Embrace Disruption
Disruption: A sudden change that shakes up the status quo.
“Embrace Disruption”.
Twenty years ago, I had no idea how easily this motto would flow from my mouth—or my fingertips. Little did I know, disruption would become a constant force in my life.
It’s easy to say I embrace disruption now, but truthfully, I only do so after the fact. Some upheavals hit unexpectedly, others felt impulsive or like molten lava bubbling beneath the surface, waiting for the perfect opportunity to erupt and change the landscape of our lives forever. Every time I look back at the path I’ve walked, I see these moments of disruption like sharp, clear cuts in the journey—sometimes leading into beautiful, new landscapes and other times plunging into my own dark forests, full of challenges at every turn.
Would I have chosen a different route if I could have? Maybe. But in reality, any other path would have brought its own unique set of disruptions.
In 2005, while training for triathlon, I sustained a back injury so severe that walking became impossible. The pain was unbearable; I had no choice except to wait for surgery. Triathlon would wait. Planning for my future in the sport continued. Then in 2007, while we were mourning the loss of my grandmother, my daughter suffered a one-in-a-million trauma. It was an event so severe that it reshaped all our lives. And yet, through that chaos, we found miraculous healing and a new direction for her life, leading to an incredible homeschool experience. These were disruptions that taught us how fragile our bodies can be, yet also how resilient they are under pressure. We both healed. The miracle of her recovery showed me the power of discipline and patience in what I wanted for myself. My training continued, goals achieved, and life lessons were learned.
Like many, the 2008 housing crisis disrupted our financial world, teaching us hard lessons about planning for the future. It also sparked an eventual move to the country, where we took on the role of producers, not just consumers. Living close to the land showed us the hard work it takes to bring food to the table and deepened our respect for the power of Mother Nature—disruption at her finest.
A path marked by beautiful milestones—like a strong marriage, a successful career, watching my child start her own family, and the freedom of paying off our mortgage—eventually led to a recognition of an internal struggle no one around me could understand. I had achieved everything I thought I was supposed to, but something deeper was pushing me toward a massive change.
I wanted to be a woman. I had lived as a successful man—Harley-riding, cattle-ranching, gun-carrying, professional man. Disruption had other plans. I began my journey to become the person I knew I could be—a rockstar fashionista, speaker, author, coach. A beautiful disruption, to say the least. Family, colleagues, and clients hung on for the ride. We survived. Together, we survived.
But see, that’s the thing about disruption: It’s not just chaos; it’s an opportunity. It was through this experience that I reframed my views on disruption as the very thing that allowed me to become the best version of myself. It gave me the golden opportunity to show others that transformation is possible, and choosing the path you desire—no matter how disruptive—can lead to a life you never thought possible.
