust
Put it into the world. Make it real.
Your WHY isn’t a branding statement. It’s your anchor.
You don’t need a business idea—you need a reason to fight for one.
Something so personal and real that it anchors you through every wobble and what-if.
For me? I’d never go back to the City (Wall Street) — unless my children were hungry and needed food on the table.
And even then, I’d probably consider every other option first.
That’s how strong my WHY is.
And once you find yours, nothing will shake it.
See you next Wednesday.
