When to Move On

One of the hardest lessons I’ve had to learn in my life is when to move on in a business, in relationships, in emotions, in everything. Moving on is easier said than done. Holding on to what you’ve grown accustomed to feels easy and comforting. But moving on opens up that space to be refreshed and revived.

When I started my company, Illicit Mind, in 2013 as a clothing line, I was so connected to it, especially the name. So when I created my Ed tech startup, the name came with me. Over those three years, I hustled, believed, pivoted and even recruited team members to do it with me. Shutting down in 2018 was one of the hardest things to do, but I knew deep down it was the smartest thing to do. No more pivots, no more hustling. This adventure had run its course. It was time to move on. Some things that helped me to move on was:

1. Writing about how I felt. I made so many lists weighing the pros and cons. I redid our numbers again and again. All with the hopes of getting the proof, I should keep going but the numbers showed me it was time to stop.
2. Consulted trusted people. I confided in people I trusted by sharing how this was making me feel. They supported me but were also very honest about what they saw as an outsider looking in.
3. I took my time. It was about 6 months between feeling like I had to shut down and then actually doing it. This decision wasn’t rushed because I knew it would be a chapter closing and I worked myself through it.

Moving on is NEVER easy but it is ALWAYS necessary.

Be brave, be patient, seek counsel. YOU GOT THIS!

How are you stuck? What are you trying to move on from?