Life Shouldn’t Just Happen

I was listening to a podcast episode of John Maxwell recently, and something he said intrigued me:

Meaning, figure out what makes you uniquely you, and lead with that.

The truth is, a lot of things happened to me growing up. My mom did her best, but circumstance often took the lead. And when I got older, I decided I wasn’t going to live that way anymore.
I wasn’t going to let life just happen to me. I was going to plan for the life I wanted.

So I did.

I planned when I’d have my kids and how many. I plan our vacations months into years ahead, and yes, my friends tease me about this. I plan solo trips, morning walks, and for the things I want most.

We’re just coming back from a quick family beach trip off the Florida Panhandle. I love the beach and this part of the country.

Now we’re back to reality and kids are heading back to school. For the first time since Pre-K, I have no back-to-school photos to share. My 15-year-old gave me a firm “no.” My oldest moves into her college dorm next week. I may or may not get permission to snap a picture.  

So here I am, still planning, but learning to let go, too.

And even with all the planning, life still happens. Unexpected moments come. Life’s detours show up. But because I’ve planned, I’m able to navigate the hits with grace.

That’s what I want for you too, especially now, as we plan for Open Enrollment.

Leah ❤️

If you're like me, you’re already feeling the quiet countdown to fall. Open Enrollment is around the corner and planning now can make the difference between a peaceful January and a chaotic one.

That’s why I’m running a 90-Day OE Series, sharing weekly insights on LinkedIn- real stories, common pitfalls, and practical ways to avoid them.

So far, I’ve covered three big ones I see HR and benefits teams run into every year:

📌 OE Pitfall #1: Life Insurance Mismatches 
📌 OE Pitfall #2: Ignoring Evidence of Insurability (EOI) Clean-Up
📌 OE Pitfall #3: Lack of Strategic Check-Ins with Your Benefits Consultant

Each one comes with real stories (from the field!) and actionable tips to help you lead OE with confidence- not scramble through it.

And just like in life, OE will never be perfect. But when something goes sideways, and it will, a solid plan lets you respond with grace, not panic.

Our first ever OE Readiness Masterclass was a success—and I’m so grateful to everyone who joined us. We had such a thoughtful group of HR, Benefits, and HRIS leaders show up ready to learn, share, and support one another.

Here’s what a few attendees had to say:

No worries. you can still plug into the support:

👉 Join our monthly Office Hours
👉 Grab the OE Rescue Kit

Got a tricky vendor issue? Timeline slipping? Not sure if your OE plan covers it all?

You don’t have to figure it out alone.

We’re hosting monthly Open Enrollment Office Hours—a casual, supportive space for HR, Benefits, and Payroll leaders to get real-time guidance, gut-check strategy, and share lessons with peers.

🕑 When: Last Thursday of every month at 2:00 PM EST
📅 Next Session: August 28, 2025
📍 Where: Virtual (invite sent upon registration)

💬 Drop in with a question, stay for the whole hour, or just listen in. It’s your time.

Let’s plan better, together.

_{August HCM Tech HR Roundtable}

Thursday, August 21, 2025

🌞 HCM Tech Summer Webinar Series

Upcoming Panel: What I Wish I Knew Earlier in My HR Career
📅 August 27, 2025 | 🕑 2:00 PM EST | 💻 Live Webinar

More than half of HR professionals today have less than three years of experience on their teams. And yet, they’re being asked to lead through some of the most complex challenges HR has ever face, from disruptive tech changes to shifting workforce expectations. Baby Boomers are leaving the workplace, Gen Z is entering, and Millennials are still hungry to grow.

This month, our webinar will be a candid panel discussion featuring real-world lessons from the field. I’ll be joined by trusted and seasoned HR leaders, including my longtime friend and executive Sue Dunlap, as we share the missteps, pivots, and aha moments that shaped how we lead today.

We’ll talk systems, vendors, influence, and the things we wish someone had told us when we were just starting out.

Past Webinars

📍 Where to Find Me

🤝 Work With Us

Need help with HR tech, vendor decisions, or benefits admin? We bring strategy, clarity and structure. And we’ll always give you honest, practical guidance based on what actually works for your team. Let’s connect »

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_{What’s Keeping HR Leaders Up at Night in 2025?}