There are moments in business where you can feel the shift, not just in the market, your revenue, or your routines, but in your identity. A door quietly closes. A chapter ends. You walk out of one season into another, and the transition is rarely tidy. But that messy, honest walk? That’s where your journey board becomes your compass.

 

When I reflect on seasons I’ve walked out of, one stands out as a defining line in my entrepreneurial story: the pandemic.

 

For years, I built a thriving bricks-and-mortar business. It was my creative sanctuary, a place filled with life, inventory, inspiration, and a steady stream of clients and community. Then everything changed, not just the world, but the rules.

I recall the day I discovered that my business didn’t meet the definition of “essential.” At the time, it felt like the rug had been pulled out from under me. My building and I, located in the downtown historic district of my town, didn’t qualify to remain open, and the realization stung. I had poured my heart into that physical space. I had believed that being rooted in my community with a storefront was the truest form of service.

 

But entrepreneurship is nothing if not a continual invitation to adapt.

 

So I packed up, returned to my home office — the same space I started in years ago — and reimagined everything. I leaned into Zoom, Voxer, and every online tool I had resisted before. I converted workshops into virtual experiences. I showed up differently, and surprisingly, I found something I didn’t expect: I liked this version of business too.

 

It gave me flexibility. It gave me reach. And most of all, it reminded me that I am essential — not because of my building or my signage, but because of the impact I make, the way I show up, and the stories I hold space for.

 

That moment became an image on my journey board — not just to mark a pivot point, but to remind me of the strength that surfaced when everything felt uncertain.

 

So I’ll ask you this:

Was it a season of hustle, burnout, transition, grief, or reinvention? What did it teach you? What version of you emerged stronger, wiser, or more courageous?

 

Take a moment this week and reflect. Then, find an image or word that captures that season and add it to your journey board. Not to dwell on the past, but to document the growth that came from it.

 

Because what’s behind you is not just a story — it’s fuel. It’s proof. It’s a reminder that the next season doesn’t have to start from scratch. It can start from strength.

 

You’ve walked through fire and came out clearer.
 Document it.
 Honor it.
 And use it to guide what’s next.

 

 Chris Laible
 Entrepreneur. Visibility Coach. Author of “Resilient by Design” and “The Visual Roadmap.”
 Sunday Series: Journey Board Reflections