Reinventing Myself: 100 Days of Maybe Yes, Maybe No
It’s been 100 days.
One hundred days since I walked out of my office for the last time—stunned.
One hundred days since everything changed.
Maybe not so unexpectedly, but still a shock.
Gratefully, for the last few years, I’d been squirreling away money like something big was coming. I told myself it was just good financial planning. But deep down—I think I knew.
A lot has changed in these 100 days:
Growth.
Hope.
Adventure.
All change. All of it uncomfortable. Because…
Change is uncomfortable.
I’ve been thinking a lot about the parable of the Chinese farmer lately.
If you don’t know it, you can read it here.
A series of events—some joyful, some painful—play out, and after each, the farmer simply says, “Maybe so, maybe not. We’ll see.”
It’s a story about releasing judgment. About how what feels like tragedy might be a disguised blessing—and how we often can’t tell the difference right away.
That story lives rent-free in my head these days. Because 100 days ago, getting fired felt like a disaster. But now? I’m not so sure.
Maybe it was the best thing that ever happened to me.
A Lucky Break—or Quiet Design?
I know not everyone has the privilege of savings. I built mine from scratch after years of debt—and even that, I know, is a kind of luck many don’t get.
For me, something shifted about six years ago. A series of events allowed me to pay off all my debt (and it was a lot) right around the time I moved to NYC.
Since then, and especially over the last three years, I’ve been borderline obsessive about building my emergency reserve. From my time working at a big bank, I knew most fiduciary advice recommends three to six months of expenses. But that never felt like enough.
Somehow, I grew mine to a full year.
Why a full year? I told myself it was practical—because job hunting in NYC as a Gen X woman wasn’t going to be fast or easy.
But what I actually did, maybe without even realizing it, was build a runway to my next chapter. One away from corporate America… and, honestly, away from America.
(More on that shortly.)
The Plan I Didn’t Expect to Make
I originally told myself: no big decisions for 60 days. I needed time to figure out my next move. But inspiration hit faster than expected, and I mapped out a plan—starting with my very first Substack article.
That plan involved using my reserves to build a remote business and eventually relocate to Spain.
Instead of waiting, life handed me a faster timeline.
In that post, I shared the five-part plan that emerged from the chaos—and how I’m using this unexpected freedom to build something more aligned, more intentional.
Since Then: What’s Happened in the First 100 Days
🐾 Still in Manhattan—for Lucy, and for Me
Lucy and I are still here. She turns 17 in six weeks, and with her liver cancer now showing more symptoms, I’ve committed to staying until she no longer needs me.
It’s bittersweet—but I’m grateful we have this time. It’s been a blessing to be home with her as she enters this final stage of life.
💼 A Business Is Born
Beyond Aligned Books is officially alive. A few clients, a bit of revenue, and a structure that’s beginning to take shape.
It’s early—but real.
Here’s how I describe what I do:
“I help passionate small business owners fix what’s messy in their business so they can feel calm, clear, and ready to grow.”
From bookkeeping to backend systems, my work supports the people behind the business—so they can spend more time doing what they love and less time stressing about the numbers.
🧠 Building with Intention
I’ve found a rhythm: writing, networking, learning, and serving clients.
I even hired a marketing strategist after realizing my “throw spaghetti at the wall” approach wasn’t going to cut it. Letting go of the “do it all myself” mindset? Huge.
Even small tweaks—like asking a designer friend to review my Virtual Content Coach material—made a big impact.
The lesson? Bring in people smarter than you. It pays off.
Now, when my clients get stuck in “I have to do it all myself” mode, I can share real examples—because I’ve been there. I get it.
🕰️ Trusting the Timeline
Do I wish more money was coming in? Of course.
But I had two reminders this week that I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be:
A new friend told me it took her five months to land her first client. Now she’s thriving.
I reviewed my original strategic plan and realized my goal was to have three bookkeeping clients by September. I’ve still got time—and now, better messaging and focus to get there.
🌍 What Comes Next
Maybe bookkeeping won’t be the core moneymaker.
Maybe something else I create will meet both a market need and a personal passion.
I’m open—and the ideas never stop flowing.
Whatever it is, it will stay true to the mission:
To simplify the complexities of business operations so small business owners can focus on what they do best.
If life allows, I plan to leave NYC in August.
But as the Chinese farmer reminds us:
Maybe yes, maybe no.
❓What I’m Still Figuring Out
Clearly, I don’t have it all figured out yet. Some of the big questions still floating:
What are the logistics of becoming a digital nomad?
Will I find community and companionship abroad?
Is Spain where I’ll ultimately settle?
Will the visa process be smooth—or full of hurdles?
How do I navigate healthcare abroad with an autoimmune disorder?
I’m also aware that not everyone’s experience abroad will mirror mine.
A post I recently read in a Facebook expat group shared the story of a Black woman who was clearly marginalized on a train because of her skin color. It was a stark reminder that identity shapes how we move through the world.
As a solo woman, I’ve also considered how gender may impact my experience in certain countries—for instance, in places like Morocco. I’m packing a scarf not just for one destination, but for anywhere that asks me to meet local customs with respect and awareness, not assumption.
I’m bringing curiosity—but also care.
I believe the answers will reveal themselves in time—and I trust that what I envision today will shift as those answers unfold.
In the meantime, my job is to stay aligned with my purpose and values, and keep building a life I can thrive in—today and tomorrow.
💛 Final Reflection & Encouragement
These 100 days have delivered their fair share of lessons and reminders.
Yes, losing my job was traumatic and life-changing—but it wasn’t doom. In fact, it became an opportunity:
A door to build a life filled with more joy, more alignment, and more purpose.
Nothing stays exactly the same. Life is always shifting. And while we’re programmed to think we know how things will turn out, the truth is… we never really know until we’re on the other side. Surprises—good and bad—are always just around the corner.
One thing I’ve learned: I’m better when I don’t go it alone.
I may be capable of many things, but leaning into the strengths of others is smart, useful—and a strength in itself. (Try telling my 25-year-old self that? She would’ve laughed in your face.)
💌 Let’s Stay Connected
💜 Tap the heart if this gave you something to think about.
💬 Comment below: What moment in your life felt scary… but turned out to be transformational?
🧾 About Beyond Aligned Books
One of the earliest lessons on this journey? I have to share what I’m building. So—here you are.
“It looks like you’re trying to reinvent your life and start a business… would you like some help with that?” 📎
If you’re a small business owner who feels buried behind the scenes—lost in spreadsheets, unclear on systems, and overwhelmed by everything you should be doing—I see you.
That’s exactly why I started Beyond Aligned Books:
Help passionate entrepreneurs clean up the chaos, gain clarity, and finally feel in control of the business side of their business.
I’ve been there. I know what it’s like to juggle a million things and still feel behind.
✨ Explore my latest posts, tools, and resources here.
Let’s make business feel less messy—and more aligned.
☕ Want to Support the Journey?
Align & Thrive is free to read. But if something here resonated, you can show your support (and raise my optimism) by buying me a coffee. Every cup fuels this mission—caffeine-wise and emotionally. 💛
📬 Subscribe & Join Me
This Substack is about all the ways I’m working to grow, learn, Align & Thrive.
There will be missteps.
There will be wins.
And life will keep throwing curveballs.
I used the Viral Content Coach to help get this out of my head and into the world. It didn’t save time—but it did help me write a sharper, more focused piece for you.
Very inspiring Vicki, as always!
Beautiful and genuine story. Regarding the digital nomad life logistics are as follows: constant movement, tax free countries (Panama, Czech Republic and Portugal, Dubai) it pays off. The other thing to mention is that Spain is very tolerant so you'll have no issues there, and with the Visa, you'll need to jump through some hoops but if you plan ahead, you'll get there in no time.