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Screw The Cubicle

Hi, I'm Lydia! I'm a Work Reinvention Coach & Solopreneur Strategist. Every month, I share real advice on career transitions, creating meaningful work, and building a lifestyle business you love.

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February Recap: Vietnam Adventures, Client Wins, & Business Reflections

My monthly newsletter sent at the end of every month, to stay connected and inspire reflection for creating meaningful work and a purpose-driven business. Hi Reader, I've just landed back in Bali after spending the entire month of February on a workcation in Vietnam, and wow - what a month it's been! Switching up my usual surroundings and working from cafes in Hanoi and Saigon has been exactly the kind of refresh I needed. One of the month's highlights was surprising my partner for his...

Hi friends, In 2024, I chose a different path while the online business world kept shouting "scale bigger!". I embraced doing less but better. I celebrated "enough" over endless growth. And you know what? The results were anything but small. This year, I supported dozens of accomplished professionals who traded burnout for freedom by building tiny-but-mighty businesses. I saw corporate escapees find more joy (and often more profit!) by choosing simplicity over complexity. And personally? I...

The business world bombards us with constant pressure to think bigger, move faster, scale higher - as if building an empire is the only path to success. But who decided that was the only way? Can I share something vulnerable with you? In 2015, I had my highest revenue year ever in my business. Sounds great, right? But the truth? I was burned out, exhausted, and questioning everything. Sure, I looked successful on paper, but I felt empty inside. The business had grown, the team was bigger, but...

"There are so many coaches, consultants, and business owners out there. How can I ever stand out?" I hear this question constantly, and I get it. When the market feels crowded, it's easy to think, "What could I possibly say that hasn't already been said?" But there's always something that hasn't been fully addressed. Something that needs to be said...and your unique perspective is the key to finding it. Instead of asking "How can I stand out?" try this: "What's not being said in my industry...

Hey Reader, Yesterday, I shared the story of my Moscow moment - when my body literally shut down in a hotel room, forcing me to face the truth about my "successful" corporate life. But that's not actually the interesting part of the story. The interesting part is what happened next. For 9 months after Moscow, I did something that felt completely foreign to my achievement-oriented brain: I slowed down. Way down. No more 60-hour weeks. No more "powering through." No more ignoring what my body...

Hey Reader, Can I tell you about the moment my body literally forced me to change my life? Picture this: I'm in a hotel room in Moscow, 2012. I'm a "successful" Business Development Director, about to become partner before 30 years old (checking all those good immigrant daughter boxes ✅). I've worked 60+ hour weeks for three years straight without a real vacation, because hey, that's what success looks like... right? Then my body said "enough." I woke up with crippling anxiety, physically...

Starting your own business doesn’t mean you have to risk everything, quit your job, or wait for the “perfect” moment. Many of my clients have found ways to build their businesses while keeping their day jobs, allowing them to create something they love, without all the pressure and uncertainty. The good news? It is possible. I’ve worked with plenty of people who’ve been right where you are - juggling a 9-5 while building a business on the side. Let me share a couple of stories about clients...

You’ve been dreaming about leaving your job, doing something meaningful, and finally having the freedom to live life on your terms...but you’re stuck. The idea of starting a business seems overwhelming, and you’re not sure how to transition from employee to entrepreneur without feeling overwhelmed. Good news: You don’t have to figure it out alone. The Escape Plan is a course that I released years ago that has helped so many professionals like you transition out of their jobs and into...

Lately, I’ve found myself reflecting on what wealth really means. For a long time, I believed it was tied to financial success. Having more, earning more, achieving more. But these days, my definition of wealth has expanded in ways I never anticipated. Yes, financial stability matters. But I’ve come to realize that true wealth is so much more than money in the bank. It’s about having time. Time to pause, breathe, and experience joy, like those daily walks with Scruffy or the quiet mornings...

Feel like you’re pretty much good at everything, but still can’t figure out what your thing is? Like, you’ve got all these skills and passions, but narrowing it down to the one that really lights you up feels impossible? You’re definitely not alone. So many of the amazing people I work with are multi-talented and could easily do a bunch of different things. But that’s exactly where the challenge comes in, right? With all those options, how do you choose the one that really fits? It can be...