When the Floor Drops Beneath You

2024 was already a rollercoaster year for me, and then the entire ride went completely off the tracks on December 9th when I got the call that my mom had very suddenly and unexpectedly passed away.

Why share that in a LinkedIn Newsletter??

Because my north star is that we are ALL humans FIRST - before we are entrepreneurs or CEOs or job seekers or content creators or customer service reps or project managers - we have families and histories. We have feelings and needs. And if we don’t talk about our humanity here then what is the point?

Because I talk about well-being… and I’m deep in the thick of it right now.? I said to someone that grief is a crash course in listening to your body and prioritizing your needs.? I just lived through three weeks (and maybe have many months to go) of checking in with myself every day - every hour - to see what I needed in that moment, what I was capable of in that moment. I learned the mantra “there is no right or wrong way to do this.”? Prioritizing self and letting go of judgement are the essence of well-being. How are you doing in those areas right now??

Because losing a loved one reminds us of the fragility of life. None of us are promised tomorrow. Nothing we have is permanent - not our health, not our popularity, not our income, not our loved ones. Death is a reminder to cherish life. To focus on what REALLY matters. To be fully present. What are you focusing on right now that probably doesn't matter? How can you shift your gaze and choose to invest your time and energy differently?

Because I am just one of thousands of solo entrepreneurs on this platform, struggling to build a brand and an audience and a profitable business to pay my bills and sometimes that feels great, but sometimes the floor drops out from under you.? And I know I’m not the only one who has found themselves in that place. What do you do and where do you go when you don’t have a paycheck - all you have is your own efforts - and suddenly you have nothing to give?

Because when my mom died, my world changed in an instant and I went “dark” on social media and everywhere else, except where it mattered - with myself and my family.? And now that I’m slowly and gently trying to “re-enter” my “real” life and keep my business and my brand afloat, the LinkedIn algorithm will punish me for not having consistent “activity” and will only present my posts to a few dozen people.? Why doesn’t LinkedIn have an “Out of Office” setting so that you can check out for your own mental health when you need to without being penalized?

If now is not the time or if this is not the place to share these things then I don’t know what is.??

You are my community - of sorts - maybe not as intimate or authentic as my local friends, my faith community, my family - but I try to show up here and add value. I try to allow myself to be seen and to see you.? I am here because I choose to be and I don’t choose anything lightly.? So you all need to know - I’m hurting. I’m struggling. I’m trying to be “professional” (whatever that means) while also being human.? I still need to work, even when it’s hard. And I might need help.

I’m preparing for a new year - just like the rest of you. I’m reflecting on the last one and wondering what the future holds.? I have some great ideas and a strong network. I believe the future is bright.? But right now it just feels heavy and hard.??

If any of this resonates with you, please share this, comment, react - help me get my LinkedIn “impressions” back up again and, more importantly, help me make LinkedIn more human. Let me know how I can help you in the new year - or how you could help me.? Let's connect. Let’s be in this together.? Because when the floor falls out from beneath us, it’s important to have some people there to catch us.

Afterall, we’re only human.