When the Rainy Day Hits: Reinventing in an Industry That Never Stops
- Aug 19
- 4 min read
By Raquel Bruno
After over 30 years in media and entertainment—14 at networks like MTV, Nickelodeon, and TV Land, and 18 running my own company—I’ve learned that resilience is a requirement, but vulnerability is the real superpower.
I built a dream career, starting with my “North Star” job at MTV. From launching artists to producing iconic moments, those years shaped me. They also gave me a family—brilliant creatives I still cherish today. Saying goodbye to that chapter wasn’t easy, and like many in this industry, I kept grinding through the next gig, the next show, the next deadline. Because that’s what we’re taught: keep going, no matter what.
But last year, after returning from a wonderful trip to Japan, the rainy day finally came. Projects stalled. Calls slowed. Like so many in entertainment, I felt the weight of uncertainty, scarcity mindset, and burnout. That fear—that if I said no, the work might disappear forever—is real. But it’s also unsustainable.
So I did something radical: I paused. I got honest with myself about what still fits—and what doesn’t. I said no to the hamster wheel, to underpaid gigs, to the ego that says “everything’s fine.” I said yes to alignment, reinvention, and exploring new opportunities that support both creativity and stability.
Do I still love this industry? Absolutely. But I’ve also learned that evolution is not failure—it’s survival. Especially for creatives, especially now.
To anyone else navigating a pivot: I see you. It’s okay to shift. It’s okay to grieve old roles and make space for new ones. Your story isn’t over—it’s just changing chapters.
Over the past year I have done the work, and the work was ‘undoing’ while also ‘fulfilling’ myself with nourishment. The undoing part? Unlearning all that was placed into our systems through archaic work processes, of never feeling like you are doing ‘enough’ or that nagging ‘imposter syndrome’ that so many feel and may not admit to themselves. The fulfilling part? Carving time every day to be creative, to meditate, to fulfill your greatest part of your soul. It could be reading every day for 30 minutes before starting your work day or meditating to set the tone of the day for calm and peace as you work through your busy schedule. It is whatever speaks to your soul and satisfies your day in happiness and peace.
This part has not been an easy journey for me but the importance of it is so
crucial as a female entrepreneur, business owner, mom of two, DJ, volunteer and so many more hats that I wear on a daily basis. The Japanese concept Kaizen, has also helped me focus: "continuous improvement". That concept of doing a little bit every day. You may not see the improvement in that day or even that week, but you will see it when you look in that rearview mirror a few weeks from now. It helps to quell that overwhelming sensation of, 'I'll never get all of this sorted'. Trust me, I have had that feeling often and it helps to know that you are moving the needle.
While finding my true purpose (Ikigai), I have also realized that helping others be their best creative selves and to find solace in a very noisy world, was a big part of being in service for my soul. I have always loved mentoring when I worked at MTV Networks and I continue to speak at various stages for the next generation pursuing their dreams (whether in music, media or marketing), and this mirrors that desire at a greater level. My source of pride has always been in providing talent various platforms whether on a stage or through film, but it is now also in watching creatives (especially women), step into their power and using their gifts on this planet.
There are many ways that I stay grounded when uncertainty in today’s modern world seems overwhelming (because many days it is). Entrepreneurs, especially women, have a certain tenacity and grit that has pushed them through many of their challenges, but a new timeline has presented itself. A timeline that so many high-functioning, C-Suite self-starters have secretly yearned for: Mindfulness in a mad world. There are many roads that have lead to burnout crossroads. But for many, it is that churn-and-burn, get the project done at any costs mentality, that brings us to clarity: our life energy is much more valuable than this. For me, losing a few colleagues at an early age mixed with a high-risk pregnancy, made me realize that this road was not a sustainable nor an enjoyable one. When is it ‘enough’? A question that most eager solopreneurs will eventually land at.
If you're ready to reconnect with your purpose, realign your work with your values, or figure out what’s next—I’d love to help. Through my Ikigai consulting practice, I work with creatives, professionals, and leaders to rediscover their direction and build fulfilling lives on their terms. What does your mindfulness reinvention look like? How can you fulfill your soul? You deserve to take that journey to find out.
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