Shifting Gears!

Happy Women’s Herstory Month!!

March 2025 is here, and things are happening , I mean a lot of things are HAPPENING.

The world in which we live is low-key , high-key on fire or high-alert yet here we are still standing , still strong and for that I am grateful. The first 60+ days of the year has moved fast and some days it feels like all of that strategic planning and preparation was in vain. At one point I started to see sprinkles of covid similarities all around me. I started to see it in the people I love, through the uncertainty in their eyes . At my client sites and on-the-job people are no longer hiding their own dismay or doubt, the facial expressions tell a story of their own. It really has been a new year , new level , new devil type of moment.

As I traveled the past few weeks I stopped to write and share a few times, but I just couldn’t find the right words for a moment like this. I knew I needed a bit more time to digest and process my own thoughts , experiences, and burdens before I could lay it all down to the community, I have built here with Lifebrand Factory. Over 11+ years of girl talk events , my own red table talks, group therapy and community outings, 18+ years combined blogging from my very first TOTD email to family and close friends not to mention the covid born digital vodcast with NYAWCW, NYAMCM, the brunches and so much more ,  The question has become What NOW?!

For me … It's time to SHIFT GEARS!

While the mission to equip , educate , inspire, and produce impactful programming for men, women, and girls from a variety of backgrounds remains, the way that mission is fulfilled will shift with the times and my own personal growth, bandwidth and the entering of a new season.  For years I have been the supportive friend/family,  the walking LinkedIn, Human black book of resources for all that I encounter. In many ways I will still be that person because when its who you are , you cannot run from it, but this NEW SEASON calls for ME to do MORE for ME.

You’ve heard the cliché’ You cannot pour from an empty cup…. It’s true but  no one talks about your inability to  adequately pour from an overflowing cup either. An overflowing cup has the potential to make a mess and calls for a slower pace and some attention to detail or else you will waste your full cup quickly! ( Somebody will get that later) So in this case I have to restructure how I do business and how I do life and who I do life with.

Can you relate?

Sit for second, assess your own situation and ask yourself wholeheartedly WHAT gear am I in?

When shifting gears there is so much to consider … each gear takes different meaning even though it is instructing the same vehicle. Is it time to Park ?  Drive? Reverse? Or have you lived your life in Neutral?

P – Park: This position locks the transmission and prevents the object from moving – Staying in Park can be seasonal, and it can also be dangerous. It’s one thing to place the car ( your dreams, aspirations, and desires in PARK because the lord says PAUSE or BE STILL, but it is another thing to stay STILL or in PARK on an active freeway or street where you have been given the greenlight. We are living in a crazy time, and many people are operating the vehicle of life out of FEAR. But that is not the spirit by which we live or do you? Use wisdom but know there is no FREEDOM in FEAR! Have you ever been in a parked on the highway. You feel the effects of every car rolling pass you at 70+ mph , the windows vibrate , the car may even move a bit because of the impact, and you find yourself one wrong move away from an accident if someone does not see you in PARK. What is stopping you from getting out of your current funk? What thing has you in mental bondage so much so that you can’t move? Whatever that thing is I encourage you to release that today! The only way you are going to survive this unpredictable life season is by LIVING and finding a way to MOVE …. Assess your need , wake up your gifts , find your joy and make a move.

R – Reverse: This position is used for backing up. Reversing can cause one to drive backwards never even looking ahead because you are so attached to the old season and what’s behind you. Driving in reverse is dangerous, especially when everything around you is moving FORWARD. If the past has you in a chokehold , shift gears . The old days have passed away and the new days are upon us. I honestly don’t believe as good as the past was for some and as bad as it was for others I know at this BIG AGE that the new day is a new for a reason. WHAT was , was for that season and even the good parts would NOT work in the present. If it’s forgiveness? Heartbreak? Betrayal? ( Stop Looking Back, There is nothing behind you that you need to move forward)  Now don’t get it twisted if you end up on the wrong street and need to throw it in Reverse to get back on track do it but if you have the FUTURE in MIND , don’t let reverse hold you back.

N – Neutral- This position is when  gears are not engaged or could be referenced as an attitude of staying neutral not black , not white, and not even grey… more like NO comment… I don’t have a say so .  Neutral can often times look like defeat because saying nothing , doing nothing does it all. When in neutral a car can be easily swayed….It can be pushed from point A to point B without ever switching gears if you are strong enough but it will take a lot of work to get there and you must have some help or you can only go so far……. Make a decision , You Moving or you not? You going or you staying , you can’t live in two places at once. Being neutral works for some things but when creating the life, you desire to live you have to use your voice and MAKE a decision that may not always be accepted by all of the people around you. Growth will do this! Don’t just coast and wait for something to happen for you , TRUST GOD and SHIFT GEARS and watch how much smoother the ride will be!)

D – Drive: Transmission unlocked ,willing and ready to GO! The object moving forward , headed in a specific direction to a specific destination. What I like about being in Drive mode is there can only be one driver. You can get some assistance from the GPS and even a passenger or two, but the direction of the car is owned by the driver. That person is in control and can KILL the noise and move forward all because of their position. Drive mode means one is READY. The mirrors have been checked , the car is gassed up and some place amazing awaits. But you can only put a car in DRIVE when you are ready, or an accident can occur. Wanna go further and forward , DRIVE , go for it , pay attention to what’s ahead of you and follow the directions , everything is waiting on you where you are headed , it starts with a decision to GO! 

Shifting gears is the catalyst needed to put you in a different position this time next year , next month and next week. It’s up to you! I want you WELL. I want US Well.

Well Men. Well Women. We make the world better together!

With Love,

Rochonda Rene’

PS.  Stay Tuned for the newsletter detailing what’s next for Lifebrand Factory , the end of an Era – Girl Talk Finale and where I will be speaking for Women’s Herstory Month as well , Exciting things!