Monroe The Guru

December is wild because it's both an ending and a beginning at once.

I keep seeing posts about "wrapping up the year strong" and "finishing what you started" - all this pressure to close out 2024 with some triumphant finale. Achievement unlocked. Goals completed. New year, new you energy already in full force.

And I'm over here like... what if I didn't finish what I started? What if I'm ending this year in a completely different place than I planned? What if my 2024 highlight reel is mostly just survival footage?

I started 2025 by seeking job security. I'm ending it as a content creator and consultant, and as someone still figuring out what's next. That wasn't the plan. The plan was stability, growth within my organization, and a promotion. The plan was NOT to get fired and spend a year rebuilding from scratch.

But, maybe that's okay. Maybe not every year ends with a neat bow on top and a satisfying conclusion. Sometimes you end the year in the middle of a transition - still building, still healing, still figuring it out. And that's valid too.

Sometimes the ending is messy. Sometimes you're closing out the year with more questions than answers. Sometimes your biggest accomplishment was getting through it without completely falling apart.

If you're ending this year differently than you expected, whether that's a career change, a loss, a pivot, a breakdown and rebuild, or just...not where you thought you'd be, you're not alone. I see you. I'm right there with you.

We don't have to perform closure or pretend we've got it all figured out just because the calendar is flipping. We can end this year exactly where we are: in process, in transition, in the messy middle of becoming whoever we're becoming next.

How are you feeling about closing out this year? What are you carrying into 2025 - hopes, fears, unfinished business, hard-won lessons?

Let's talk about it.

1 month ago | [YT] | 3

Monroe The Guru

I read a comment a few weeks ago that almost made me cry.

Someone said they have their PM certification, they're almost done with their degree, they've completed IBM simulations, they're in TWO bootcamps... and they feel like an imposter. They're terrified to apply for jobs because they don't think they're qualified enough.

And here's what hit me: I have 7+ years of experience, I've raised over $11 million in grants, and I STILL struggle with imposter syndrome. I got fired over a year ago, and there are positions I don't apply to because that voice says, "You're not ready."

If we're both feeling this way - with all our different levels of experience - then this isn't about credentials. This is about a system that profits from keeping us feeling inadequate.

I'm making a video about this, but I want to hear from you first:

Have you ever felt like an imposter despite being objectively qualified?

1 month ago | [YT] | 2

Monroe The Guru

Now that I’m being sincere, the thought of “success” has been coming across my mind again lately.

A year ago, I thought success was having a stable nonprofit job, raising millions in grants, and being seen as "accomplished" in my field. I thought success looked like security, consistency, a clear career trajectory that made sense when people asked, "So what do you do?"

Then I got fired, and that entire version of success disappeared overnight.

Now I'm building something different - content creation, consulting, figuring out what a nontraditional career path looks like for me. And honestly? Some days it feels like I'm starting over from scratch. Like I've lost all the momentum I spent years building. Other days, I'm finally creating something that's actually mine; something that can't be taken away by a termination meeting or a budget cut.

Success used to mean stability and external validation - the job title, the salary, the professional reputation. Now it means autonomy, creativity, and work that aligns with who I actually am - not just what looks impressive on LinkedIn or sounds good at networking events.

It means waking up and working on things I genuinely care about, even if they don't fit into neat professional categories. It means building multiple income streams rather than relying on a single employer. It means being honest about the messy middle parts, not just posting the wins.

I'm learning that success can look like progress, not perfection. Like sustainability, not hustle culture. Like showing up authentically, not performing productivity for an audience.

But I'm also learning that redefining success is ongoing work. Some days I'm confident in this new direction. Other days, I panic and wonder if I should just go back to applying for traditional jobs and stop trying to build something different.

What does success mean to you right now? Has your definition changed over time? Are you still chasing someone else's version of success, or have you started defining it for yourself?

I'd love to hear where you are in this journey.

1 month ago | [YT] | 7

Monroe The Guru

Happy December! 🎉

If you're new here, welcome! I'm thrilled you found this channel, and I look forward to sharing helpful content with you. Your presence means a lot!

I noticed a lot of you are here for project management content, so I wanted to make sure you didn't miss today's video: "Break Into Project Management: December Prep for January Launch". It offers clear, practical steps to help you confidently start your PM journey.

It's everything I wish someone had told me when I was transitioning from being a barista into nonprofit PM work; the actual steps to take THIS MONTH so you're ready to launch your career in January while everyone else is still figuring it out.

If you've been thinking about breaking into PM or you're tired of waiting for the "perfect time" to make a career move, this one's for you.

https://youtu.be/dzdQBToS8Ak?si=HrHg7...

Let me know in the comments what brought you here and what kind of PM content you want to see more of. Your questions and ideas help shape this channel, so please share them.

1 month ago | [YT] | 6

Monroe The Guru

Maybe Success Isn't About Achievements At All.

Recently celebrated my grandma and aunt's birthdays, and it reminded me how often we measure success by the wrong things.

We focus so much on professional achievements - the promotions, the completed projects, the goals checked off. Those matter, but they're not the full picture of success.

Real success is also:

Being able to pause for the people who matter
Showing up fully present, not distracted by work or to-do lists
Giving and receiving love intentionally
Building a life that's actually worth living, not just a resume that looks impressive

My grandma and aunt taught me that without saying a word - just by being people worth celebrating, worth making time for, worth being fully present with.

Success isn't just what you accomplish. It's also how you love, how you show up, and whether you're present for the moments that actually matter.

What does success mean to you beyond work achievements? Let me know in the comments.

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2 months ago | [YT] | 6

Monroe The Guru

In my latest video [https://youtu.be/j2euyEcuWwI?si=STrIM...],
I talked about sustaining yourself through burnout when you're doing work you genuinely care about.

Whether you're in nonprofit work, project management, or any field where you're deeply invested in outcomes, the question remains the same: how do you keep going when the work you love is also draining you?

Curious what strategies are working for you:



How do you maintain yourself when doing work you love but that drains you?

3 months ago | [YT] | 0

Monroe The Guru

Stop Winging Your Week: A Project Manager's Sunday Routine

The real shift happened when I applied the same project management skills I use professionally to my personal life. Turns out, you can be excellent at managing complex work projects while your personal life runs on vibes and panic.

The breakthrough: matching tasks to my actual energy levels throughout the week. Monday 9am brain is different from Wednesday 3pm brain, and planning accordingly changed everything.

Also learned to plan for chaos - those 30-minute "something will go wrong" buffers have saved me more times than I can count.

Now Sundays feel like preparation instead of dread. What does your planning routine look like?

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3 months ago | [YT] | 4

Monroe The Guru

From survival mode to intentional living:


Early in my career, I equated being busy with being successful. A packed calendar meant I was important. Saying yes to everything meant I was dedicated. Exhaustion felt like a badge of honor.

Returning to New York as a professional forced me to reconsider what success actually looks like. I found myself asking: Am I building something sustainable, or am I just performing productivity?

The transition into my 30s brought clarity. I began making decisions based on alignment with my values rather than fear of missing out. I started protecting my energy as intentionally as I manage my time. I learned that quality of work and life matters more than quantity of commitments.

This shift changed everything - the opportunities that came my way, the professional relationships I built, and the impact I could create. When you move with intention rather than desperation, the results speak for themselves.

For those navigating similar transitions: What helped you shift from survival mode to intentional career building?

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3 months ago | [YT] | 6

Monroe The Guru

Happy October 1st! Fresh start energy for a new month.

I'm always curious about what people are working on or prioritizing when a new month rolls around. What are you working on or looking forward to this month?

Drop it in the comments - let's see what October has in store for us.

3 months ago | [YT] | 3

Monroe The Guru

💡Question: Realistically, how many side projects can you handle well at once?

After watching the "Why Your Side Projects Keep Failing" video, be honest with yourself 👀

The magic number isn't about what you CAN start - it's about what you can actually finish. Quality over quantity always wins.

Drop a comment and tell me what projects you're actually committing to this time.

If you haven't watched yet, make sure to check it out below.👇
https://youtu.be/g3nKjsSpR_U?si=eBF1u...

4 months ago | [YT] | 0