Life as I Know It Now

Eight events, new beginnings, college kids, two growing businesses, and apparently a red light face mask.

It's Thursday evening, and I'm sitting here thinking about everything I need to get done before I board a plane Saturday morning for Fort Lauderdale. The laundry, the packing, making sure the dogs are taken care of, the never-ending emails, and all those last-minute event details that somehow always pop up no matter how prepared you think you are. And because apparently being 49 comes with an entirely new set of hobbies, my girlfriends have talked me into buying a red light therapy face mask. So here I sit, writing this blog, wearing a glowing red mask on my face like I'm preparing to land an airplane. WHO HAVE I BECOME?! Seriously, somewhere along the way, conversations with my girlfriends went from what we're wearing out on Saturday night to what we're putting on our faces before bed, how we're sleeping (or NOT sleeping), and what miracle product is supposedly going to turn back the clock. I have no idea if this thing actually works, but my friends convinced me I needed it, and apparently that's all it took. If nothing else, I'm multitasking. Building businesses, raising college kids, preparing for an event, and attempting to fight gravity all at the same time. Welcome to 49, ladies. It's a wild ride.

And somewhere in the middle of all this craziness, it hit me. We're about to host our EIGHTH standalone LinkUnite event. EIGHT! How in the world did that happen? When Amanda and I started LinkUnite, we had a vision. We wanted to create something different. Something that brought women together in an industry we both love. A place where women could build relationships, share opportunities, support each other, and genuinely celebrate one another's successes. We weren't trying to create just another networking group. We wanted to build a movement. And here we are, eight standalone events later, with a community that has grown beyond anything I think either of us could have imagined. What started as an idea between two women who believed there was room for something better has turned into a community of incredible women, companies that believe in our mission, friendships that stretch across the globe, and opportunities that simply didn't exist before. And the craziest part? We're still just getting started. Sometimes I think Amanda and I are so busy planning the next thing that we forget to stop and appreciate just how far we've come. But this weekend, as we welcome everyone to Fort Lauderdale, I plan to take a minute to look around and appreciate what we've built. Because it's pretty damn incredible.

But this blog isn't only about LinkUnite. It's about life as I know it now. Because somewhere between building businesses, raising two kids, navigating single parenting, approaching 50 (but NOT there yet, thank you very much), and figuring out what comes next, life has changed. A LOT. For the first time in over two decades, I'm not packing lunches, checking homework (I actually never did this), running between sporting events, or reminding someone for the 400th time to pick up their shoes. Both of my kids are in college. My house is quieter, my grocery bill is smaller, and my calendar looks completely different. And speaking of calendars, my son and I actually had to schedule a FaceTime call on our calendars. A CALENDAR INVITE TO FACETIME MY OWN CHILD. I can't make this stuff up. Between his classes, activities, friends, and everything else happening in his world, we literally needed to schedule time to catch up. Part of me wanted to laugh, another part wanted to cry, but mostly it made me happy. Because it means he's busy, building his own life, making memories, finding his people, and doing exactly what I raised him to do. Even if his mother apparently now needs an appointment.

Meanwhile, both kids are already figuring out their spring semesters, choosing classes, and trying to plan ahead. And because college apparently never lets parents relax, we're already talking about fall 2027 classes and housing. HOUSING! Can someone please explain why we're planning where everyone is going to live next fall when I haven't even figured out what I'm making for dinner tonight? College parenting is a whole different ballgame. You go from knowing exactly where your kids are every minute of the day to hoping they remember to register for classes, eat something besides pizza, and occasionally answer a text. It's stressful, it's expensive, and it's a little chaotic. But I couldn't be prouder of the two humans I've raised. They're finding their independence, making decisions, and building lives that don't revolve around me anymore. And while I absolutely love watching them thrive, I'd be lying if I said this new chapter hasn't taken some getting used to. There are days I love the freedom, and there are days I would give anything to hear them arguing over something ridiculous in the kitchen. Funny how that works, isn't it? For so many years, I was Mom first, and everything else fit around that. Now I'm still Mom, obviously. That job never ends, and I wouldn't want it to. But I'm also getting reacquainted with the woman who existed before her entire schedule revolved around everyone else. And you know what? I think I kind of like her.

She's a little older, a little wiser, definitely more tired, and could really use eight hours of uninterrupted sleep. Apparently that's too much to ask these days. But she's also still ambitious, still full of ideas, and still willing to work her ass off for something she believes in. Which brings me to another pretty exciting part of life lately. Utility Studio by Sara Malo is officially taking off! I've signed some new clients, and I cannot even begin to explain how exciting that feels. When I decided to launch Utility Studio, I knew I had the experience. I knew I had spent 25 years building relationships, learning the industry, selling, creating events, solving problems, and doing whatever needed to get done. But knowing you can do something and actually putting yourself out there to do it are two very different things. Starting a business is scary, especially when you're 49, have two kids in college, and have spent most of your adult life working for other companies or building something alongside someone else. There is no guaranteed paycheck, no one handing you a client list, and no magic button that makes everything fall into place. It's you. Your reputation, your experience, your relationships, and your willingness to hustle. And you have to believe in yourself enough to take that leap.

Well, here I am. New clients, new opportunities, new projects, and a whole lot of excitement about what's ahead. I guess I'm living proof that you can launch a new business at 49 and make it work. Who says you have to have everything figured out by a certain age? Who says you can't reinvent yourself? Who says you can't take everything you've learned over the years and turn it into something completely new? Certainly not me. And I'll tell you something else. Every relationship I've built over the years, every conversation at a conference, every person I've taken the time to get to know, it all matters. You never know when those connections will come full circle. I didn't build my network overnight. I built it one person at a time, and I'm incredibly grateful that those relationships are helping me build this next chapter. I've always believed that treating people with kindness and respect, showing up, doing what you say you're going to do, and never thinking you're too important to talk to someone will take you pretty far in life. And here I am, 25 years later, watching that belief pay off in a whole new way.

Meanwhile, LinkUnite continues to grow, Amanda and I have even bigger plans with Legacy Table, and apparently neither of us knows how to sit still. Shocking, I know. But here's what I've been thinking about lately. Life doesn't always turn out the way you pictured it. Some relationships end, kids grow up, careers change, friendships evolve, plans fall apart, and new opportunities show up when you least expect them. Sometimes the life you find yourself living looks absolutely nothing like the one you imagined 10 or 20 years ago. That doesn't necessarily make it worse. It just makes it different. And maybe the trick is learning how to appreciate the life you have while still being excited about the one you're building. Because right now, life is CRAZY. I'm running between LinkUnite, Utility Studio, Legacy Table, client calls, contracts, event planning, college schedules, housing discussions, and trying to remember whether I actually moved the laundry from the washer to the dryer. Some days I feel like I have 47 browser tabs open in my brain, and at least 12 of them are playing music. But here's the thing. I'm happy to be busy building things that matter to me. I'm proud of what Amanda and I have created with LinkUnite. I'm excited about the momentum Utility Studio is gaining. I'm proud of my kids for finding their own way. And I'm proud of myself for not being afraid to start something new.

So Saturday I'll board that plane, probably with a coffee in one hand and my phone in the other, answering emails right up until they tell me to put it in airplane mode. I'll head to Fort Lauderdale to spend a few days surrounded by women who inspire me, partners who believe in what we're building, and friends who have become such an important part of my life. I will have the best dinner with Amie and Amanda, I actually can't wait for this! I'll probably be exhausted by Tuesday. My feet will hurt, my voice will be gone, and Amanda and I will exchange approximately 500 looks across the room that only the two of us understand. And I'll love every minute of it. Because eight events later, this movement is about so much more than conferences and networking. It's about showing up for people, creating opportunities, and believing that when we lift each other up, incredible things happen. And on a personal level, it's a reminder that even when life changes in ways you never expected, there is still so much ahead.

I'm 49 years old, with two kids in college, a new business that's gaining momentum, a movement I love helping lead, another exciting venture on the horizon, a house that's too quiet, and a head full of ideas. Some days I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing. Other days I feel like I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be. And most days, it's a little bit of both. Maybe that's what this chapter is all about. Not having everything figured out. Just being brave enough to keep going, keep growing, keep laughing, and keep showing up. Life as I know it now. It's different, it's messy, it's exciting, and it's occasionally overwhelming. It apparently requires scheduling FaceTime appointments with my own children and sitting around my house wearing a glowing red face mask that makes me look like something out of a science fiction movie. But it's mine. And I have a feeling the best chapters might still be ahead.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a suitcase to pack, approximately 100 things to cross off my list, a few client emails to answer, and a movement to help keep growing. Oh, and I should probably take this ridiculous mask off my face.

Cheers to new beginnings, big dreams, busy kids, and proving that it's never too late to bet on yourself.

Fort Lauderdale, here we come!

— Sara