VIBE SHIFT MOMENTS

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Today's VIBE talk? VIBE SHIFT MOMENTS—specifically, one of mine!

For me, a Vibe Shift Moment refers to a pivot point in the zeitgeist; it's a juncture where our individual and collective atmosphere and preferences transition toward something different from the current status quo. It's the observable moment when we pick up the cosmic dumbbells and start exercising the muscles we need to form new norms and behaviors.

Vibe Shift Moments are both relative and contextual—what profoundly impacts one individual may be completely unnoticed by another. They can be experienced on a personal level and by the collective and can vary in scale, from the micro to the macro.

They might build upon one another or act as catalysts for each other. Sometimes, these shifts are anticipated, while at different times, they strike unexpectedly, like a bop on the head (or blunt force trauma).

And, like earthquakes, their intensity can range in magnitude from a gentle tremor to a seismic upheaval.

Like all of you, I've experienced numerous Vibe Shift Moments throughout my life; some were significant, others seemed almost imperceptible at the time, and a few only revealed their true impact once I saw them through the lens of reflection.

Recently, I encountered a particularly monumental Vibe Shift Moment—a trifecta of sorts—a perfect combo of three distinct moments over the last five years that fundamentally shifted the path I was charting.

Had these three moments occurred in isolation, each would have been impactful in and of themselves, but it's the mocktail of the three that I credit with propelling me to where I am today. They were like three consecutive 'forks in the road,' each leading to the next, steering me on this new, uncharted path—like an IRL game of choose-your-own-adventure!

In March 2019, five years ago, I moved to Los Angeles (Silver Lake, specifically)—a city I have since fallen deeply in love with. I came here for a job but quickly found it was where I was meant to be. While I was raised in San Francisco and New York, I say that I have been refined in Los Angeles.

In my short time here in Los Angeles, I have built several meaningful relationships and forged incredible connections. The fiery energy of this city amplifies my creativity, and its diversity and vitality act as a perpetual spark for thought and imagination. This vibrant city is the backdrop for the next chapter of my story and the first ingredient in my Vibe Shift Moment mocktail.

Exactly one year to the day after moving to LA, COVID-19 emerged as THE collective Vibe Shift Moment of our time. It altered how we work, live, interact, and reassess our priorities. This global pandemic ranks as one of the most significant macro shifts in our collective history, comparable to the invention of electricity, the internet, and running water. It has forever changed how we live and is such a sizable shift that we all struggle to remember what life was like before it happened.

The final moment of this trifecta came in late 2022, when I decided to take a pause from my 25-year career as a high-powered executive in corporate.? After running at the speed of light for over a quarter century, this was an intentional pause designed to give me the time needed to focus on reconnecting with the aspects of myself that had been sidelined for so many years.

I allowed myself to take a year off from the corporate grind to actively analyze my years of experience, explore other areas of myself and the market, and define how I wanted the next volume of my book to read.

Corporate 'me' had a crystal-clear vision of my next 15 years; she also had a triple-booked calendar with meeting titles like "touch base," "1:1," "Standup," "Forecast," "Long Term Plan," "Regroup on the Regroup," "Deck Review," and my personal favorite "Prep Meeting for the Prep Meeting."

Virtually overnight, I went from running a multi-billion-dollar business with thousands of employees and a never-ending to-do list, to the gal whose only responsibility was to herself and her dog (Zoe.)

My calendar now read "Hot Girl Walk," "Phone Date With xx," "Lunch w/xx," "Dinner w/ xx" "Digital Extended Learning," "Walk n' Talk" and "Zoe Time." Suddenly, the nice-to-have items were on my to-do list, and I could finally give them the energy they deserved—talk about a SHIFT!

When you make an abrupt 180° shift from the path you were solidly on, you have no choice but to change from your core out fundamentally; it's no small body of work. The idea of starting from scratch [a topic I plan to discuss in-depth in future pieces] becomes an exercise in defining who you are, what you bring with you, and where you're trying to go.

A pause allows you to reflect critically on your past identity and routines. It serves as a tool for redefinition and recomposition—like a closet purge, you try on everything you own, keep what you love, but clean out what no longer serves you to make room for new pieces.

In the spirit of full transparency and vulnerability, it hasn't all been roses, shopping for new goodies, and hot girl walks. There have been days of absolute existential crisis, reckoning with self-doubt and imposter syndrome, taking calls and considering roles I'm not interested in just because my muscle memory and scarcity mindset tell me I can do them, and struggling to see the next 15 years with the same degree of clarity I used to possess.

But, on those days, I remind myself of the three truths I always used to motivate my team as we went through (re)evolutions.

1. We need to be comfortable being uncomfortable because it’s in the uncomfortableness that growth truly happens.
2. Playing to win looks (and feels) A LOT different than playing not to lose.
3. And those that can adapt are those that evolve.

So, what did this Vibe Shift Moment yield to me?

From the zoomed-out lens, I am blending all the lessons from my extensive corporate experience with fresh, invigorated perspectives gained from this Vibe Shift Moment. This combination guides me as I explore new possibilities and pathways, making deliberate choices that align more closely with my aspirations, newly discovered passions, and our shifting zeitgeist. The journey is about synthesizing the wisdom of experience with the enthusiasm of new beginnings and setting the stage for a fulfilling and dynamic next chapter.

I am finally connecting dots that have been in a perpetual holding pattern in my head for years, and I have the pleasure of sharing them with you all via THE VIBE SHIFT!

Zooming in—I will quote the great herself, T. Swift: "…the old Taylor..." in this case, Jen, "...can't come to the phone right now. Why? Oh, 'cause she's dead." and it’s such a good thing! The old version of me no longer exists; the version that stands in her place is stronger, more well-rounded, more intelligent, a better friend, more patient, more knowledgeable about the world, more creative, and holistically rested.

The more aware we are of our personal and collective Vibe Shift Moments, and the more we assess and evaluate them—the more we can harness and direct them!

So, I ask the group - what's one of your Vibe Shift Moments?

Let's VIBE!

-Jen

THE VIBE SHIFT can also be found on Substack at https://thevibeshift.substack.com/

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This week is a special three-newsletter kick-off week. The future cadence of THE VIBES SHIFT newsletter is bi-weekly. ENJOY, and please join in on the conversation!

? 2024 THE VIBE SHIFT GROUP LLC ? 2024 JENIFER DESOFI