The Only Constant In Life Is Change

Before I get into this blog post, please take a moment to join me in a little celebration… 🎉 🥳 👏 🙌 🎊

March 1st happens to be the anniversary of my remote work journey. Today marks 11 years of this wild adventure, and I am just in awe of everything it has been. Some years, I have chosen grand celebrations, like back in 2019 when I turned five in this game and really felt like I was da bomb diggity bomb. I was so excited that I booked a photoshoot, had celebratory t-shirts printed, and even treated myself to a dinner outing. Other past few years, however, I’ve kept things low-key with a simple post here and a quiet website update there. But every year, I find a way to make the day special for me.

Last year, on this very day, I launched this blog. This was my third attempt at blogging since I started working remotely, and for the first time, I feel like it’s working. Why? Because I am showing up as me and writing what I want to write. Yes, simply that. This is actually my 33rd blog post on this blog, and I couldn’t be more excited about the many more to come.

In the past, I wrote with so much restraint, constantly questioning myself:
If I share this, won’t people think I’m crazy?
If I say that, won’t they think I’m exaggerating?
What if they talk about me behind my back?

These thoughts often stopped me from writing authentically. I was scared of sounding like me. I was even hesitant to use “LOL,” fearing it would make me seem unprofessional. I tried so hard to sound polished, composed, you know, like someone else. But all that did was drain my passion for writing, and I kept chasing other shiny distractions.

However, as I grow older and experience more of life, I realise how much we need real stories. Stories that resonate. Stories that show the whole journey. Not just the highlight reels, but the ups and downs, the wins and losses, the mistakes and failures, the perseverance and grace, the hard work and favour, the prayers and victories. And everything in between.

Those are the stories I prefer to tell. The real ones. The unbelievable ones. The scary ones. The amazing ones. The sad ones. The ones where I learned. The ones where I grew. When I write about my journey in remote work, tech, and life, I still feel that little tug of self-doubt, wondering what people might think. But then I remember my why. There is someone out there I am meant to serve with every story I tell. That one person.

As much as I enjoy writing (a lot!), this journey is not just for me. It’s for the hundreds of readers and listeners who tune in each week to learn something, to hear a relatable story, or simply to let me keep them company for a few minutes.

The Evolution of My Work and Identity

When I started working remotely, I was in my 20s. If God wills, I’ll be celebrating my 40th birthday next year. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned in this time, it’s that change is inevitable. In fact, we should be concerned when we remain the same.

Back in 2014, when I left my job, I stepped down from a middle management position to become a Virtual Assistant. But over time, I stopped serving like one. My leadership and managerial experience naturally kicked in, and I found myself offering more than clients had signed up for because it just felt right and the giver and helper in me just can’t help giving and helping endlessly.

Then, when I got pregnant with my son, I decided to take a break from work. I just didn’t have the same energy I had before. I remember one client saying, “You know, you could come back from maternity and not want to be a Virtual Assistant anymore?” I dismissed it instantly.

How could I? Being a Virtual Assistant had become my identity. I was Tariro The VA. There was no way I could want anything else.

Or was there?

When I returned to work, my son was about four months old. Tariro The VA was back! My past clients were excited to resume, but something felt different. Suddenly, I felt a conflict within me. There was more I wanted to do, but I didn’t know how to package it for myself or my clients.

So, I sought help. That’s when I met Sarah Noked and joined her OBM (Online Business Manager) coaching program. It was a turning point in my remote work journey. You know what I always say: You don’t know what you don’t know. Sarah opened my eyes to the gaps in my approach and execution, and she gave me the confidence to rebrand myself as an OBM. Within months, things started shifting. And, well, the rest is the story I continue to share here.

Part of that story includes embracing a tech role and leveraging my experience to contribute to a mission that shaped my career in ways I never imagined.

Had I resisted change, clinging to the Tariro The VA label, I wouldn’t have had the experiences that shaped me over the past few years.

The Uncomfortable Beauty of Change

Change is not simple. It is, to be honest, very uncomfortable. But staying the same is far worse. When we refuse to change, we risk stagnation. And when we’re stagnant, we’re not growing. And when we’re not growing, we’re hardly learning.

Change pushes us out of our comfort zones. Because while comfort is tempting, it often blinds us to opportunities that could change our lives. It keeps us from meeting the people who could become our destiny helpers. When we resist change, we miss out.

As I step into another year of remote work, I’m making a conscious effort to resist the temptation of comfort. I know there are seasons where we need to slow down, and I fully advocate for that. Some seasons demand more of our energy in one area than another.

For example, when my dad was diagnosed with cancer, when he passed away, when we learned of our son’s autism diagnosis, I felt like I was floating. If someone had asked me to start a blog at that time, I wouldn’t have had the mental space to do it. If I had forced myself to write it, it probably would have lasted just a few posts of me probably trying to portray somebody I’m not.

So as change happens, whether in life, business, or career, pay attention. Pay attention to the lessons hidden in your circumstances. Pay attention to how you adapt. Some changes require physical adaptation. Some require emotional and spiritual adaptation. Others require financial adaptation. However it unfolds, strive to change for the better, regardless of how uncomfortable it may feel.

We are never at a point where we can say, I have arrived. At least, that’s how I choose to live now. There will always be something to learn. There will always be room to grow. And I want to remain open to the gifts found along that path.

To close off, can I take a moment to thank the incredible people who have walked with me on this journey of continuous transformation? Sometimes, I worry that my family and friends are tired of my morphing shenanigans, but God truly blessed me with some good ones and continues to gives them the grace to indulge me.

Your support means everything. I don’t take it for granted. Thank you for keeping the light of hope alive when mine felt like it was running out.

Here’s to embracing change. Here’s to the journey ahead.

Here’s to continuing to chase excellence, from anywhere.

P.S. The podcast recording for this blog will only be ready on Monday. A little behind the scenes tea: I prefer to record my podcast when my son is not at home because, only then am I guaranteed of some peace and quiet. Like right now, as I am typing this, he is passing by my room with his music on full blast. Sigh… In the meantime, I have shared a couple of guest interviews that I have had the honour to be a part of over the years. Enjoy!