The Bold Career Move That Changed My Life and My Daughter’s

A story about bold choices, generational strategy, and the little girl who made me braver.

My family thought I was wild for doing it.

I packed up my life, my 18-month-old daughter, and moved from the East Coast to Texas for a job in a state I’d never even visited.

It wasn’t a whim.

It was a decision rooted in vision even if I couldn’t fully articulate it at the time.

Here’s what I said yes to:

• A promotion to HR director with a game-changing pay increase

• Stock options worth more than the average U.S. salary

• A negotiated relocation package that covered nanny placement because I’d be traveling Tuesday to Thursday every week, and I needed backup

But here’s what I really said yes to:

A future I hadn’t seen modeled, but was willing to build from scratch.

Was it hard? Absolutely.

There were tears.

Guilt.

Taylor would cry when I left for the airport.

And some nights, I’d question whether I was pushing us too far… for a dream I couldn’t even fully explain yet.

But deep down, I knew:

This move was bigger than fear.

I was building something for us.

Something that felt generational, strategic, and deeply intentional.

I wanted her to grow up watching me honor my ambition, not hide from it.

I wanted her to believe she could take up space, make bold moves, and choose herself… without waiting for the world to give her permission.

And that meant I had to go first.

It didn’t happen overnight. But over time, I started seeing the impact in her.

In how she walks into rooms.

In how she advocates for herself.

In how she talks about her future, out loud, with joy and confidence.

And in quiet moments, like when she asked me:

“Mommy, is this the life you dreamed about?”

That question caught me.

Because the truth is, no.

I didn’t dream this exact life. I couldn’t have.

But I fought for a life where dreaming was possible.

And that’s what I hope she sees.

The Takeaway

Sometimes the boldest moves don’t feel brave in the moment.

They just feel necessary.

This wasn’t just a career pivot.

It was a reclamation. A reintroduction. A radical act of motherhood.

And it changed everything.

Not just for me.

But for her.

Your Turn

If you’ve been standing at the edge of a big decision, wondering if you’re asking for too much or risking too much…

I hope this reminds you what’s on the other side of saying yes to yourself.

You don’t have to be fearless.

You just have to be honest.

What are you building, not just for you, but for the woman watching you?

Check out Taylor's book, Kiara and her Invisible Crown