When was the last time you said, “I’m fine,” but what you really meant was: “I’m exhausted, slightly annoyed and overwhelmed, and two bad emails away from losing it?
I’m Jenny. And if you’ve ever felt like the corporate world is one big game of Jenga, stacking up achievements and policies until one unexpected move sends it all wobbling, you’re paying attention. Corporate spaces aren’t just complex. They’re contradictory. A four-thousand-piece puzzle made of mismatched parts and no picture on the box. Somehow, you can’t seem to find a few pieces to bring the image together.
We champion diversity in PowerPoints, mission statements, and team values, while clinging to policies that feel prehistoric. Women, especially women of color, get handed a very “special” user manual, written in invisible ink, full of missing pages, and updated with a new appendix every quarter. Wink.
I wrote Beyond the Mission Statement because I quickly realized there’s a whole second language in corporate spaces that no one teaches you. It’s the language of perception, politics, and power dynamics. If you don’t learn to read between the lines, you risk giving away your clarity and confidence before you even realize it.
It’s the land of opportunity. And the land of contradictions.
“We value innovation!” But don’t question how things are done.
“Bring your authentic self to work!” But maybe leave that part of yourself at the door.
At first, I took these statements at face value. Rookie move, I know. I thought sincerity and hard work were enough. I cringe at my own naivety now, but that naivety taught me something worth sharing. There is a hidden layer. Learning to read it can protect your peace, your purpose, and your power. The truth needs caffeine, humor, and community most of all.
Some days, “I’m fine” is the shield we hold up when we’re actually scraping by.
But, here’s what we really need:
Honest stories about what it really looks like to unlearn, lead, and stay whole
Scripts to reclaim your voice (and your lunch break)
Tools to build boundaries and clarity
Humor, because if we don’t laugh, we’ll cry, and we’ve done enough of that on bathroom floors between meetings. Guilty.
And when you're teetering on that last nerve? You don’t need a triple shot. No, Sarah, and don’t add one of everything to your cart. Trust me, I’ve been there. Still not the answer.
What is the answer then, Jenny? Get to the freaking point.
Well, I think it lies in three things. At least this has been true for me.
Start with the why. Why does this situation get under your skin? Does it even matter? What’s the outcome if you respond? Most of the time, you’ll realize it’s not about you. It’s a reflection of them. So wipe the gum off tyour shoe and keep stepping buttercup.
Find something beyond the grind. When the 9 to 5 (or let’s be honest, the 9 to 10) ends, you need that person, project, or purpose waiting. Something that helps you forget the mess and reconnect with your momentum.
Practice gratitude. I know it sounds basic. But it works. Gratitude shifts perspective, grounds your energy, and reminds you that someone else’s passive-aggressive tone does not deserve front-row seating in your brain.
Fulfillment isn’t one-size-fits-all. Maybe for you, it’s the corner office. Or the power to say “no” without flinching. Maybe it’s mentoring the next you. Or building something outside the system that sets your soul on fire.
Sometimes all it takes is stepping back to see the full picture, then pouring yourself another cup of espresso and moving forward with renewed clarity.
Until next time, Own your story. Burn the script.
Jenny