From Adland to Abroad

I come from a long line of stayers.

Salt-of-the-earth roots on my mom’s side, gold-watch-after-50-years loyalty on my dad’s. So when I announced I was starting my own business and moving across an ocean? Let’s just say the family reactions ranged from sideways glances to full-blown panic.

People often ask about our decision to relocate abroad while building a company from scratch. Looking back, I can hardly believe I did it either. I’m not your typical risk-taker. You know those founder stories that start with, “I learned entrepreneurship from watching my parents”? That wasn’t me. My dad worked for exactly two companies his entire career. These past few years have given him more gray hairs than he’d like to admit (though he does love geeking out on tax strategy with me now).

I had what anyone would call a good life in my hometown — solid community, grandparents 30 minutes away, high school friends turned lifelong confidants. It was fulfilling…

AND YET.
There was this persistent longing.
Not for more, exactly — but for different. For less. For a life built on intention instead of momentum. Crafted from my own values instead of running on inherited default settings.

And desire? As a Catholic school graduate, I learned early that it’s not a color we’re supposed to wear. We’re taught to follow the prescribed path from point A to point B. The “atta-girls” felt good, sure, but each lap around the expected gameboard got heavier.

It wasn’t until I was deep in postpartum that this desire for a different way truly took root. That flickering hope of something more authentically me became my lifeline through some really dark times.

So I did what any proper unruly woman would do — I schemed.
I let my dangerous daydreams take hold.
And instead of dismissing them as frivolous, I asked myself:

What if?
What IF I could quit my job for work that aligned with my values?
What IF I could pick up my kids from daycare every day?
What IF we could ditch our $1,200/month subpar health insurance?
What IF our days could include learning a new language and culture?
WHAT IF.

That small flicker in my gut became an undeniable fire.

And yes — part of my why was for my kids.
To show them they have the power to change their lives if something no longer serves them.

I needed to prove to myself that my dreams were valid and worth pursuing. It’s an immense privilege to give myself and my family this gift. I know not everyone has the resources or opportunities for such a dramatic change. But I also know how many of you — like me — are walking around with a deep, quiet what if tucked behind the expectation and tight smiles.

🎉 So here it is: Meet Mid-Pivot.

That's why my husband and I are creating Mid-Pivot. It’s part coaching, part relocation planning, and part community — one space with one purpose: helping you change the direction of your life and point it exactly where you want to go.

I'm sharing the full journey — not just the sunny beach days and charming cobblestone streets (though those are real), but the visa paperwork spirals, the client calls across time zones, the “are we totally nuts?” moments, and the unexpected joys of starting over.

Because this isn’t just another digital nomad space.

Whether you’re dreaming about a move abroad, pivoting your career, or both — Mid-Pivot is where we get honest about what it takes to actually make that leap. Not just the logistics, but the emotional math.

Because sometimes the bravest thing we can do is admit we want something different, and the smartest thing we can do is not figure it all out alone.

Welcome aboard,

Melissa + Benn