The Long-Awaited Update: My Unfolding Journey of Career, Home, and Unexpected Turns

This post delivers the highly anticipated update on my evolving career path and the big “moving situation” that many of you have been curious about. For those just joining our community, a brief look back is in order, so I’ve included a concise backstory below. Long-time readers, feel free to skip ahead to the main update!

From MBA Milestones to Unexpected Career Shifts

It feels almost surreal to reflect on it, but exactly a year ago this week, I was crossing the finish line of my MBA program. It had been an incredibly challenging, two-year marathon of late nights, demanding exams, and copious amounts of coffee. Achieving that graduate degree before turning 30 was a significant life goal, and while my brain often felt like a tangled mess of overstretched rubber bands and linty tape, I emerged with a deep sense of accomplishment and, thankfully, most of my sanity intact (beer might have played a supportive role, too!).

But the MBA was just one piece of a much larger, more chaotic puzzle I was navigating. Simultaneously, I was working full-time, pouring my energy into remodeling a fixer-upper in north Atlanta, and, perhaps most surprisingly, building this blog. This space became my creative outlet, a platform where I meticulously documented the DIY tutorials and lessons learned as my house gradually transformed. Yet, driving all these diverse efforts was an underlying discontent with my full-time corporate job.

Despite having a genuinely fantastic boss, the 40+ hours I dedicated each week to my software job felt profoundly unfulfilling. It was a classic case of career stagnation: our small company had been acquired by a larger competitor, and opportunities for internal growth seemed perpetually stalled. My initial post-MBA plan was clear: secure a new, more promising position. However, as this blog’s readership steadily grew, an alternative income stream began to emerge. Whether through site advertisements, sponsored content, blog design projects, or various freelance writing assignments for other websites, a new path was materializing. My MBA curriculum itself began to shift, with courses in social media, business marketing, and entrepreneurship directly fueling the unexpected transformation of my humble blog into a burgeoning small business.

Embracing “Little Bets”: A Strategy for Life and Career

During one pivotal semester, an Entrepreneurship professor recommended a book that subtly reshaped my perspective: Little Bets. I won’t claim it’s a universal life-changer, but it certainly offered me several compelling insights. The core idea that resonated deeply was this: truly impactful innovations and grand successes often stem from a myriad of small experiments, iterations, and even failures. It mirrored my approach to renovating my house – a continuous series of trials and learning. It also perfectly described the organic evolution of this very blog. This concept provided immense comfort and encouragement, empowering me to lean into my own “little bets”: pursuing various writing opportunities, collaborating on projects like SheKnowsTV seasons, and engaging in class presentations. Each endeavor, though not a significant job in itself, served a dual purpose: some allowed me to apply analytical skills, while others provided a creative outlet and a way to de-stress. Collectively, these experiences illuminated new facets of what I truly desired in my professional life.

A Life-Altering Opportunity: The Alabama Relocation

Finally, with my MBA complete, a sense of overwhelming relief washed over me. Life was incredibly busy, but in a fulfilling way. I envisioned dedicating more time to accelerating my unfinished DIY projects, truly settling into my renovated home, and perhaps even enjoying a normal date that didn’t leave me feeling like I needed a full decontamination shower (a humorously relatable struggle, for sure!).

However, as a wise blog friend once sagely observed, the universe often has its own mischievous plans, completely disregarding our carefully laid intentions. A freelance writing gig I’d taken on the previous summer gradually blossomed into consistent side work, which then, quite unexpectedly, evolved into a full-time job offer. I was invited to join as the managing editor for their online magazine. It felt like all those “little bets” I’d been making had converged into a dream opportunity I was genuinely eager to accept. But there was a significant caveat: to take the job, I would need to relocate two hours away to Alabama, a place where I knew absolutely no one, and do so within a matter of months.

You could call it a thirst for adventure, perhaps a touch of arrogance, or even plain naivety – after all, this is the same person who confidently embarked on renovating a two-story house on a shoestring budget while simultaneously pursuing a graduate degree, deeming it “totally doable.” Whatever the descriptor, I said yes. The prospect of working for a smaller company promised greater influence, a chance to truly leave my mark on a growing brand, and a role that aligned far better with my creative interests and passions. I thoroughly weighed the potential downsides, but the excitement of this new chapter, coupled with the understanding that my fixer-upper was never meant to be my “forever home,” swayed my decision. While I was deeply attached to the progress I’d made on the house and far from finished, the company’s willingness to provide financial support for quick completion and relocation made the transition feasible. And, I reasoned, even if it didn’t work out, I could always return to Atlanta or explore another city entirely.

Initially, things moved at a breathtaking pace. The company eagerly requested a comprehensive list of all the essential tasks needed to prepare the house for sale – a daunting, seemingly endless compilation of to-dos. Buoyed by this momentum, I announced the impending move on the blog, convinced it was definitively happening. However, the sheer chaos of my ongoing renovation meant finishing everything myself while also starting a demanding new job was impossible within the timeframe. Recognizing this, the company opted for a flexible solution: I would work remotely from my current home until the relocation logistics could be sorted. I diligently prepared a budget covering contractor fees and moving expenses, and thus began my new role from the comfortable, albeit soon-to-be-former, confines of my Atlanta house.

Navigating Remote Work and Shifting Priorities

The first few months of my new role were a whirlwind of adjustment. I was learning the ropes of managing an online magazine while simultaneously mastering the art of working from home. The job itself proved to be everything I had hoped for: fun, intellectually stimulating, and incredibly challenging. However, it was also exceptionally time-consuming. The extra hours I’d anticipated reclaiming after completing my MBA were quickly reabsorbed by my new responsibilities. Despite the demanding schedule, my enjoyment of the work meant it rarely felt like a burden. While most of my daily tasks were online, I made consistent efforts to connect with my new colleagues in person, making regular (sometimes weekly, sometimes bi-monthly) trips to the Alabama office. Given that the rest of my time was spent at home, these two-hour drives felt entirely manageable, even refreshing.

Although I yearned to dedicate more time to house projects, the reality of working from home meant most of my days were spent at the computer. Breaks were typically limited to switching out laundry or grabbing a quick lunch. Working remotely was, in many respects, absolutely amazing, but it demanded significant self-discipline to maintain focus and consciously step away from the screen. As I settled into the rhythm, I excelled in my new role, driven by genuine passion rather than just clocking in and out. This job felt different; it was something I was truly invested in, often finding myself happily working whenever inspiration struck or tasks piled up.

Despite my efficiency, progress on the house remained stubbornly slow. An additional challenge emerged: the nature of my new job – writing, editing, and branding – closely mirrored my work on the blog. This overlap, while initially appealing, began to blur the lines between my professional duties and my personal creative outlet, subtly stifling my unique blogging voice. Throughout that summer, I felt a noticeable shift in my writing; my brain felt foggier, and my interest in regular posting waned. Instead of forcing an unsustainable pace, I consciously chose to write less frequently, trusting that my creative spark would reignite naturally. It was a difficult decision, fearing my passion might disappear into my job, but I believed waiting for its organic return was the best approach. And, thankfully, it did return.

Yet, amidst all these adjustments, a persistent, metaphorical “gorilla” remained in the room: the whole, big, fat MOVING thing. I had announced it on the blog with such conviction, had diligently begun planning for it, and then, all summer long… nothing happened. The silence surrounding the relocation became an elephant in the room, an unspoken question hanging over every post.

Addressing the Elephant in the Room: The Moving Update

UPDATE: Based on your initial comments, I realize my first attempt to explain this wasn’t direct enough (my apologies! I tried to cover everything, which sometimes leads to less clarity). So, I’ve refined and expanded upon my original thoughts below.

For the past six months, I’ve been just as eager to definitively answer the “is she moving or not?” question as you have been to hear it. I saw your comments across various posts and tried to respond succinctly, but I consistently held off on a full update because I simply didn’t have a clear, definitive answer myself. After years of working for large, publicly traded corporations, transitioning to a smaller company has involved a steep learning curve and a much less predictable environment. While this brings a degree of uncertainty, I am undeniably happier with this dynamic.

Over time, the initial pressure to relocate gradually dissipated. The focus of my role naturally shifted more towards the work itself and less on my physical location. There was no dramatic “yes” or “no” decision made; rather, the urgency simply faded, and the momentum stalled. It wasn’t an abrupt change, but a subtle, organic reprioritization over several months. This left me without a clear-cut answer to immediately share, which explains my hesitation in publishing an update sooner. After a period of regular trips to the office, our entire team settled into a new status quo where remote work became normalized. The immediate need for me to move is now entirely gone. However, without a formal line in the sand, it was challenging to determine the precise moment I could confidently provide answers, especially with friends and family also asking (what’s worse than prematurely announcing something? Doing it twice!).

When I first announced the move, it seemed so certain that I genuinely believed sharing my expectations for the blog’s future was the most practical course of action. This seemed preferable to suddenly announcing a “for sale” sign after hurriedly wrapping up half-finished projects. I understand, though, how confusing it must have been. To declare an impending move and then continue working on my house as if nothing changed, even buying art for walls I supposedly wouldn’t need to decorate anymore, certainly created a lot of mixed signals. It was a bit like my last Tinder date – full of unexpected twists and unclear intentions.

Your Burning Questions, Answered:

• Am I moving to Alabama right now? No, definitely not anytime soon. My home in Atlanta remains my base.
• Will I ever move from this house? Eventually, yes. This house was never intended to be my forever home, but my plan has always been to fully complete its renovation before moving on. Like many other home bloggers, I envision my next project will likely be another fixer-upper, embracing the challenge of transforming another space. Barring any unforeseen, dramatic shifts, this transition is likely still a couple of years away.
• Do I still have the new job? Yes, absolutely! In fact, my role has expanded, now encompassing responsibilities for both the online magazine and another integral part of our business. I continue to work remotely from my home, and I genuinely enjoy this arrangement, which shows no signs of changing in the foreseeable future. While I make regular trips to the office in Alabama to connect with the team, the vast majority of my time is happily spent at “The Ugly Duckling House” – a setup that suits me perfectly.

Reflections on a Journey of Faith and Flexibility

I am certainly not disappointed by this turn of events. In fact, I much prefer staying in Atlanta rather than relocating. The ideal scenario for me is to feel truly finished with this house – to have poured my heart into it and then savored the results – before moving on. I was genuinely prepared to take a chance on a new job, even if it meant moving, because the prospect of finding a role that brought me profound satisfaction for 40+ hours a week was incredibly appealing. Such decisions are never easy, but at the time, accepting the offer felt like the right, bold move. I took a significant leap of faith, and I’m thrilled to say that so far, it’s working out wonderfully.

To every single one of you who has stuck with me through this somewhat confusing narrative, still reading and engaging despite the uncertainties, I want to extend my deepest, most sincere thank you. Seriously. I’ve always strived to share my story with as much authenticity as possible, embracing both the highs and the lows. However, when it comes to my professional life, I am always cautious and deliberate in what I share publicly. The last thing I want is to find myself in a difficult situation at work because of something I’ve written on my blog (I’m sure you’ve heard similar cautionary tales). Yet, I am incredibly fortunate that the company I work for genuinely appreciates the significance of this blog in my life. I also recognized that saying absolutely nothing, beyond a brief, non-committal post update, would leave too many important questions unanswered for my dedicated readers.

So, I sincerely hope this comprehensive update helps clear the air a little. Yes, the move was initially happening. Yes, I started working from home. And then, the focus of my job evolved to be more about the work itself and less about my geographical location. Consequently, I continue to work happily from home with no imminent plans to relocate. And now, you all have full permission to playfully tease me about “the time Sarah was going to move and then accidentally pranked us all” for as long as you wish. Go ahead – you’ve earned it!

Oh, and one final thought: while it’s always a possibility that the relocation question might resurface at some point in the distant future (as it could with many jobs), I am profoundly content with the current state of affairs. And, perhaps most importantly, my assistant seems to enjoy this arrangement even more.

Now… onto more exciting house projects and adventures!