You’ve returned to work after a necessary break—maybe it was for your health, family, or just life. But now you’re wondering… why does it feel like you’re starting from scratch?

In this episode, Monique offers a grounded, strategic take on what it really looks like to return to work after a career pause and the quiet courage it takes to advocate for yourself in the process. Drawing from a real-life conversation, she shares the story of a professional who came back to work only to feel like she had lost her place.

Through thoughtful guidance and practical insight, Monique unpacks how to re-establish visibility, align with leadership, and position yourself as a strategic asset, not a problem to solve. This episode is a permission slip to stop waiting for recognition and start initiating the conversations that will move your career forward.

At its core, it’s not just about getting your old projects back. It’s about owning your worth, communicating with clarity, and building the future you’re still deeply called to lead.

(02:00) - Returning to work after a break (03:45) - “I’m back… but everything I built moved on without me” (05:10) - Clarity with leadership around your role and the current business needs (06:30) - How to express readiness without overexplaining (07:11) - Offering solutions - why framing matters (11:04) - What to do when your manager isn’t a natural advocate (12:41) - Advocating for yourself is leadership in motion

• Website | https://www.thegreatlifeexperimentpodcast.com/
• Instagram - thegreatlifeexperiment_podcast | https://www.instagram.com/thegreatlifeexperiment_podcast
• Instagram - @itsmoniqueschafer | https://www.instagram.com/itsmoniqueschafer
• YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@GreatLifeExperiment

Got a question that's keeping you up at night? Need a new way to look at a problem?

'Ask Monique' is your chance to get personalized insights. Submit your questions about business, professional life, or personal development, and let's dive into the messy, beautiful, and ever-changing world together.

https://forms.gle/iGZv2bVnhBSXbnbc8

Do you ever feel a mix of emotions when revisiting places connected to your family history? Whether it's a relative's home, a cherished childhood vacation spot, or a community where you spent a lot of time steeped in memories, sometimes these "family spaces" can feel complicated. We evolve, these places change, and the history can be heavy. But what if these complicated places offered an unexpected opportunity for personal growth and creating new, meaningful connections?

In this personal episode, Monique shares her journey back to her family's farm in the rural Midwest. This isn't where she grew up, but it's a 'family space' that forms a rich part of her family's roots, steeped in generations of stories, transformations, and memories. Monique unpacks the emotional nuances of returning to spaces with mixed feelings and reveals how she chose to see familiar places, create new experiences, and make new meaning for this next generation.

This episode is your invitation to acknowledge that more than one truth can exist simultaneously. You don't have to have it all figured out, and it's okay for things to feel uncertain. Learn how to create new, positive associations and memories in places that once felt fraught. It's time to embrace the art of rediscovery: redefining your relationship with these spaces, fostering new peace, and deepening your connection to your roots, all on your own terms.

(01:11) - A quiet pause in the Midwest (02:30) - The emotional nuance of returning to “happy” places with mixed memories (05:10) - A new home on old land (07:18) - Rediscovering like a tourist (08:58) - When the middle of nowhere becomes peace (09:36) - Becoming a tourist in your own town (10:49) - A love for both the city and the quiet country (12:31) - Appreciating your roots while choosing new rhythms

• Website | https://www.thegreatlifeexperimentpodcast.com/
• Instagram - thegreatlifeexperiment_podcast | https://www.instagram.com/thegreatlifeexperiment_podcast
• Instagram - @itsmoniqueschafer | https://www.instagram.com/itsmoniqueschafer
• YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@GreatLifeExperiment

Got a question that's keeping you up at night? Need a new way to look at a problem?

'Ask Monique' is your chance to get personalized insights. Submit your questions about business, professional life, or personal development, and let's dive into the messy, beautiful, and ever-changing world together.

https://forms.gle/iGZv2bVnhBSXbnbc8

In this special case study episode, Monique takes listeners inside an experiment of her own — using Google’s AI tool, Google NotebookLM, to analyze the first 20 episodes of this podcast.

Part recap, part reflection, this episode blends AI with insight and gently explores how technology can help us see our evolution more clearly. Monique shares surprising themes that emerged and offers a simple invitation: What might you discover if you used a tool like this on your work… or your own life?

Whether you’re new to this podcast or have been here from the start, this is the perfect moment to catch up and maybe see your own story with fresh eyes. Let’s dive in!

(01:40) - Exploring NotebookLM: An AI Tool for Summarization (04:14) - Insights and Limitations of AI Summarization (06:04) - Themes of Resilience and Human Skills in a Changing World (07:28) - Engagement and Feedback from Listeners

(09:46) - Navigating the Nonlinear Journey (14:25) - Cultivating a Resilient Mindset for Growth (18:09) - Practical Frameworks for Sustainable Progress (21:41) - Building a Supportive Ecosystem

• NotebookLM | https://notebooklm.google/

• Website | https://www.thegreatlifeexperimentpodcast.com/
• Instagram - thegreatlifeexperiment_podcast | https://www.instagram.com/thegreatlifeexperiment_podcast
• Instagram - @itsmoniqueschafer | https://www.instagram.com/itsmoniqueschafer
• YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@GreatLifeExperiment

Got a question that's keeping you up at night? Need a new way to look at a problem?

'Ask Monique' is your chance to get personalized insights. Submit your questions about business, professional life, or personal development, and let's dive into the messy, beautiful, and ever-changing world together.

https://forms.gle/iGZv2bVnhBSXbnbc8