After 22 years in business, I’ve come to understand something deeply personal about the entrepreneurial journey, it’s not linear. It’s not a straight path paved with perfect decisions and flawless execution. It’s a winding road of growth, reflection, and transformation. And every few years, I find myself at a new turning point. Not because I’ve failed, but because I’ve grown.

In the early years of my career, when I made changes or shifted directions, people would say, “You’re just making a mistake, you’ll figure it out.” It felt like I had to justify my decisions, as if change was something to be ashamed of. Fast forward to recent years, and the word “pivot” became the go-to term in our industry. Everyone was pivoting, pivoting their business model, their brand, their services.

But here’s the truth: the word pivot never sat well with me.

I recently shared this with a colleague. I told them that pivot felt like a reaction to failure. Like I had taken a wrong turn and now needed to fix it. It felt like a word rooted in survival, not in growth. And that’s not how I see my journey.

Even when things don’t go as planned, and let’s be honest, they often don’t, I don’t see it as a mistake. I see it as an opportunity. A chance to pause, reflect, and ask myself: “What is this moment here to teach me? How can I move forward with more clarity, more purpose, and more alignment?”

That’s when I realized: I’m not pivoting. I’m “EVOLVING”.

Evolving feels expansive. It feels intentional. It honors the past while embracing the future. It’s not about fixing something that’s broken, it’s about stepping into the next version of yourself with grace and courage.

To evolve is to grow through every experience, good or bad. It’s to transform with purpose. It’s to say, “I am still becoming,” and to be proud of that.

In this new era of my business, I am evolving in ways that feel deeply aligned with who I am and what I’m called to do. I’m stepping more fully into leadership not just within my own company, but within the industry as a whole. I’m pouring into The National Society of Black Wedding and Event Professionals with renewed energy and vision. I’m nurturing The Signature CEO Conference with even more intention, creating space for meaningful conversations and powerful connections.

I’m also showing up more on stages sharing my story, my lessons, my heart. I’m speaking to audiences who, like me, are navigating the complexities of entrepreneurship with passion and purpose. And every time I speak, I’m reminded that our stories matter. Our evolution matters.

This isn’t about changing direction because something went wrong. This is about rising into the next chapter because I’ve grown. Because I’ve learned. Because I’m ready.

So no, I’m not pivoting.

I am EVOLVING.

And I invite you to reflect on your own journey. What are you evolving into? What lessons are shaping your next chapter? How are you honoring your growth?

Let’s stop framing change as a reaction to failure. Let’s start celebrating it as a reflection of our courage to grow.

Because evolution is not just a business strategy, it’s a way of being.