In this episode of Business Refocused, Carey and Lindsay sit down with Nicole Malachowski, retired U.S. Air Force Colonel and the first female Thunderbird pilot, to talk about transition.

Not just planning for it. Actually going through it.

Nicole’s career ended unexpectedly after a serious illness forced her out of the role she had built her identity around. What followed wasn’t a clean next step. It was the messy middle that most people don’t talk about.

Her perspective is simple and practical: transition comes whether you plan for it or not. What matters is how you respond.

One idea that stands out is yield to overcome. Accept where you are so you can move forward with clarity.

For agency owners, this hits directly. Transition is rarely about the numbers alone. It’s about identity, control, and what you carry with you into the next phase.

A few key takeaways:

•  Transition is emotional before it’s strategic 
•  The hardest part is letting go of your role 
•  What you’ll miss isn’t always what you expect 
•  The skills that built your agency still matter, just in a different way

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Show previously named Insurance Refocused