From Layoff to Leadership: How I Stay Motivated as a CEO and Continue to Pour Into My Clients
- Taylor The Creator Web Designer
- Dec 4, 2025
- 4 min read
If you had told me a few years ago that I’d be running my own business, building websites, and empowering entrepreneurs every single day, I probably would’ve laughed. Not because I didn’t believe in myself — but because life looked nothing like this before the world shifted in 2020.
me into a new chapter — one I never planned for but desperately needed.
Back then, I was working a job I thought was secure, following a path that felt predictable. And then, like so many others, I got laid off during COVID. Overnight, everything changed. The routine. The stability. The sense of direction.
But here’s what didn’t change:
My determination.
My creativity.
My belief that I could build something of my own.
That season pushed me into a new chapter — one I never planned for but desperately needed.
How Losing My Job Became My Turning Point
Being laid off forced me to sit still long enough to ask myself the question I had been avoiding:
“What do I actually want to create in this world?”
The answer kept coming back to the same thing:
I wanted to build things. Digital things. Beautiful things. Useful things.
I wanted to help people show up online with confidence — especially small business owners who didn’t have the budget for big agency prices or the time to figure it all out alone.
So I did what many didn’t expect during such a chaotic time:
I invested in myself.
I took online courses.
I practiced late at night.
I learned the ins and outs of design, branding, and web development.
I built mock websites for imaginary clients just to sharpen my skills.
And slowly, everything clicked.
The creativity felt natural.
The technical side challenged me in ways I enjoyed.
The idea of helping entrepreneurs come alive online lit me up.
What started as surviving a layoff turned into launching a business, and eventually becoming a CEO.
What Keeps Me Motivated as a CEO — Even When I’m Tired
People often ask me how I stay motivated enough to show up consistently, encourage my clients, and keep pouring into other business owners.
The answer is simple:
1. I Remember Where I Started
I know what it feels like to lose everything, to start from zero, to rebuild from scratch with nothing but faith and grit.
Every time I help a client, I’m helping someone get one step closer to the peace and stability I once prayed for.
2. My Clients Are Not Just Customers — They Are Purpose Partners
I don’t serve “clients.”
I serve dreamers.
Moms building generational wealth.
Young entrepreneurs betting on themselves.
Seasoned business owners reinventing their future.
Their passion fuels mine.
3. I Treat Every Project Like It Could Change Someone’s Life
Because for many, it does.
A website isn’t just a website — it’s:
Visibility
Credibility
Confidence
Opportunity
Legacy
When a client tells me their new site brought them new sales or new recognition, it reminds me why I do what I do.
4. I Protect My Peace and My Purpose
Being a CEO doesn’t mean I’m always energized.
But it does mean I’ve learned how to:
Set boundaries
Rest when needed
Stay inspired
Take breaks without guilt
Stay connected to my “why”
Motivation comes and goes.
Purpose stays steady.
5. I Understand That Someone Is Watching Me Who Needs to See Me Win
Representation matters.
Seeing other Black entrepreneurs thrive helped me believe this life was possible.
Now I get to be that example for someone else.
What Becoming a Web Developer Taught Me
Learning web development during a pandemic changed my life — not just professionally, but personally.
It taught me that:
Reinvention is always possible
Skills can be learned at any stage of life
Closed doors sometimes redirect you to better ones
You are never “too late” to start
Creativity and tech can coexist beautifully
Most importantly, it taught me that sometimes being pushed out of your comfort zone is the only way to walk into your calling.
From Layoff to Leadership — And Still Rising
Today, I get to:
Build digital homes for business owners
Inspire others to keep going
Share the story that once scared me to say out loud
Help people grow, dream, and thrive
Lead with compassion, creativity, and confidence
And every time I design a site, coach a client, or finish a project, I am reminded that my hardest moment led me right into my greatest purpose.
To Anyone Reading This Who’s Struggling or Starting Over
Here’s what I’ve learned:
You can build a beautiful future from a broken moment.
Being laid off doesn’t define you.
Reinventing yourself is a strength, not a setback.
And the journey you’re on might just be preparing you for a life you can’t even imagine yet.
Keep going.
Your chapter of expansion is coming.
And when you look back, you’ll see that none of it was wasted.
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