When the Funding Disappears: Turning 40 and Wondering If I Still Have the Fight Left

There’s something nobody really prepares you for as an entrepreneur: the moment you sit quietly and ask yourself, “Do I even want to keep doing this?” Lately, I’ve been asking myself that a lot. Turning 40 has already brought so much reflection into my life. Not just personally, but professionally too. This season has forced me to really evaluate what success means to me now, what I still have the energy for, and whether the vision I’ve spent years building is still sustainable in today’s world. Entrepreneurship feels very different right now.


For years, my business was supported through partnerships, sponsorships, DEI initiatives, and companies wanting to invest in diverse voices and underserved communities. I built platforms, events, wellness experiences, conferences, and media spaces centered around women who looked like me because I knew how deeply those spaces were needed.


Over the last year especially, I’ve watched a lot of that funding disappear. DEI budgets have been cut. Marketing budgets have shifted. Partnerships that once felt aligned suddenly vanished. Emails go unanswered. Conversations stall. Opportunities shrink. And when your business is purpose-driven and community-centered, that loss feels even heavier because it impacts more than just you. It impacts the people you’re trying to serve. There have been moments recently where I’ve felt defeated. Truly defeated.


Moments where I questioned if I still have the strength to keep pushing. Moments where I wonder if all the years of building, sacrificing, creating, showing up, traveling, speaking, hosting events, creating safe spaces, and pouring into others still matter in this landscape. Entrepreneurship can become emotionally exhausting when you constantly feel like you’re fighting to prove your value.


I know I’m not alone in that feeling. So many founders, especially women founders and minority entrepreneurs, are quietly carrying this same weight right now. We’re trying to navigate businesses in a climate where funding is uncertain, algorithms constantly shift, visibility feels harder, and burnout has become normalized.


At 40, I’m realizing that resilience is important—but so is sustainability. That’s something I’ve been thinking about a lot lately, especially after reading more from Tasha Randle and 828 Leadership Group. One thing that really resonated with me is the idea that sometimes entrepreneurs don’t necessarily lack talent or impact—they lack positioning, structure, and strategic support that allows their business to evolve with changing markets.


Many of us have been operating purely from passion for so long that we never stopped to ask if our business model still supports the life we actually want. As entrepreneurs, especially purpose-driven ones, we often wear burnout like a badge of honor. We overgive. We undercharge. We overextend. We continue serving even when we’re empty ourselves.


I’ve been asking bigger questions. What does entrepreneurship look like now? What parts of my business still bring me joy? What am I forcing out of survival? What needs to evolve? Most importantly: What does success look like in this chapter of my life?


Success at 40 isn’t hustling harder. Maybe it’s building smarter. I think a lot of women are standing at this same crossroads right now. Trying to figure out how to continue dreaming while also being realistic about the emotional toll entrepreneurship can take. Trying to stay inspired while watching industries shift around us. Trying not to lose ourselves while building something meaningful.


If you’re an entrepreneur feeling stuck, burned out, overlooked, or unsure how to move forward in this changing landscape, I’d encourage you to explore the work Tasha Randle and 828 Leadership Group are doing. Their Strategic Advisory Intensive is designed to help founders identify hidden gaps in their business, reposition their expertise, and create more sustainable, profitable growth strategies without constantly operating from burnout. Click this link here for more information.


Sometimes the next level of your business doesn’t require working harder. Sometimes it requires clarity, strategy, and support. More entrepreneurs deserve that.