We don’t talk enough about going back.
Not as failure. Not as indecision.
Just as the next right move.
Julie Samuels left the organization she founded, Tech:NYC. She spent a year on the board, gained perspective, found out she was pregnant with her third child, and then decided to return.
She wasn’t chasing a new challenge. She wasn’t running from burnout. She was ready to do the work again. The same work she had walked away from. This time with more clarity, more energy, and more trust in herself and her team.
When she stepped back, she could see the work more clearly. What once felt messy now looked manageable. The things that drained her before didn’t seem so hard. And she realized she still cared. She still had ideas. And she was ready to lead again.
This wasn’t about returning to what was. It was about moving forward with what she had learned.
The lesson is simple: Going back is not the same as going backwards.
Julie didn’t return out of obligation. She returned because she was the best person to lead, and because she knew exactly what the work required.
If you’ve built something aligned with your strengths, and you know how to do it well, it’s not a step back to go back. It’s just a step that makes sense.
Enjoy this episode of Critical Moments and please, please, please, drop me a line or comment if this resonates with you.
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