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How Olympic Diver Cassidy Krug Learned To Let Go—And Start Over
Former Olympic diver Cassidy Krug shares tips for going through life changes with grace in her new ... More book.
From fashion icon Vera Wang's early days as a competitive figure skater to New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani's past life as the rapper Mr. Cardamom, there's no shortage of stories about youthful passions giving way to bold new careers. However, riding out that in-between time can be tough for anyone craving forward momentum—especially when faced with professional setbacks like the shock of sudden unemployment, stalled advancement due to family leave or even the disappointment of a dream job that's less fulfilling than expected.
In her new book Resurface: A Guide to Navigating Life's Biggest Transitions, former Olympic diver Cassidy Krug explores these topics and more through dozens of interviews that illuminate the many ways people process major life change. Using her own journey as a backdrop, Krug takes readers from the peak of her diving career at the 2012 London Olympics to the breaking point that led to her walking away from her full-time job in New York City as a brand strategist. While Krug's family and coach primed her to think about career prospects post-diving, which helped her mentally prepare to move on after the Olympics, the realities of working in corporate America proved to be a different type of heavy lift that became more pronounced as time went on.
'I had thought that the more I put into my work, the more work would give back to me in the same way that diving did,' Krug shares over Zoom. 'I was saying no to my friends. I was saying no to my family. I didn't feel like I was getting as much back as I had hoped.'
This realization eventually wore down Krug despite having all the trappings of success, including a plum assignment with a dream client that involved leading a clever, resourceful team.
After seven years of grinding away in pursuit of her next promotion, Krug asked for a much-needed sabbatical to allow herself to take a beat, planting the seeds for what would eventually become a good reason why career shifts that shake our sense of identity inspire introspection and soul searching: When something we've worked at for so long has defined who we are and how we spend our time, the specter of failure raises deeper questions about purpose, direction and self-worth.
For publishing veteran Susan McCulloch of West Orange, New Jersey, experiencing an unceremonious layoff after more than two decades of service that included years of commuting, missed family milestones and stepping up during restructurings and the upheaval of Covid-19 felt especially disillusioning. 'After 22 years of contributing to my last company, embracing every unasked-for role, building community and serving the bottom line, I was laid off without a single kind word,' McCulloch recalls. 'That hurt.'
Global retail strategist Lisa R. Bannister, founder of the Missouri Rowe Collective in New York City, came up against similarly disappointing news two years ago. In her case, Bannister found out her role at a leading fashion and lifestyle brand would be ending due to corporate restructuring after a career-defining 19-year run that included seven years abroad in Hong Kong and leadership roles spanning multiple continents. 'The thought of idle hands or a restless mind was unbearable to me,' Bannister says. 'In transition, there are so many unknowns.'
Dallas-based AI marketing professional Leah Wright agrees with this sentiment. For her, career disruption came not from a layoff, but from a cross-country move prompted by her spouse's line of work. Last year, Wright resigned from a position she loved with a team she thrived with, a decision that left her feeling both disappointed and apprehensive about the changes ahead. 'It was also exciting,' Wright explains, 'because of the possibilities of what can come next.'Krug says she learned to make room "for multiple things that matter" during her transition.
For Krug, transitioning enabled her to explore possibilities that have given her life new purpose. Now based in Los Angeles, she divides her time between writing, working on freelance brand strategy projects and teaching trapeze while also balancing family time with her husband and their 2-year-old daughter. Since leaving her full-time position five years ago, Krug says she has 'expanded and made room for multiple things that matter,' a move that has brought more fulfillment, joy and connection to her life.
In Resurface, Krug outlines key takeaways and provides exercises for making progress while navigating the unknown. Highlights from the book include:Krug's book includes exercises at the end of each chapter to help with processing major life ... More transitions.
These days, McCulloch stays grounded through her love of reading and expressing gratitude for her network. She's embracing the murk by redirecting the energy and care that she poured into her former employer to herself, allowing her the space to recharge. Her to-do list now includes 'having this time to breathe, to sleep a little later, to take a day off and not feel like I'm playing hooky, to schedule lunches without watching the clock until my next meeting, to take my son on college visits midweek.' It's a welcome change of pace that's changed her mindset and helped with connecting her dots, opening her up to considering work with nonprofits and educational organizations where she can apply the community-minded leadership skills she honed working for Big Five publishers. 'The world feels like my oyster again,' she says.
For Bannister, asking for help and building community came naturally through her regular practice of reflection and faith. In addition to immediately pivoting to create her consultancy, Bannister also reached out to her alma mater to explore teaching opportunities. 'Since returning from Hong Kong, I've remained actively involved with the school—mentoring students, participating in panel discussions and organizing field trips. Teaching felt like a natural next step,' she says, viewing it as a meaningful way to give back to the next generation. 'Not only do I have the opportunity to help students shape their career paths, but their energy and curiosity continuously offer me fresh perspectives. I find myself constantly learning,' she says, citing the ongoing exchange as inspiration for expanding her consulting business.
As for Wright, upskilling has been her go-to work during transitions, whether it's earning new certifications, going through media training or brushing up on Excel shortcuts. 'Be open to possibilities and just stay adaptable,' Wright advises, 'and celebrate the wins.' In Wright's case, that includes being able to support her family during the move and helping her teenage daughter get settled into her routines—an achievement that resonates with Krug's message about making space for more things that matter.
'Know that transitions are an opportunity to expand your heart past its former boundaries,' she writes. 'There's always something to grieve and something to gain.'
