Something to Sip On

☕️ Reinventing Yourself: Becoming Who You Were Always Meant to Be

Sometimes the most courageous thing you can do is release who you’ve been.

We spend years collecting versions of ourselves — the roles we’ve played, the titles we’ve earned, the expectations we’ve carried. Somewhere along the way, we start to believe that changing means losing something. But it doesn’t.

When I sat down with Marie Wiese, she reminded me that reinvention isn’t about erasing your past. It’s about honoring it, learning from it, and daring to build something new on top of it. It’s realizing that your past isn’t a weight — it’s a foundation.

Marie’s story is one of resilience and renewal. After more than three decades in tech, she found herself at a crossroads — navigating personal loss, shifting industry dynamics, and the quiet realization that she was ready to begin again. What struck me most wasn’t just her decision to start over, but the clarity she gained along the way. She said something that has echoed in my mind ever since:

“You have to give up who you were to become who you’re meant to be.”

That sentence alone could be the headline for every reinvention story.

Marie shared three takeaways that shaped her journey, and they’ve been sitting with me ever since.

Let Go of the Past

Marie’s first truth is one I think many of us struggle with. Letting go of the past doesn’t mean you’re dismissing it. It means you’re releasing its grip on your future.

We hold onto old titles, old stories, old proof that we were once capable. But growth asks for space. It requires a clean table to set something new. I’ve learned that sometimes the hardest part of moving forward isn’t fear of the unknown - it’s the comfort of what’s familiar.

Reinvention begins the moment you stop comparing your next chapter to the last one.

Seek New Voices

Her second lesson felt like a quiet challenge: ask advice from new people.

It’s so easy to stay surrounded by people who think like we do, who validate the same ideas, and who make us feel safe. But as Marie said, “Growth requires new voices.”

That line made me pause. Because the truth is, you can’t change your perspective if you only ever look through the same window. The people who stretch you - the ones who challenge your thinking - are often the ones who help you see what’s possible next.

Every new conversation carries a piece of your evolution.

Start New Conversations

Marie’s third takeaway is simple but powerful: start new conversations and meet new people.

For her, this wasn’t about networking or chasing opportunities. It was about connection. Listening. Letting curiosity lead.

I think that’s what reinvention really is. It’s not a grand pivot, but a series of small, brave moments where you choose to show up differently. Every conversation is a door, and every connection has the potential to change your direction.

When Women Hit Their Stride

One of the most beautiful parts of our conversation was about timing. The truth that many women often come into themselves later in life.

Marie talked about the demands that shape our early decades, caregiving, family, stability, the invisible labor of holding it all together. And she’s right. For many women, the space to explore, create, and redefine ourselves doesn’t fully open until the noise quiets.

That hit home for me. Because it’s a reminder that purpose doesn’t expire. Sometimes we need a few more seasons to grow into our power. Sometimes we need life to slow down before we can truly hear our own voice.

And when that moment comes….when we finally have the clarity, confidence, and courage to begin again, we realize we’re not starting over. We’re finally starting as who we really are.

🖌️ Something to Pour Over:
What could change in your life if you stopped looking backward and started asking new questions instead?

“Reinvention isn’t the end of your story. It’s the next brave chapter.” -Marie Wiese