The Shitty Committee Has the Floor (But I’m Taking the Mic Back)

Nov 7, 2025
3 min read

By Mary Bouras

The meeting started early.

Comparison Carla had already passed out her spreadsheets of everyone else’s success. Judgy Janet was whispering, “What will people think?” Guilt Gloria came armed with a PowerPoint titled All This Hype for Nothing.

The Shitty Committee was officially in session, and as usual, I hadn’t even invited them.

These voices show up whenever I dare to pause. Like now, when I’ve put my business on hold to figure out what’s next. One of us needs a full-time, steady paycheck for this next chapter of life, and apparently that triggered an emergency meeting in my head.

The Myth of Always On

Entrepreneurship loves to sell the fantasy: “Freedom! Flexibility! Follow your passion!” What it doesn’t advertise is the unpaid overtime, the self-doubt, and the awkward silence when someone asks, “So how’s business?”

We glorify the hustle and demonize the pause. As if catching your breath means you’ve lost your edge. We post motivational quotes about resilience while quietly Googling, “how to update a résumé without looking desperate.”

For the record, I haven’t quit. I’ve just rerouted.

Rerouting, Not Retreating

Lately my GPS keeps flashing one word: Rerouting. I picture myself on a bright turquoise Vespa, wind in my hair, confidence on pause, waiting for the map to catch up.

Not “wrong turn,” not “dead end,” just rerouting. Life loves a good detour, and maybe this one leads to stability, fresh perspective, or even something better. Maybe entrepreneurship isn’t a straight freeway. It’s a scenic route with pit stops, U-turns, and the occasional coffee spill on the console.

Still, the Shitty Committee doesn’t like detours.

They prefer forward motion and LinkedIn updates.

When the Committee Gets Loud

Here’s their greatest-hits album:

Comparison Carla: “Everyone else is thriving. Look at her! She’s booked solid and glowing.”
Judgy Janet: “What will people think when you take a corporate job again?”
Guilt Gloria: “You built all this momentum! Are you really going to throw it away?”

They never mention that I’ve also built resilience, courage, and about ten new skill sets. Funny how they leave that off the minutes.

For a while, I let them dominate the meeting. But recently, I drafted an eviction notice.

Evicting the Shitty Committee

Because here’s the truth: confidence isn’t just about going after something. It’s about knowing when to pivot. Sometimes the most confident thing you can do is call a timeout.

Confidence is saying, “This version of me has done her job. It’s time for a new one to step in.”

And if the Committee disagrees? Too bad. They’re being replaced.

Effective immediately, the new board of directors includes:

Clarity, who reminds me that pressing pause isn’t giving up. It’s realigning.
Courage, who says, “Go where the opportunity is, even if it looks different than you pictured.”
Calm, who finally turned off Carla’s microphone.

Plot Twist

So maybe this isn’t goodbye to entrepreneurship. It’s just an intermission while I handle the very real plot twist called life.

A plot twist isn’t failure. It’s proof you’re still in the story. It’s the moment the main character steps off-script, looks around, and says, “Huh. Didn’t see that coming.”

I’m choosing to believe this reroute will make the next chapter richer because I’ve learned that success doesn’t have to look the same forever. Sometimes confidence sounds like laughter in the face of uncertainty, followed by, “Let’s see where this road goes.”

Taking the Mic Back

So today, I’m calling the meeting to order one last time.

“Ladies,” I tell the Shitty Committee, “Thank you for your service, but your contract has expired.”

They shuffle their papers and glare. Carla rolls her eyes. Janet sighs dramatically. Gloria clutches her pearls. But they’re packing up.

I’m keeping the mic.

Because rerouting isn’t failure. It’s freedom. It’s the courage to know when a new route serves you better. It’s the confidence to pause, pivot, and still believe you’re exactly where you need to be.

Because rerouting isn’t just about directions. It’s about rediscovering who you are along the way.

If you’re ready to reroute with purpose, start with The Confidence Shift at marybouras/shop.com. Because confidence isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about trusting yourself when the map changes.

So, if you ever hear your own Shitty Committee trying to call a meeting, remember this:

You own the gavel now.

Use it.

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