11/24/2025
I had this plan to capture the perfect Grand Canyon photo.
You know the one, peaceful smile, hair cooperating, dramatic backdrop, the whole “I have my life completely together” aesthetic.
But then I stepped to the edge, and the wind had other plans.
My hair was everywhere.
My sweater was crooked.
And the moment I tried to fix it, the wind kicked up even harder, almost like it was in on the joke.
For a second, I felt that familiar pressure to make it look polished.
Because that’s what we’re conditioned to do, especially in professional spaces.
We’re taught to present ourselves as composed, controlled, unshaken.
Even when the wind is literally blowing our hair into a full identity crisis.
But the longer I stood there, the more I realized this messy, wind-whipped moment was actually the truth.
The real me.
In real life.
Not curated. Not filtered. Not performing.
And that’s when it hit me. This is exactly what happens at work too.
We try so hard to present the professional version of ourselves.
The one who never feels overwhelmed, rattled, or human.
But authenticity doesn’t show up in perfect lighting.
It shows up in the moments we didn’t script.
Because in workplaces everywhere, SHIFT happens.
A project derails.
A team member resigns.
A client issue hits at 4:59 p.m.
Or, honestly, we’re just exhausted and holding it together with caffeine and a prayer.
My book, S.H.I.F.T. Happens, is built around this truth. We don’t need to become more perfect. We need to become more connected to ourselves.
We need the courage to show up as humans, not highlight reels.
To acknowledge stress instead of hiding it.
To regulate our nervous systems so we can lead, communicate, and collaborate from a grounded place.
Standing there with my hair in wild disarray, I realized the imperfect photo actually captured the message I’ve been trying to share.
You don’t have to look perfect to be powerful.
You don’t have to hide the messy moments to be respected.
You don’t have to perform your way into belonging.
Sometimes the wind-blown version of you is the most honest, relatable, and impactful one.
And honestly.
That’s the one I’m choosing to share, in my life, in my work, and in my book.
Because the world doesn’t need more polish.
It needs more people willing to show up as themselves, even when the wind is blowing like it has a personal vendetta.