Reclaim Your Power: A Guide to Reinvention at Any Stage

Have you ever paused and felt like you’ve given away essential pieces of yourself to build a career or raise a family? After years of dedicating your energy to others, you might look in the mirror and wonder, "What's next for me?" This feeling is a powerful signal that your next, most fulfilling chapter is waiting to be written. It’s time to transform your career, thrive with purpose, and reclaim the power that has always been yours.

This journey of reinvention, the 'Executive Encore Journey" is something we recently explored on the Executive Encore podcast with the incredible author and speaker, Deborah Weed. Her insights on personal growth, resilience, and self-worth provide a beautiful roadmap for any woman ready to design her next act.

This post will guide you through three transformative ideas from our conversation to help you start your journey today.

What It Means to Reclaim Your "Quills"
Deborah shared a beautiful and profound metaphor from her original work as founder of the Self-Worth Initiative and the force behind the QUILLS UP™️ Movement and Paisley the Musical™️. The metaphor of "Quills Up" serves as a bold rallying cry for women to reclaim their power, creativity, and self-worth. In Deborah's story, quills represent our unique gifts, talents, and the very essence of what makes us special. Throughout our lives and careers, we often "give away our quills" by prioritizing others' needs, conforming to expectations, or letting self-doubt creep in - and succumb to the illusions of self-confidence and imposter syndrome. We hand them over one by one until we feel depleted and disconnected from our true selves. Often, we feel disappointed in ourselves as we internalize the pervasive messages and narratives that we all too easily accept.

Does this sound familiar to you? Maybe you gave away your "creativity quill" to focus on a more analytical career path, or your "adventure quill" to provide stability for your family - or the accumulation of quills that are essential to your self-actualization.

Reclaiming your quills is the first step toward powerful reinvention. It’s a conscious process of rediscovering and embracing the parts of you that you’ve set aside.

How to start reclaiming your power:

• Identify Your Lost Quills: Take a moment for yourself. What did you love to do before your career took off? What passions did you put on a shelf or on the "back burner"? Make a list of these dormant talents and interests.
• Start Small: You don’t need to reclaim everything at once. Pick one "quill" that excites you. If you miss painting, sign up for a local art class. If you were once a passionate writer, start writing - whether it's a personal journal, a personal blog, or the beginning of your memoir.
• Celebrate Your Uniqueness: Your collection of quills is what makes you uniquely you. As you start to reclaim them, you’ll notice your sense of purpose and your self-trust grow stronger. This isn't about becoming someone new; it's about returning to who you've always been.

Timeless Advice for Your Next Chapter
Navigating a major life transition, like moving on from a long-held corporate role, can feel daunting. During our chat, Deborah shared some sage advice from her father that completely reframes this experience. He taught her to see change not as an ending, but as a new and exciting beginning. This mindset shift is crucial for any woman standing at a crossroads.

Instead of viewing retirement or a career pivot as a loss of identity, what if you saw it as an opportunity to unlock your potential in a new way? This is your chance to build a life that aligns more closely with your values and passions.

This perspective transforms fear into fuel. The end of one chapter is simply the blank page on which you can write your next great story.

Reinvention After Loss, Hardship, and Disappointment
Life’s most profound transformations often emerge from its greatest challenges. Reinventing yourself after grief, trauma, or a significant loss, whether it’s the loss of a loved one, a career, or a version of yourself you once knew, is a journey of incredible courage. Deborah’s personal story is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit.

Deborah reminds us that rebuilding is not about erasing the past, but integrating our experiences into a stronger, more authentic self. Grief and hardship can clarify what truly matters, compelling us to live with greater intention and purpose. 

Sage advice: Use your quills to shield yourself from constant disappointment. It’s not fear that will hold you back; it’s facing the same disappointments over and over.

Key takeaways for reinventing yourself through adversity:

• Embrace Your Strength: Acknowledging the pain and allowing yourself to heal is a sign of immense strength, not weakness. You have survived, and that makes you powerful. Revisit, reassess, and honour your strengths on a regular basis.
• Find Your New "Why": Loss can strip away the non-essential and reveal a new sense of purpose. Allow this newfound clarity to guide your next steps, whether it’s starting a small business, mentoring others, becoming an advocate, or pursuing a creative passion project that has been simmering or sizzling on the back burner while you have been busy with life and work.
• Connect with a Community: You don't have to navigate this journey alone. Connecting with other women who understand your experience provides invaluable support and inspiration. Our community at Executive Encore Network for Women is built for just that, to help you connect and thrive.

Your Executive Encore Starts Here
Your experience, wisdom, and unique gifts are needed now more than ever. Whether you're reclaiming your quills, embracing a new beginning, or rebuilding after a loss including the loss of your professional identity, your journey of reinvention is a powerful act of self-worth.

Are you ready to unlock your potential and design a life of impact and fulfillment?

Explore our Executive Encore Network for Women membership and join a vibrant community of women just like you who are transforming their careers and thriving with purpose. Your executive encore starts here.

Call to Action

Visit Deborah's website to learn more about the QUILLS UP™️ Movement and Paisley the Musical™️

Listen to the full episode of the Executive Encore podcast and watch the YouTube video  to get more actionable insights and inspiration. 

Executive Encore subscribers and members of Executive Encore Network for Women receive added bonuses. Subscribe below.

Comment below or share this post to spread the inspiration! What’s your next move? How will you reclaim your quills and your personal power?

Next Steps
You don't need to tackle transformation in your Executive Encore alone. Learn about a different and more effective way to take charge of your Executive Encore experience. Learn about consulting and coaching for women-owned businesses to accelerate sustainable growth. Contact me on my website's Contact Page or schedule an Executive Encore: 30-Minute Complimentary Call.

Are you ready to redefine your encore chapter? Share your story in the comments below. Join the Executive Encore Network for Women, a community of supportive women prepared to uplift and inspire. Subscribe to the Sunday Encore below to receive your personal invitation to the Executive Encore Network for Women membership and community. Together, let’s turn uncertainty into unstoppable momentum and build the Executive Encore movement!