The Turning Point: Thriving Through the Messy Middle
Kia ora
Firstly, I'm sorry it's been a while since my last Legacy Letter and what I share below will explain why. Every month I like to share something raw and real from my own leadership journey because whether you’re leading a team, growing a business, or navigating a big pivot, we all hit the same roadblocks in different ways. This month, I’ve been sitting in what I call “the messy middle” … and I thought you might find it useful too.
The Messy Middle
The messy middle is that stage where growth feels harder than staying still.
For leaders inside organisations, it’s when you’ve stepped into a bigger role, but you’re pulled between daily demands at home and the higher-level leadership you’re meant to deliver. For business owners, it shows up when your client base is growing yet you’re still the one wearing all the hats. Business bleeds into your home life too much.
Either way, the cracks start to show. The hours get longer. The pressure builds. And it feels like you’re running to stand still. Who you are and how you feel about yourself - your identity - starts to flounder. Burnout threatens, your confidence dips and your energy levels tank.
If this sounds familiar, here are three things I want you to know:
You’re not alone. The messy middle happens to everyone who wants 'more' and are on a growth journey.
It’s a positive sign. You’re transitioning into the next stage of your journey but to move forward, you’ll need to 'lean into it', take a leap of faith to a certain entent, invest and be more comfortable with calculated risks.
You need to stop and reset. Without breaking the pattern, the hamster wheel just spins faster.
The Questions I Asked Myself
When I hit my messy middle, I pressed pause and asked:
Who do I want to be - struggling solopreneur or thriving business owner?
Who has done this already and can help me map the next steps?
What experts (or team members) do I need to take things off my plate so I can focus where I add the most value?
How much do I need to invest — whether that’s time, energy, or money — and how do I weigh up the risks?
Fast Forward a Month
Here’s what's shifted for me. I've
Changed how I think about myself - my identity - and base all my decisions and actions on this. I am a thriving business owner, not a struggling solopreneur.
Partnered with the brilliant Danno Hanfling (from Mastermind’s Edge programme) to help design growth systems and strategies.
Crunched the numbers, backed myself and my vision - which was scary and exciting.
Started building my team, using both my network and platforms like Fiverr to refine my brand, streamline systems, and create consistency in how Turas shows up.
In short, I applied my own leadership framework to move forward:
🧠SPACE: I stepped out of the daily grind to think clearly about what mattered most.
⚡POWER: I owned the next stage and powered up my capacity by letting go of “doing it all.”
💪RESILIENCE: I reframed the story I was telling myself. Instead of seeing the messy middle as a failure, I reminded myself why I'm doing this and viewed this challenge as an opportunity.
👉 In a nutshell, I decided it was no longer time to survive, it’s time to THRIVE.
Over to You
The messy middle is uncomfortable, but it’s also where real growth happens. Because it makes you think about who you are and where you want to go - your True North.
Ask yourself: where are you at in your journey? Are you on track to living your True North? How could SPACE, POWER & RESILIENCE help you move through your messy middle?
So here’s my invitation: don’t carry it alone. Hit reply and let me know what stage you’re in right now. And if you’d like support in finding your own SPACE, POWER, and RESILIENCE, let’s explore that together.
Until next time — keep leading, keep learning, and keep moving forward.
HELPING OTHERS TO MAKE THE SHIFT
One System. Four Tracks - The True North Identity System is Here...
This isn’t just a launch. It’s the next chapter of Turas and of my own journey.
After losing my first husband, living through a spinal injury and chronic pain, and hitting burnout more than once, I realised resilience, clarity, and confidence don’t come from quick fixes. They come from identity, from knowing who you are and leading from that place.
Two years ago, when I stepped away from corporate life to build Turas, I set out to create the framework I wish I’d had in those moments. And now, it’s here.
👉The True North Identity System. One System. Four Tracks.
Powered by SPACE · POWER · RESILIENCE, it meets you where you are:
Life & Leadership: get clear on what your next chapter is about and how you'll get there.
Business: grow without selling out who you are.
Organisations: align your people, performance, and impact.
Resilience: bounce forward after burnout, loss or change.
This is more than a system. It’s the way back to yourself and the way forward as a leader - at home, at work or in your business.
I’ll share more about each track soon, but for now, I’d love to know: which track speaks to you right now? Just hit reply and tell me.
Because this isn’t just my next chapter. It could be yours too.
This system is already transforming leaders across industries. Here’s what they’ve said:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “She asked the right questions… I came away with a genuine plan and let go of things that dogged me for years.” –Morwenna Grills
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Lindsey teased out what we wanted to achieve… with understanding, values, and vision.” –Sarah Verran
From emerging professionals to seasoned executives, aspiring entrepreneurs to established business owners, the Identity System is helping leaders own their voice and align their leadership with who they really are.
👉Want to see where you're at? Take the True North Discovery— a short quiz + eBook to reveal if you’re living and leading the life you truly want or letting others and the system define you.
🚀 SUPPORTING MARKETING LEADERS
Resilience in Marketing Workshop, Auckland
Marketing Association NZ
What a day. What a blast.
A room full of Marketing leaders didn’t just “learn” resilience, they lived it. They reconnected with who they are under pressure, rewired limiting beliefs, and walked away with their own Resilience Blueprint: a plan rooted in identity, not just grit.
The shift they experienced was not surface-lever. It was sustainable and deeply personal. Pressure stopped being the enemy. It became fuel. Leaders left clearer, stronger, and anchored in energy that will sustain them long after the workshop.
The big takeaways?
Many of us don't truly understand what we value and believe which sits at the heart of our identity. This means our decisions and actions
Resilience isn’t about coping, grit or toughing it out. It’s about rewiring who you are so that pressure fuels your performance instead of draining. It helps you create opportunity from challenges and lead in a way that transforms not just your work, but your life.
🌍 HELPING GLOBAL ENTREPRENEURS THROUGH MASTERMIND USA
Thrive Era Kickstart 2-Month Programme
My first virtual Group Coaching Programme and I loved it! Thrive Era Kickstart has proven to be a turning point for so many entrepreneurs stepping out of overwhelm and back into momentum.
Here’s what recent graduates shared:
✨ “It shifted me from stuck to aligned. Lindsey’s approach didn’t just recharge me — it reconnected me.”
✨ “Finally found clarity — the kind that stays, not fades.”
The programme is designed to move you through three stages:
Clarity: untangling the noise so you know where to focus energy
Connection: rediscovering what fuels you and building habits that stick
Momentum: creating practical, personalised steps to sustain progress.
This isn’t about a quick motivation boost. It’s about building the tools and mindset that carry you forward long after the workshop ends.
👉 If you’re ready to move from stuck to sustainable momentum, the Thrive Era Kickstart is here for you. Book your discovery call now: turas.co.nz/book-now
✈️ HEADING TO MASTERMIND
My Trip
I’m heading to the U.S. alongside 80 trailblazing entrepreneurs at Mastermind.com— co-founded by Dean Graziosi. Expect fresh stories, breakthroughs, and tools to bring back home. Can't wait!
🔮 WHAT’S COMING (NZST)
📌 SEPTEMBER – NOVEMBER: MARKETING ASSOCIATION SERIES
THE MARKETER'S POWER PLAY: FROM IDENTITY TO IMPACT
Credibility at the top. Resilience under pressure. Influence across the organisation.
This three-part series takes Marketing leaders on a journey:
Identity → Resilience → Alignment
September (Life & Leadership): Stop defending Marketing. Start defining your value at the top.
October (Resilience): Resilience built on identity turns pressure into performance.
November (Organisations): Alignment: where Marketing drives business value, not just the brand.
👉 Look out for practical tools like the Stakeholder Radar and Resilience Radar to help redefine your leadership value.
📌 10–14 November
Final True North Kickstart Challenge of the Year.
Not sure what’s right for you?
Let’s talk. One short call could shift everything.
Leading From Within — Always
So whether you’re navigating your messy middle, wanting to reignite business momentum with Thrive, stepping deeper into your True North, or stepping up in terms of your Marketing leadership, just know your leadership begins within.
Keep aligning with who you are, not what others expect.
See you next month,
Founder, Turas Consulting & Coaching Ltd
Who you are unlocks your extraordinary, every day.
