“You good?” they ask. And I say yes. Because mostly I am. Also because if I start listing everything I’m managing, someone might nominate me for a wellness check.
Right now, I’m navigating a brand-new platform launch, a set of fresh responsibilities, and a conference presentation in front of peers who know their stuff and are definitely not afraid to side-eye a weak slide deck or poor engagement.
It’s not falling apart. It’s just… spiraling. Elegantly. Like a glitter tornado.
And what’s keeping it all from flying off the rails? You guessed it, my SNAKs.
Let’s break it down:
-SKILLS: All of them. The ones I earned, the ones I googled at midnight, and the ones I didn’t realize I had until the Zoom room went silent and someone said, “So… what’s the plan?” I’ve become a quiet conjurer of processes, people, and systems. Not flashy, but effective; like an overdressed Swiss Army knife (IYKYK.)
-NETWORK: I’ve got people that I’ve promised to show up for… Not just on the panel I’m moderating, or in the inbox that has multiplied 5x in the last three weeks, but in the way that says: Yes, I’m swamped, but I’m still in your corner. My network is part lifeline, part mirror, part peanut gallery. And I wouldn’t trade them.
-ACTIVITIES: This is the maintenance plan. Long walks with no agenda. Bike rides that shake out the noise. A playlist calibrated to incite groove and prevent inbox rage. Writing every day, even if the only person who sees it is me. These are not luxuries. These are systems critical.
-KNOWLEDGE: Not just the “what I know,” but the “how I know I’ll figure it out.” Even when the calendar gaslights me. Even when the tech refuses to cooperate. Even when I’m asked for a deliverable I’m pretty sure didn’t exist until that exact sentence. I don’t have to know everything at once. I just have to trust that I’ve done this before, and I can do it again.
So yeah. I’m good.
Not because it’s chill. But because I’ve got a blueprint, a bike trail, a backup playlist, and a brain that’s been here before.
Your turn: When life decides to run all its updates at once, what’s the move that keeps you from glitching out?
Drop it in the comments, bonus points if it includes snacks, nature, or a suspiciously long “meeting” on your calendar.
