Cheers to the Unplanned Milestones!

Not all milestones come with a heads-up. Sometimes, they arrive disguised as ‘happy little accidents’… and those are often the best to celebrate! 

Let me take you back to 2019, a year that began with me feeling completely rudderless. I was caught in the wake of a corporate restructuring and found myself suddenly out of my HR role, a job I had poured my heart and soul into for years. As the days stretched into months, frustration crept in. I scoured job boards, sent countless applications, and waited for anything that would reignite my professional passion.

And then, one random Tuesday, the phone rang. It was a friend, calling on behalf of her friend, who needed help crafting some communication materials for her company. “Could you do me a favor?” she asked. I almost said no, after all, I was an HR professional, not a content creator. But something nudged me to say yes.

That yes turned out to be the first step of a new journey. What began as a small favor soon grew into something much bigger. I found myself deeply immersed in the world of content creation, writing everything from corporate communication to social media messaging. Words flowed, creativity soared, and suddenly I was no longer feeling rudderless. I was navigating new waters, and I loved it. Over the next five years, I built a niche as a content consultant, developing communication strategies for organizations across different sectors. It was an unexpected milestone that transformed my career and took me to a place where I rediscovered my love for writing and storytelling.

Fast forward to July this year, another twist in the tale. Another friend, knowing my HR background, reached out for help setting up HR processes and documentation for her company. I agreed, happy to dive back into my HR roots for a bit. After I presented the project, she smiled and said, "What’s the point of doing all this work if there’s no one to implement it? Why don’t you join me and manage the people and processes?" 

That’s how, after five years of working from the comfort of my home office, I found myself back in the bustling rhythm of an office environment. It was another unplanned milestone, an unexpected opportunity that I never saw coming, but one I am so grateful for.

These two moments taught me that sometimes the best things happen when you least expect them. They reminded me to stay open to the unexpected and to embrace every twist and turn with enthusiasm and curiosity. You never know where the next phone call might lead.

So, cheers to the unplanned milestones, those delightful surprises that have a way of finding us when we need them most. 

Ever celebrated an unplanned milestone? Share your story below, let’s toast to the unexpected!