The Journey: #43 Stay In Your Lane

Some of you may not know this, but my daughter Adriana is actually my stepdaughter. When Anthony and I got together, she was just three years old. She only knows life with me and Anthony… and then with her mother.

In our house, we’ve never used the word step. She is my daughter, and I am a mother.

Period.

But in the beginning, it was hard. Really hard.

I was trying to find my place, what was appropriate, what wasn’t, how to show up as a parent without overstepping. I wanted to create our own bond, something that was just ours. So we started doing special things together, horseback riding, ropes courses, 5Ks, at-home facials, salon manicures.

Those were our moments. I cherished them.

But the day-to-day was tougher.

Was I allowed to discipline her?

Was I allowed to talk to her about puberty?

What about Mother’s Day, did that include me?

For years, I stayed in my lane. I was careful not to step on anyone’s toes, but in doing so, I realized something… while I was protecting invisible feelings of adults, I was sacrificing what could’ve benefited my daughter.

So I stopped staying in my lane.

I started doing what was right and appropriate. I leaned in when she needed me. I made decisions based on what was best for her. And as long as I put Adriana first, our bond grew deeper and stronger.

And the same exact thing happened in my career.

Staying in Your Lane at Work

When I started in Customer Success, I played it safe. I didn’t want to ruffle feathers or overstep Sales, Support, or Product. I stayed in my lane.

But here’s what happened:

Customers weren’t getting what they needed.

Teams were working in silos.

The business was missing opportunities to grow.

At some point, I realized, staying in your lane doesn’t serve anyone if the car isn’t moving forward.

True impact comes when you work across lanes, not just within them.

Here are 5 areas where you shouldn’t stay in your lane:

Customer Experience

Don’t say, “That’s not my department.” If you see something broken in the customer journey, fix it, or at least flag it. Customers don’t care whose lane it’s in; they just want the road smooth.

Cross-Functional Communication

Speak up. Whether it’s Product feedback or Sales insights, your voice matters. Staying silent because “it’s not your lane” limits business growth.

Revenue Conversations

You don’t need to own a quota to talk about revenue. Lean into renewals, expansions, and advocacy. Your insights are gold for the business.

Leadership Without Title

You don’t have to be a VP to lead. Influence outcomes, drive collaboration, and model accountability. Leadership is about ownership, not hierarchy.

Innovation and Process Improvement

If you see a better way, propose it. Waiting for permission keeps teams stagnant. Some of the best ideas are born when someone dares to cross lanes.

The Lesson

Whether it’s parenting or business, staying in your lane might keep things peaceful, but it doesn’t always make them better.

Progress happens when we lean in, speak up, and act with good intent, even if it means coloring outside the lines.

So ask yourself this week:

Where have I been staying in my lane to keep the peace?

And what might happen if I finally decide to merge?