Rise & Shine: The Day Everything Changed (And Nobody Warned Me)

Hi Friend,

Picture this: Monday morning. Fresh promotion. New title. Same team.

Except now I'm sitting across from my ex-peer, who just three days ago was venting to me about our leaders over lunch. And now... I AM a leader.

My palms were sweating. My carefully prepared agenda felt like a prop. And the easy rapport we'd built over two years? Gone. 

Just like that.

Welcome to the loneliest promotion nobody talks about.

The Truth About Going From Peer to Manager

Here's what they don't put in the congratulations email:

You're not just getting a new title. You're losing your place in the group chat. The after-work drinks invitations dry up. The casual "can you believe this?" conversations stop.

And that first 1:1? It's like trying to have a normal conversation while everyone pretends you're not wearing a Halloween costume to a funeral.

I fumbled through that meeting. Asked all the wrong questions. Tried too hard to be "cool boss" while also establishing authority. It was... rough.

But here's what I learned in those awkward early days:

The 5 Shifts Nobody Prepares You For

1. Trust Has to Be Re-Earned (From Scratch)

The trust you built as peers? That was version 1.0. Now you need trust 2.0 - where they believe you'll fight for them, develop them, and sometimes deliver hard truths. It's deeper. It's different. And yes, it takes time.

2. Your Friendships Will Change (And That's Okay)

You can still care about your former peers. But the dynamic shifts. You're now responsible FOR them, not just TO them. Some friendships survive this transition. Some don't. Both are normal.

3. Imposter Syndrome Hits Different

"Do they think I deserved this?" "Am I qualified?" "What if they don't respect me?" Every new manager thinks these thoughts. I promise you, they're thinking more about their own careers than judging yours.

4. The Information Flow Changes

You'll suddenly know things you can't share. You'll be excluded from things you used to be part of. It's isolating. Find other new managers to connect with - you'll need that outlet.

5. Your Success Metrics Completely Flip

Your wins are no longer your own. They're your team's. That project you would've owned? Now your job is to help THEM own it. It's a mental shift that takes practice.

What I Would Have Done Differently (After Years of Failing and Learning)

Week 1: Set the Foundation

Schedule 1:1s with everyone and ask one question: "What do you need from me to do your best work?" Then I shut up and listen. Really listen!

Month 1: Define the Alliance

Tell my team: "My job is to make you successful. Your job is to help me understand what that looks like for you." It shift us from awkward to aligned.

Month 3: Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable

Stop trying to be their friend and start being their advocate. Learn how to say "I don't know, but I'll find out." Be okay with difficult conversations.

The Leader You Already Are

Here's what took me years to realize:

You don't become a leader when you get the title. You become a leader when you decide to take responsibility for others' success.

Maybe you're:

• The person who onboards new team members (without being asked)

• The one who speaks up in meetings when something's not right

• The colleague who shares credit and takes blame

• The professional who mentors others, formally or informally

That's leadership. You're already doing it.

The title? That's just permission to do it bigger.

Your Leadership Is Waiting

If you're reading this thinking "I want to lead, but I don't know how to get there" or "I just got promoted and I'm terrified" - I see you.

I've been you.

And I've spent years figuring out what actually works, what's just corporate BS, and how to lead in a way that feels authentic to who you are.

That's why I'm launching Lead From Day One.

It's not another leadership theory course. It's the real playbook for:

• Earning the promotion you deserve (with the skills to back it up)

• Leading with confidence instead of constant second-guessing

• Having difficult conversations without losing sleep

• Building trust with your team while maintaining boundaries

• Finally feeling in control of your career trajectory

Whether you're gunning for your first management role or you just got promoted and feel like you're drowning - this is for you.

Join the Lead From Day One Waitlist

No commitment. No pressure. Just first access when doors open.

Because here's the truth: There's already a leader inside you. Maybe they're nervous. Maybe they're uncertain. But they're there.

It's time to let them rise.

Stay bold,

Alyssa 💛

P.S. That first awkward 1:1’s? Just like any relationship, they develop, they change shape, they adapt. Last month one of my past team members told me: "Thank you for being the leader who showed me what good leadership looks like." It does get easier. Promise.

Join the Lead From Day One Waitlist