Morgan in Montreal: Sometimes the Best Business Move Is to Step Away

If you've been following me for a while, you know I've developed a bit of a tradition over the past few years. Every summer, I leave the United States for a while. Some people think it's a vacation, but honestly, it's become so much more than that. It's my reset. This year, that reset looks like Montreal.


I'll be calling this beautiful city home until September, and while there will absolutely be adventures, amazing food, weekend getaways, and hopefully some entertaining dating stories, the real reason I'm here is much deeper.


Entrepreneurship has been hard. I don't think enough people talk about what it's like when you're in a season of transition. Social media often celebrates the wins, the sold-out events, the six-figure launches, and the exciting brand partnerships. What people don't always see are the moments when you're forced to pause and ask yourself, "What's next?"
This year has been one of those moments for me.


I made the difficult decision to move the Professional Pretty Conference from June to October. It was the right decision, but it also gave me something I haven't had in a very long time—space. For the first time in more than ten years, I don't have monthly contracts on my calendar. If I'm being honest, that realization was both unsettling and strangely freeing.


As entrepreneurs, it's easy to tie our worth to how busy we are. We measure success by how full our calendars look, how many clients we're juggling, or how many emails are waiting for us when we wake up. When that rhythm changes, it can feel uncomfortable. You start questioning yourself. Am I doing enough? Am I falling behind? What's my next move? Instead of letting those questions consume me, I decided to change my environment.


Sometimes the best way to hear yourself think is to leave the noise behind. Montreal gives me exactly what I've been craving: a slower pace, a walkable city, incredible cafés to work from, beautiful parks, and enough distance from my everyday routine to dream again.
This summer isn't about running away from my business. It's about running toward the next version of it.


I'm using this time intentionally to map out 2027, develop new partnerships, reimagine Professional Pretty, grow my media business, write, create content, and think strategically about where I want my career to go over the next decade—not just the next few months.
Turning 40 has changed my perspective in ways I didn't expect. I've realized I don't just want to work harder; I want to work smarter. I want to build a business that gives me freedom, not just responsibilities. I want to create experiences that have impact while also creating a life that feels fulfilling.


Of course, it won't all be work. One of my personal goals while I'm here is to finally improve my French. I've always wanted to become more confident speaking the language, and living in a bilingual city feels like the perfect opportunity to practice every single day. So don't be surprised if you see me attempting conversations at coffee shops, ordering in French, or celebrating the little victories along the way.
I'm also giving myself permission to simply enjoy life. That means saying yes to new experiences, exploring neighborhoods I've never visited, taking weekend trips, trying new restaurants, meeting new people, and yes navigating whatever adventures my dating life decides to throw my way.


Because life isn't meant to be lived only through work.
It's meant to be experienced. If there's one thing I've learned over the past few years—through grief, entrepreneurship, travel, and turning 40—it's that growth doesn't always happen when you're grinding. Sometimes it happens when you create enough space to listen to yourself again.


So welcome to my Morgan in Montreal era. Over the next few months, I'll be sharing the highs, the challenges, the business lessons, the wellness journey, the travel adventures, my attempts at speaking French, and everything in between. Who knows what this season will bring? I certainly don't have all the answers.


But I have a feeling it's going to be one of the most transformative chapters yet. Stay tuned for my Morgan in Montreal Tales. I think this is going to be a good one.