Grieving in Color Episode #5:

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Dr. Chinasa Elue [00:00:05] Welcome to Grieving in Color, a podcast that explores the various ways we navigate our experiences with grief and loss and a place where we find the courage to intentionally heal in our daily lives. I'm your host, Dr. Chinasa Elue, a professor, speaker, and grief coach. And I'm inviting you to join me on this journey, embracing our grief and the full spectrum of our emotions, a palette of feelings that colors our lives even in the face of loss. Each episode, we dive into real stories of healing and growth, as we also feature guests who have found strength in sorrow, love in loss and joy even in their darkest times. Grieving in color is about acknowledging the pain, the loss, and the grief. But it is also about finding hope, love and joy again. Whether you are currently on your grief journey or supporting someone who is, this is a space for you. We are here to remind you that you are not alone, and it's okay to grieve in your own color.

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Hey, good people. Welcome to the Grieving in Color Podcast. I am so excited for our guests joining us today as we discuss the different types of career transitions we experience, but most especially the emotions that come along when we transition out of entrepreneurship and into other career options. I am super excited about our guest joining us today for this important conversation, you all, but before I can kick things off, I really want to take the time to introduce her to you all because she is phenomenal and is someone that you need to know.

All right, so my guest joining me today is AdeOla Fadumiye. She's the founder and director of production at Cyrs & Tiana, a full service, strategic and creative production agency where she develops shows and manages the strategic logistics and creative details of podcasts and video productions. With more than a decade of project management experience, working with nonprofits, small businesses, and government agencies. AdeOla, y'all is a solution oriented, forward thinking and strategic person. Y'all. She is a boss. Alright.

She believes in creating simplified and streamlined businesses and production systems and processes. Okay, so y'all, my wonderful guests, she earned her Bachelors of Science in Mass Communication from Winona State University and her Master in Public Health from The George Washington University. She is a Starting Bloc Fellow and alumni of the THREAD of Yale: Storytelling in Modern Media program. She also lives in Chicago, Illinois. So without further ado, AdeOla, welcome to the Grieving in Color Podcast. How are you today?

AdeOla Fadumiye [00:03:02] I'm good, and thank you for having me. Thank you. I appreciate being here.

Dr. Chinasa Elue [00:03:08] Absolutely. So, I'm excited about this conversation because oftentimes when we talk about grief in the midst of career transitions, we think about going from job to job, right? But no one has ever really taken the time well, at least to my knowledge, right, in terms of some of the work that I've been doing. I haven't seen many conversations out here around the grief we experience when we are transitioning out of entrepreneurship and back into perhaps the nine to five workforce or other opportunities in that regard. So I'm excited to be here with you today as we talk about this topic. And so I want to invite you to share with us today what your business is. I know I've read some amazing things in your bio, but why did you decide to become an entrepreneur?

AdeOla Fadumiye [00:03:53] Thank you for asking. So, my business, and since we're talking about transitioning my former business, which is what I'm still transitioning out of, is a creative production company. It's a strategy first creative production company. And my team and I focus primarily on podcast and video production. We work with a lot of nonprofits, government agencies, and some corporations in producing podcast shows, developing podcast shows, running the logistics and operations for video and audio podcast shows. And why did I decide to start a business? So producing podcasts is not my first fray into entrepreneurship. I started my first business in 2010, I believe. I keep mixing 11 and 10 together. It's one or the other, 2010 or 11. And I finished grad school. I had worked for a year or two, and my job was ending and I was looking for a job. And I remember it was June 23rd of 2011. I think it was 2011 when I decided, you know what, while I look for a job, let me start freelance writing. Because one of my skillset is in writing. And it was also at the time where the big, the 2008, is it regression depression, whatever they call it.

Dr. Chinasa Elue [00:05:21] Recession. Yes. The 08 recession.

AdeOla Fadumiye [00:05:23] Recession was like, we're still in the end of it, like it was 2011, 2010 so people were still like railing from the consequences of that. So jobs were not easy to find. So I was like, I want to start freelance writing as a way to make some money while I look for a job. And that was in June of 2011. By March of 2012, I hadn't found a job, but I started my business in June. So the reason was more because I could not find a job. And I remember that first year I made $290. Well, that first six months, I made $290. And my business has changed over the years from freelance writing to event planning. My background is in mass communication, public relations. So I can do a lot of banquet seminars, gala conferences, ex0 planning. So I was like, I'm not making money in writing. Let me have that. And it's going from that to helping people manage their businesses and manage projects to niching down into more podcast production.

Dr. Chinasa Elue [00:06:25] Awesome. Wow. You've had a very vast journey and have touched on a lot of different industries.

AdeOla Fadumiye [00:06:33] Yeah, I have lived a lot of lives.

Dr. Chinasa Elue [00:06:35] Okay. Many, many lives in your career, for sure. And so it's interesting to hear you talk about how you've evolved over time as an entrepreneur and have really embraced that identity as a serial entrepreneur in a number of different ways. But can you kind of think back to a time where you realized that this entrepreneurship journey for you needed to come to an end? When did you begin to realize that you needed to make a shift or a transition in your career out of entrepreneurship?

AdeOla Fadumiye [00:07:05] So I would say for someone that has been an entrepreneur for almost 13 years now, and I have started three businesses, two were successful if I say so myself. And I think I say this for many entrepreneurs, there are many times when you're like, forget this, I need to go get me nine to five. So there are many times and seasons in the almost 13 years of doing this that I wanted to quit. But the one time that stood out to me that I knew for sure I was done was in 2018. And it was funny, it was around the same time I decided this year to be done with the business completely. It was, I think it was April when I decided I need to take the summer off. I need to just take a break. And I called that entire season my blank slate.

It was blank because I wasn't going to add anything. I wasn't going to start anything because I'm always starting something. I'm always doing something. I'm always building something. So I told myself for this break, I am not starting a new business. I am not doing anything but just carrying the clients I have. And if their contract ended, I wasn't going to renew it, and I wasn't bringing on any new client. So that was the first time that it was much more than just what entrepreneurs think about. Like, I could get an nine to five. It was more I was tired and I needed a break. And that lasted from, the thought came to me in April, but I think I decided to settle into it in June or July. And that lasted to December. And then by December I told myself I want to go back to my business.

And then I ramped things back up in January. But that was the very first time I felt a need to be done with this entrepreneurial life. And then the second time was last November, I literally just woke up and said, I want to do something different. So when I had the feeling in November, it wasn't that I was tired, it was more I was yearning for something new and different. So 2018 was more, I was tired. Last year was more, I want to do something different. But I was like, I'm making good money here at work and I make my own schedule. I have a team of about 15 people that I like what I do. Why am I yearning for something different? So I dismissed it. And then again, in February I sat down. I'm a believer. I do pray.

I sat down to pray, and the first thing I heard in my mind was, it's time to let Cyrs & Tiana go. I'm like, no, not me and you. So I did not lean into it. And then come April of this year, the same thing. I sat down to pray one morning and I have thought again, it's time to let Cyrs & Tiana go. And I said, okay, Lord, three times in a row you've said this to me. I need to pay attention. So for this was when I decided it was time to let this journey of entrepreneurship go for now, because I wouldn't say it's forever, but for now I'm walking away from it for a season.

Dr. Chinasa Elue [00:09:57] Awesome. So I know that a big aspect of what you're sharing is just these different shifts that came in real time where you had to, you know, begin to lean into what this new urging or calling was for you. You know? And so you're now here in this journey of yours where you've decided that it's time to transition and that it's time for you to lay the business down that you spent so many years pouring your blood, sweat, and tears into. And so, as you know, a big part of this podcast is discussing the many ways that we experience grief in life. And when it comes to entrepreneurship, you know oftentimes people equate their decision to end their business or end their entrepreneur journey as a form of loss or as a form of grief, right? And so the ways that we experience these emotions when we're choosing to lay something down that we spent so much time building up varies from person to person, right? So can you talk a little bit about how does grieving in color look like for you during this transition? And could you perhaps describe the emotions you felt as you've begun to transition out of entrepreneurship and are making space and time to process your emotions?

AdeOla Fadumiye [00:11:13] Yeah, that's a good question. For me, it shows up in many ways. But the biggest thing, and I wouldn't call it an emotion, was one of the ways I am grieving in color is I am grieving the loss of an identity. After having walked this journey for almost 13 years, I haven't had a nine to five in almost 13 years.

Dr. Chinasa Elue [00:11:36] Wow.

AdeOla Fadumiye [00:11:37] I've had to kill what I eat in almost 13 years. I've had to lead my own team, go out and find my own clients. I've had to make a living and I don't have a spouse. So it's all been on me to make sure that this works. Of course, I have family and friends that have helped me in many ways, but at the end of the day, it's me and God trying to figure this out. So the biggest grief that I had to grieve, and I'm still somewhat grieving, even though the emotional feelings are less and less as the months go by, is grieving an identity loss.

I had no idea. And maybe I knew, but I had no idea the intensity of how my identity or parts of it was really one of an entrepreneur. One that goes out and kills what she has to eat, one that has a team and pays a team, one that builds something from nothing. That has been an identity that I've carried for so long. I wasn't aware it was a, well, I knew it was a huge part of me, but I wasn't aware for the emotional intensity of letting that go. That it did have and still has on me. So that would be the biggest loss and grief that I had to walk through would be the loss of an identity. And also trying to figure out what would my life look like after this? What kind of identity am I going to step into? What would work look like? Another emotion that I carried a lot was fear.

What is next? Fear of can I do a nine to five? Am I going to go to a nine to five and kill my boss the first day? I'm like, I dunno what it feels like to work for someone in the typical sense. Because you always work for your clients and you work for your team members. So there was fear about what life would look like after this. There was fear around even the idea of what people, well, not what people would think about me because I really don't carry other people's opinion around me or carry people's opinion a lot. But the idea of maybe people's respect, like how you've, because I know people tell me, you are really resilient. You are really tenacious. You've done this for almost 13 years, you haven't worked for anyone, and you've been able to make a good living.

It hasn't always been easy, but that idea of people will lose respect for me, I had to like really flesh that out for myself, that's why I am holding onto this sense of these emotions around that. But I would say it's a lot of identity, the fear about the future, and also losing the respect of people with things that I had to navigate. And I would also say the finances were like, was a worry spot for me, but it was less because if I find a job, it's steady pay. So that wasn't an issue. It was more, can I make the amount of money I really want to make If I go into a nine to five, even though I get to negotiate what I want to get paid, people still tell me what they can pay me, if that makes sense. With entrepreneurship, I get to charge what I want to charge and make what I want to make. So those are some of the things that I navigated through and still navigating through, to be honest.

Dr. Chinasa Elue [00:14:46] Yeah, I mean, I appreciate you sharing the different things that you're walking with and processing as you're in the midst of your transition. And I think it's so important that you mentioned the piece around identity, right? Because our identity around our careers is such a significant part of our day-to-day lives. We spend a good portion of our waking hours working and building these relationships and connections, right? And even as an entrepreneur, right, you've built these relationships, whether it's with your other entrepreneur friends or even with your clients over the years. And so I appreciate you sharing how you're even navigating this sense of identity and how it's shifting in this current season.

And so I wanted to ask you, as you're thinking about now you're at the stage where you're actively in the midst of a career transition out of entrepreneurship. Have you encountered any challenges you faced during the closing down of your business? And how has this contributed perhaps to your personal and professional growth? Now, I'll say this, I don't feel like you have to go through hardships to just grow. But we know that oftentimes when we're transitioning, there's going to be some growth here. Because anything that necessitate change is always an opportunity for us to grow. So what kind of challenges have you experienced and how are you growing?

AdeOla Fadumiye [00:16:08] Two things come to mind. And I think the first is tied to the loss of identity. I had to learn that before this transition, let me back up a little bit. Before this transition, one of the biggest way that I grew my business and drawing client was going to events and networking and making connections and meeting people. And I would go, because I was going to sell, like if it's a networking event, I'm doing the typical marketing thing, building relationships with a goal of finding clients. And when I decided to transition, I kept going to networking events. Because I am transitioning out of something into something else, even though I wasn't sure what it was. But I realized I did not know what I was going there to do, because I didn't have an elevator pitch. And that was really challenging because it also contributed to my sense of not knowing.

So let's be clear, I know who I'm, I know who I'm in the essence of me because when I talk about loss of identity, I mean more in like when it comes to work and career, I didn't know what it was. I didn't know what I was selling. I had did not have an elevator pitch because I'm a planner and I had no idea what I was doing next. So going to networking events, which was something that I loved to do and enjoyed doing. I love people. I love being around people. Became a challenge because when people ask you, what do you do? I am like, I don't know.

I have nothing to sell. You have nothing to share. But I had to learn to figure out in this season, what do I do in this season? Who am I as a career person? So I had to figure out a way to shift my language from, I'm the founder of this to I'm a retiring founder who's looking for a next challenge, I've done this. I know what I'm great at, I know what I'm good at. But I'm also in a space of exploring and curiosity. And when I was able to jump over that hurdle and that challenge, that opened up a lot of conversation about what was next for me, about my skillset, about what people were looking for and what I could step into. So that was one challenge that I had, was just figuring out how to talk about myself and what I did and where I was going and where I was in this season.

The second challenge that I faced was last August. So this is October, August of this year. It was when, because I started transitioning in April, May. And by August I had a plan, because I'm a planner, I had a transition plan. I was already working the plan. August felt like the slowest month because okay, now I have the plan in progress and which means I'm shedding things. My plate is getting lighter. And at that point, I already knew that I was going to networking events not to sell. My body wasn't selling, my mind wasn't selling. Everything about me wasn't selling. And I felt really worn out and tired. I felt burnt out. And it made me think about, when you are running for so long, when you're holding something up for so long, like maybe like, I don't know, at the gym, a weight, like your body kind of can get acclimatized to the holding up that when you let it down you are like, Oh, I'm tired.

So my body was like, physiologically, we've been carrying you for 13 years. We've been running adrenaline through you to keep you on. And now that you've come down to center since we're tired, I could feel the burnout in my soul. It was very challenging. All of August. August was the boss of me. Because I was tired. I said, why am I tired every day? I'm not doing much. I'm not carrying much. My body was still telling us now that we've come down to center, this is how we've really been feeling for so long. So that was challenging for me. And the other challenge for me was really figuring out what is next for me. That is something that I'm still walking through. If we had this conversation in August or last month, I will tell you I'm still unfleshing and unraveling. Now I'm at a point where I have an idea of where I'm going or where God is leading me. So that was challenging, but it's still challenging because I'm not sure yet. So it's or fleshing that out has been challenging and just being in a place of rest that it's all going to get figured out. I can trust this process.

Dr. Chinasa Elue [00:20:27] Mm-Hmm. I love that. You know instead of letting the season be hectic and one that produces fear, you're leaning into the uncertainty in some ways and trusting that it's still going to work out for your good. And so just hearing you recognize and acknowledge that I'm still on this journey and I'm excited to see what lays ahead is encouraging in a lot of ways, right? Because sometimes, and I know for myself, I want to know what that next thing is going to be right before I say I'm going to put it down. And oftentimes life doesn't typically unfold like that, right? Like there's some ambiguity that goes along in this journey called life.

AdeOla Fadumiye [00:21:04] Yes.

Dr. Chinasa Elue [00:21:05] And you have to be willing to embrace that, to see the beautiful nature of what lies on the other side. So thank you for sharing that piece in terms of how you've been able to grow. So I know we've been talking a lot about challenges and how you've been embracing the toughness of these decisions you've been making. But have there been any silver linings? Can you talk about how even in this process you've been able to find joy in your entrepreneurship journey as it's coming to an end?

AdeOla Fadumiye [00:21:37] That's a great question. I would say for me, one of the biggest joy I have found in this process is settling into this season of exploration and curiosity. There's been some of that piece in my life in the past 13 years. But because I've had to kill what I eat and I've had to bring money in, I needed to do what was in front of me. Like just keep moving. With this transition and being able to transition and also choosing transition into the next thing. Not based on anyone's timeline, but mine, I've been able to explore what I like. I've been able to be curious about what's out there. I've met with other founders. I've met with many companies just talking to people saying, what are people struggling with that I could step into? So one of the joys is being able to do this from a place of curiosity and exploration versus as I have to step into the next thing, which brings me to the next joy for me, one of my top most values agency, and I get to do this.

That for me is such a powerful thing of joy that I'm privileged enough to say, even though my business is coming to an end and my entrepreneur life is coming to an end, I don't have to rush into the next thing. I get to choose what I do next. I get to choose the life that I want. I've designed my life in the past 13 years with some hustle and some traumas. I'm choosing to design a next 20, not 20 decade, 20 decade I'll be dead by then.

Dr. Chinasa Elue [00:23:18] That's [indiscernible 00:23:21], Come on now.

AdeOla Fadumiye [00:23:23] 20 years, I don't want to be here in 20 years. So maybe 3, 4, 5, 6 decades from now. I get to choose and design what my life will look like. So now I am getting to do that. With this challenge it's a thing of joy for me. And then the last thing that is joyful for me is the ease that I'm giving myself to do this. Like there's a sense of curiosity and exploration. There's a sense of I get to do this, but there's also a sense of ease.

And that shows up for me in the way people respond to me. I have done the work and my reputation speaks for me. So every door I knock on opens. Everyone I talk to has something for me. It's such a joyful place to be that it's been a hard 13 years. There have many easy parts and beautiful parts of it, let's not lie. But as an entrepreneur, you know, there is a walk, you have to walk. But now I see that people are reaching out to me and wanting me to work for them because they know my skillset and they trust my skillset. I'm getting offers over drinks. I'm getting offers over Zoom calls. It's such a joyful opening for me. And it made me realize that I am doing what God has called me to do. Like if I didn't let go of this business, I wouldn't have seen that.

The work I've done in the past 13 years has sewn some seed, has grown some trees, is bearing some fruits. And I'm getting to rip that because I'm getting calls from places that I haven't met people, but people have talked about me and they said she's currently free call and hire her before she gets snatched up. Yeah. I currently actually have two consulting gigs and one, I got over drinks. I met this lady at a dinner. We met up again one time for drinks. I let her know where I am and she's like my, she works for an international company. We have a consulting role we think you can help us navigate. We signed that contract in less than two weeks, and I started working for them as a consultant. The second one, I put something in the group that I'm a part of. This is what I'm transitioning out of, these are my skillset. I got a message in the DM. I met the founder on Zoom call. We fell in love with each other. The next I met the co-founder. We all fell in love with each other. The contract was signed in less than two weeks.

Dr. Chinasa Elue [00:25:50] Alright.

AdeOla Fadumiye [00:25:51] The joy is just seeing people respond to me because of the work I've done. Because of the passion I have. And just because I obeyed God and said, okay, I'm going to let this go, even though I'm like, I don't know what I'm doing next, but doors are open. So there's that joy of, it's a season of ease for me, and I'm totally embracing that and walking through it. Yeah.

Dr. Chinasa Elue [00:26:12] Yes. To ease and yes to the flow of things, right? There's that old saying that says it goes down in the DMs. Okay. So to see that you've been able to make these connections with people by just literally releasing the thing that, you know needs to end, but then engaging with the social capital that you've built up over the years, right? These relationships exist for a reason, right? And you've been able to tap into all the time that you spent building up these quality relationships now in the season where you're ready to transition and people are speaking your name in rooms before you even enter them, before you even know they exist. They know who you are and they're making those connections and saying, I need an AdeOla on my team. So I'm so excited to hear that, things are taking shape as you're preparing for this transition. But I'm curious to see, you've mentioned one of the biggest joys has been engaging with the agency that you have in this moment. And being able to acknowledge the fact that you get to do this transition. You've gotten the chance to be an entrepreneurship for some time, and now you get to make the choice that it's time to move on.

Oftentimes, when we're moving on, we don't move on in silos. We have people that are cheering for us and rally around us as we are making these big decisions and transitions in life. So can you kind of share a little bit more about who's been your biggest support during this time of change for you? And how or to what extent have they helped you navigate the complexities of your emotions as you transition out of entrepreneurship?

AdeOla Fadumiye [00:27:56] Yeah. So I would say first and foremost, it would be God. Like, I'm a believer, I'm a Christian and I spend a lot of time praying about where I am, how I'm feeling. I spend a lot of time venting to God. Like, you better not let me leave that and not dump me at the end of this. But I've gotten so much more strength and assurance from sitting in prayer and sitting in meditation about what I'm doing next, where I'm going. So that has been very important and really being a place to guard my emotions and as a starting point. I'm also part of a mastermind of other women entrepreneurs. And we talk a lot about exiting a building, selling a business, seeing all of those things. So being able to be in a place of people that are doing the same thing that I do in terms of owning businesses

Wanting to grow a business, wanting to exit has been very, very important for me to talk through my challenges because they understand and they've been there, or they're going through it or they're going to be there. So it's a group of women that I get to pour into who also pour into me. I would also say I have two mentors that speak very well into my life, and it's where I go to cry and be like, I can't do this anymore. So that has been very important. I would say community is important. No matter what you do, community holds you up. And I found that in my relationship with God, in the mastermind I'm a part of and in my two mentors.

Dr. Chinasa Elue [00:29:38] Awesome. Yes. Community is key here, especially when we're thinking about the ways in which we navigate grief, right? We don't do this thing called grief alone. We need support, we need help, and we need each other as we navigate our transitions in life, especially when we're grieving, leaving something that we spend time building for, for so long. So I want to kind of pivot the conversation a little bit. I want to talk about some strategies that may be helpful for a listener today who's in the midst of their own transition out of entrepreneurship and their grappling with the gravity and the weight of this decision. What advice might you offer advice to other entrepreneurs who are considering this type of career shift and who may be dealing with some feelings of grief and loss? What might you offer them as some suggestions?

AdeOla Fadumiye [00:30:29] So a few things that come to mind is, one is don't suppress the emotions. The emotions are going to come. Grieving, losing something or whether you lost it unexpectedly or you let it go, comes with a lot of emotions. So I would say don't suppress the emotions. Sometimes you might have to ride the waves just to flush yourself. Let the emotions flush through you, but don't suppress the emotions. Sit in them if you have to sit in them. But while you do that, because emotions are important, it's also important that you don't stay there for too long. The second thing I would say is come up with a plan. What is the plan for transition? Especially if you're transitioning out of a business, there's legal parts to it, there's a financial piece to it, there's the operations piece to where there's the team piece, there's a client piece.

So you can't step into leaving a, especially when you, like me, I had a team of 15, I had multiple, multiple clients on retainers. I have a lawyer, I have an accountant. So there's a lot that goes into transitioning out of a business, whether you are selling or you are hiring an operations manager, or you're breaking things up into other people, you're just closing it down. Whatever the plan you have or the decision you are making or how you want to transition, you need the plan. So while you're dealing with the emotions and taking time to rest and take care of yourself emotionally and mentally, don't forget to make a plan. So those would be the first two things I would say is don't supress the emotions, deal with them, come up with a plan, but also talk to those who have walked this journey before you.

And that brings in the piece of community. Don't do it alone. You can't do it alone. There's no way I can transition out of this business after 13 years of being an entrepreneur, even two years, one year. There's no way I would do it without leaning into the community that I already have, seeking out my lawyer. That's a community. My accountant, that's a community. What does that look like to transition a business? It's a lot that goes into transition, however you choose a transition. So lean into the people that have done it before you, the experts that can help you do it. Because they would help alleviate some of the anxiety because you know that you are in good hands. And then the last thing I would say is allow yourself to rest. These days I'm living my own version of the soft life. I lay in bed, well, I don't have kids, so I can do this. I lay in bed till 10 if I have to. Also, because my client load is now dwindling, I don't have much I'm carrying. So I'm choosing finding ways to allow myself to rest. Because it's emotionally, physically, mentally tasking, allow yourself to rest through this process.

Dr. Chinasa Elue [00:33:24] I love that so much. You know? And in fact, I was thinking about how oftentimes when we're transitioning the weight of it, where there's the emotional or physiological weight we carry, as you mentioned earlier is so heavy in this particular season of transition. And so to hear you acknowledge the fact that you need rest, you need to care for yourself is so paramount here. As people are thinking about how do they navigate the ins and outs of transitioning and working through the grief and the loss that may be present there, I was curious to see, you mentioned rest. Are there any other self-care practices or any other resources that are helpful to you to also provide that care to yourself that you found helpful in this season of transition for you?

AdeOla Fadumiye [00:34:13] I work out a lot. So that is something that I engage in, is I work out a lot and this just came to mind, but something I do now a lot. My sister introduced this to me last year, but I never really got into it, is putting on my background, like maybe a rainforest, a fireplace sound, the sound of a beach, that really calms me down. So when I'm working and it's in the background, it feels like, oh, you are at the beach right now. So my body just cools and calms down into that. I started doing that a few weeks ago, and I can tell that my mind focuses on what I'm doing because the sound calms me down and I can focus on what I'm doing right in front of me. But I would say it's usually sleep.

Healthy eating is something that I've always been into, but way more into now. Exercising, even if I don't go to the gym, I would take, well, in the summer or in the early fall, I would take three hour walk, three hours walk, two hour walk. I walk a lot. But just getting out there, moving my body, sleeping, eating healthy, and also cozy ambiance and just having sounds in the background while I do my work, that calms me down or cools me down, calms me down. It's been very helpful.

Dr. Chinasa Elue [00:35:34] I love that.

AdeOla Fadumiye [00:35:35] And I would say also, now that I have time on my hands, I'm calling friends and family a lot. It's like yesterday I called my youngest brother and I called my mom and dad and I called my sister and I called my other brother and I called my best friend back to back because I'm like, I just want to talk to people that make me feel happy and good about myself. So yeah.

Dr. Chinasa Elue [00:35:54] All right. I love to hear how you've been able to think about what do you need in real time. Even that cozy ambiance piece with the rainforest or the beach sounds playing in the back. I'm like, I'm going to have to definitely do that over here on my end, because I can imagine kind of the mental reprieve feel when you know that, okay, I'm, I'm away, there's work, but I'm in a calm place doing the work, right? And then to also hear how you've been able to plug into community and have more time. Because a big piece with entrepreneurship, as we all know at times, is that it requires a lot of effort and a lot of time. And so knowing that you are able to resow your energy back into your family and those that you love.

AdeOla Fadumiye [00:36:38] Yes.

Dr. Chinasa Elue [00:36:39] Also speaks volumes here as you're thinking about the types of support that you've been able to cultivate in this current season. So I have a final question for you because I'm curious. You alluded to some things shaping together as you are preparing to close your business down. Could you give the people a little hint, if you would, if you feel so kind, perhaps about what you envision for the next chapter of your professional life? Are you going to be entrepreneurship light, and keep, and do some other things? Consulting, I heard kind of thrown in the mix? Or are you thinking that the traditional nine to five model may be what you embark on in this next leg of your journey?

AdeOla Fadumiye [00:37:27] You want to get things out of me. So to be honest with you, I haven't decided on the exact pathway, whether it's entrepreneurship light, which is mostly for me consulting. I know for sure I'm very certain in my spirit, unless God has a different plan, that I would not be starting a new business anytime soon. Maybe in the next year, two or three. I do not have a timeline, but for now, I'm enjoying this pace of my life. I'm enjoying the ease that I can open my computer, close it and not think about work. Because with entrepreneurship, you are the CEO, the founder, the operations person, the IT person, the salesperson, the marketing person, the accountant, the lawyer, you are all of it, you are the team leader, you're the doer, you're the visionary, you're all of it.

So this isn't where I'm able to like open my computer, do the work for my consulting gigs, both of them. I'm still closing out with clients, and then close my computer in the evening and not think about work. I have never had that be a thing that I remember never. For me, it felt so new to me, like I can do this. I can close my computer and not think about work. That for me was very new and I'm totally embracing it. So going back to being a business owner for now is not where I'm heading, but I do know, I now know the one thing I know for sure is I know what I want to do next in terms of I know that I'm a strategic thought partner. I bring that to the table. I can step into a business and work with a founder in helping to strategize the next year, the next two years, and in real time what needs to be done now.

So I can sit with you and flesh out your ideas. But then my other skillset is not only can I be a strategic thought partner to, for an idea or vision or a company, I'm also someone that has a skillset to action a vision. I can help you execute a vision on an idea. So for now, when I go to networking event, I'm very clear about those two things. I bring this to the table, but I also bring this piece to the table. But how that is going to roll out in real time for me. I don't know if it's going to be consulting and I'm doing some of that in consulting right now, or if it's going to be nine to five, I do not know. But that's very clear to me that I am a strategic thought partner and I'm someone that knows and has a skillset to action a vision and lead a team to action a vision for someone. I know I want to be a co builder for someone. I want to nanny and not parent something. And I also sensing myself stepping into ministry work.

Dr. Chinasa Elue [00:40:14] Okay.

AdeOla Fadumiye [00:40:15] That's new. It's not new that I've known in the back of my mind for a while, but I am sensing God is like, this is the season. So I have the last time we spoke, I didn't have clarity around this, but I'm very clear about the things that I can see myself stepping into. If you ask me in January, I'm probably more clear about where I'm going.

Dr. Chinasa Elue [00:40:39] Okay. Okay. Well listen, we heard it here first. There has been some clarity to this vision as AdeOla is making some shifts in her entrepreneurship journey and embracing all of the things that God has laid out for her. So we are so excited to chronicle this alongside of you. So if someone wanted to follow you as you are transitioning out of entrepreneurship, are there any platforms that they can stay connected with you on?

AdeOla Fadumiye [00:41:10] Yes. I'm on Instagram. My first name, AdeOla, A-D-E-O-L-A dot like symbol for dot. My last name, Fadumiye, F for Frank, A-D-U-M-I-Y-E. And you can also find me on LinkedIn at @ adeolafadumiye

Dr. Chinasa Elue [00:41:29] Awesome. Alright. Listeners, you heard it here, there's ways to stay connected with AdeOla as she's navigating her entrepreneurship journey and transitions going forward. AdeOla, do you have any upcoming events or releases that you would like to share with guests today? I'm not sure if there's anything you're giving away. I know sometimes when we leave there's a BOGO sell or something that may be helpful for listeners. Is there any upcoming events that they can get connected with you on?

AdeOla Fadumiye [00:41:57] No. Sis, I'm just happy to be here. If you asked me this three months ago, I would have something to sell. I'm just here transitioning.

Dr. Chinasa Elue [00:42:06] Alright, it's all good. So there is nothing for sale right now or no events, but what we do know is that AdeOla is walking forward with intent and purpose. And so AdeOla, I want to thank you so much for your time today on the podcast. Good people. We'll have some details for how you can continue to connect with AdeOla. Thank you so much for tuning in to this episode of Grieving in Color. Until then, we'll see you next time. Bye-Bye

AdeOla Fadumiye [00:42:30] Bye.

Dr. Chinasa Elue [00:42:33]

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Thank you for choosing to spend time with me on this episode of Grieving in Color. If today's episode has resonated with you, or if you know someone who might benefit from our conversation, please share this episode with them. Also, I would love to hear your thoughts, your stories, and the ways I can support you as you navigate your own grief. You can reach out to me on my website at www.drchinasaelue.com or connect with me on LinkedIn or Instagram @drchinasaelue. Your participation, your feedback, and your story helps us keep this conversation going and reaches those who need it the most. Remember, there's no right way to grieve. There's only your way, and every shade of your grief is valid.

This episode of Grieving in Color is produced by Crys & Tiana.

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