Working Mom Career Change That Changed Everything

Burned out but scared to start over? Here’s how as a working mom, I made a terrifying career change—and built a flexible, fulfilling life that finally fit me perfectly.

The Night I Sent the Email That Changed Everything

It was 8:47 p.m. on a random Tuesday in January. Cold (for Tampa). Dark way too early.

I was sitting at our round kitchen table with my laptop open, cursor blinking on a resignation email I’d been rewriting for weeks.

My husband was in the next room. The baby monitor glowed beside me. My hands were cold. My heart was pounding. And for the first time in years, I was still.

Because I knew this was the moment I’d been avoiding.

The one where I had to admit that my so-called “dream job” — the one that looked incredible on paper and paid more than I’d ever made — was slowly killing the thing I loved most: coaching.

I couldn’t do both.
Not anymore.

And even though I kept telling myself to just wait another year, or that quitting was selfish, or that I’d bankrupt our family, I knew the truth.

The longer I stayed, the smaller I became.

So, I sat there. Cold. Still. Scared as hell.
And I hit send.

My “Hell Yes” Moment (and the Voice That Almost Talked Me Out of It)

The second that email left my screen, I whispered the only thing that came to mind:

“Fuuucccckkkkk.”

Because this was it.
Plan B through Plan Z, gone.
Jane, you’re officially all in.

And underneath that adrenaline rush was a voice whispering all the reasons I shouldn’t have done it:

“You’re going to bankrupt your family.”
“You’re selfish.”
“Wait another year.”
“You’ve worked too hard to throw your career away.”
“No one’s going to want you.”

But louder than the fear was something else — a small, quiet knowing that this was the only way forward.

Because for the first time, I wasn’t performing.
I was choosing myself.

The Promise I Made in the NICU

That decision — that “hell yes” moment — reminded me of a promise I made years earlier, sitting in a hospital NICU with Theodore taped to my chest at 2 lbs, 7 ounces.

I told myself that if I got through that season, I’d never again build a life that made me miserable.

I’d do work that gave me joy.
I’d help women build careers that gave them freedom.
I’d protect their peace and their paychecks.
I’d help them design careers where motherhood and ambition could actually coexist.

And that night at the kitchen table was the first time I finally lived that promise.

Why “Doing It Alone” Is Fear in Disguise

I used to think that doing everything myself was proof of strength.
Now I know it was fear — fear wearing cheap lipstick.

Fear told me that asking for help meant I wasn’t smart enough or tough enough.
Fear told me that I had to earn peace.
Fear told me that I’d lose credibility if I admitted I couldn’t figure it out.

And yet, every time I meet another woman in her 30s or 40s, sitting across from me on a Zoom call — burnt out, overqualified, and quietly drowning — I see that same fear in her eyes.

She says,

“I just need to make it through this busy season.”
“I’ll update my résumé next month.”
“Once the kids are older, I’ll figure out what’s next.”

But clarity doesn’t come from waiting for things to calm down.
It comes from direction — from strategy.

That’s what a good career coach gives you: direction, not dependency.

The Proof That It Works

I’ve watched this shift change everything for my clients too.

Like Rachel — who came to me completely stuck, sending résumé after résumé into the void.
We rebuilt her entire job search strategy from the ground up.

Within three weeks, she had seven interviews lined up and landed a role that paid her $30K more than her previous one — with the flexibility to actually pick her kids up from school.

She told me,

“I can’t believe I almost kept trying to do this on my own.”

Me neither.

Where You Are vs. Where You Could Be

If you’re sitting at your own kitchen table — staring at your laptop, holding your breath, wondering whether it’s crazy to want something different — it’s not.

You’re not lazy. You’re not behind. You’re just tired of pretending this version of your career still fits you.

You already know what you want:

• Mornings that don’t start with dread.
• Afternoons where you’re not glued to Slack.
• Evenings that belong to your kids — not your inbox.
• A salary that actually reflects your impact.

That’s not unrealistic.
That’s your next chapter — and it starts when you decide to stop settling.

You Deserve Help That Works

I know investing in yourself feels scary.
I remember the pit in my stomach when I paid for my first coach.

But that single “hell yes” changed everything — not just for my career, but for my confidence, my family, and my peace of mind.

And it’s the same shift I want for you.

You don’t have to prove you can do it all alone anymore.
You just have to be brave enough to say yes to something better.

Book Your Career Clarity Call

That’s what happens inside a Career Clarity Call.

It’s a focused 30-minute session where we’ll:
✨ Pinpoint what’s actually keeping you stuck (spoiler: it’s rarely your résumé)
✨ Identify what’s missing in your current career strategy
✨ Outline your next best step to land a flexible, higher-paying role that finally fits your life

This isn’t a sales call. It’s a strategy conversation — designed to help you stop spinning your wheels and start building a career that finally feels like a “hell yes.”

You are worth that kind of investment — not because you’re broken, but because you’re ready to rise.

👉🏾 Book your Career Clarity Call and let’s build your version of “hell yes” — together.
Book Your Career Clarity Call

Jane’s Favorites This Week

• ☕ Latte of the week: Joffrey’s whole milk latte, extra foam.
• 🎧 Podcast playing while I wrote this: We Can Do Hard Things — the episode about ambition and identity hit hard.
• 💡 Quote I can’t stop thinking about: “You don’t get a cookie for struggling alone.” Still true. Always will be.