Sara's Coaching Corner
May 2026
May is a season of transition. While we celebrate milestones like Mother’s Day, graduations, and the start of summer around Memorial Day weekend, many professionals are also facing unexpected change. Headlines continue to highlight layoffs across major companies, reminding us how quickly stability can shift and how little control we sometimes have in traditional roles. It creates a tension many people feel but don’t always act on, the desire for more certainty, more control, and more ownership over their future. Moments like this are an opportunity to pause and ask a different question: am I building something I own, or relying on something I don’t control? If that question has been on your mind, this may be the right time to start exploring what other paths could look like.
All my best!
~Sara
I invite you to join my next live webinar, Beyond the Paycheck: Redefining Success Through Career Ownership, happening this Thursday, May 14th at 12pm CT. This interactive session is designed to help professionals rethink what’s possible beyond traditional employment—discovering new pathways to greater freedom, flexibility, and fulfillment through business ownership. Whether you’re exploring your own next chapter or know someone who’s ready for a change, this session is a powerful first step toward clarity and confidence.
Register here, follow me on social media for future webinars, and share this opportunity with friends, family, or colleagues who could benefit from exploring an educational coaching journey of their own. And don’t forget, my client referral program rewards those who help support and grow my business by introducing others who could benefit from the same guidance and insight.
I recently sat down with Carlos Cumber, a real estate investor who has built his business around solving problems and creating real value, not chasing transactions. Through his companies, he helps clients navigate both traditional and off-market opportunities by aligning each strategy with their goals.
During our conversation, he shared the moment he realized that even as a top performer in corporate, his income and growth were still being controlled by others. That insight led him to explore business ownership, where he has since created a path aligned with his strengths and vision.
If you’ve been thinking about what more could look like for you, his story may resonate. When you’re ready, let’s connect and explore what that path could look like.
Every Monday, I share a short Made 4 More message to challenge how we think about career, risk, and what’s possible beyond traditional employment.
One that resonated recently was Courage Requires Leaving. So many people feel the pull for something more, yet stay where they are because it feels safer than the unknown. But courage isn’t about having everything figured out. It’s about being willing to explore what else might be possible, even before you’re ready to make a change. The real shift happens when you stop assuming this is your only path and start opening yourself up to what else could exist.
I post Made 4 More Mondays every week. If you missed this one, you can catch it and others on my YouTube channel.
Recent layoffs across companies like Oracle and Spirit Airlines are part of a broader workforce trend that continues into 2026. According to workforce reports from firms like Challenger, Gray & Christmas, U.S. layoffs have remained elevated compared to pre-2020 levels, with tens of thousands of job cuts announced monthly across tech, finance, and transportation sectors. At the same time, surveys from LinkedIn and PwC show that over 60 percent of professionals are either actively exploring new income opportunities or open to doing so, citing lack of control and long-term security as primary concerns.
This environment has fueled the rise of “career cushioning,” a growing trend where professionals build alternative income streams or explore business ownership while still employed. A 2025 workforce sentiment survey by Bankrate found that nearly 40 percent of U.S. adults now have a side hustle, with many indicating it is less about extra income and more about creating a backup plan. What was once seen as optional is increasingly becoming a strategic move to protect against uncertainty.
What’s important is how this shift is happening. Many are not walking away from their jobs overnight. Instead, they are taking a measured approach, exploring semi-absentee or scalable business models that allow them to learn, validate, and build while maintaining their primary income. This creates optionality, something traditional employment alone no longer consistently provides.
The takeaway is simple. The conversation is no longer just about finding the next job. It is about creating control, flexibility, and a path that aligns with where you want to go. For those willing to explore, there are more ways than ever to start building that path before change is forced upon you.
- Online Webinar: Beyond the Paycheck-Redefining Success Through Business Ownership Register Here (May 14th at 12pm CST ONLINE)
What conferences or career development events are you attending? I welcome the opportunity to speak at live or virtual events, including but not limited to: Lunch & Learns, Job Fairs/Franchise Shows, College Business Classes, Career Development Networks & Events, Small Business & Entrepreneurship Networks & Events, and Recruit Military Events. Please send details to sroy@esourcecoach.com. For all referrals that lead to a booked speaking engagement, you will receive a $50 VISA gift card!
A huge congratulations to Gwyn P. from Wisconsin on embarking on an exciting new chapter as a business owner!
It's been an absolute pleasure to partner with you on your journey. Wishing you tremendous success as you take on this amazing adventure!
Who in your life—family, friends, co-workers, neighbors, or even someone from your gym—feels stuck in their career and unsure of their next move? Imagine the impact you could have by connecting them to the same coaching experience that’s helping you gain clarity and direction. Plus, as a thank-you, you’ll earn $250 for each referral!
*Click here to learn more about my Client Referral Program! Your referrals don’t just change lives—they mean the world to me. Keep them coming!
About Me
I’m passionate about empowering individuals to achieve their goals and dreams for income, lifestyle, wealth, and equity. It’s my greatest honor and privilege to help you discover your You 2.0 and unlock your full potential!
I live in the Kansas City Metropolitan area with my three amazing children and hold an MBA from St. Mary’s University. In my downtime, I love spending time with family and friends, whether it’s attending sporting events, enjoying plays and musicals, exploring local wineries, or taking in live music.
Email: sroy@esourcecoach.com
Website: https://sroy.esourcecoach.com/
Phone: 913-359-9939
