Reflections: Choosing Courage Over Comfort

Earlier this year, like thousands of other Federal employees, I faced one of the most pivotal moments of my career. As a GS-15 Director of IT Resource Management at USDA, I had spent years leading strategic initiatives, managing multimillion-dollar portfolios, and driving operational excellence. But when reductions in force (RIF) were being carried out across other Federal agencies and similar plans were looming at USDA, my position seemed to be at risk of being eliminated.

So I had a choice: stay and hope to be one of the remaining few left once the dust settles…or take a leap into uncertainty. I chose courage…I took the leap and opted into the second Deferred Resignation Program offered by USDA. I closed a chapter in federal service, regained control of my life, my career, and my livelihood, and opened a new chapter built on faith, resilience, and self-investment.

Leaving what use to be considered the "security of government employment" wasn’t easy. It meant stepping away from a role I had worked so hard at since earning a promotion in 2024, work I was passionate about, and people I genuinely appreciated working and learning with. USDA was my family. But it also meant betting on myself—my skills, my experience, and my vision. I realized that I could continue contributing to public service in other ways…once again as a contractor for the government and also as a Virginia commissioned notary public. That realization gave birth to MDLevy LLC, a company grounded in the same principles that guided my federal career: integrity, innovation, and public service.

Today, MDLevy LLC is more than a business—it’s a platform for my transformation…hence the phoenix in the logo for my flagship series, Passion & Pride Consulting Services. Through strategic advisory, business development, creative design, and notary services, I can help agencies and partners navigate complexity with clarity and confidence through the experience and expertise I've acquired over the last 17 years as an employee and a contractor for the Federal government.

This journey taught me that risk isn’t the enemy—it’s the gateway to growth. Sometimes, the boldest move you can make is to walk away from what’s familiar and invest in what’s possible.

If you’re standing at a crossroads, wondering whether to take that leap, remember this: your greatest investment will always be in YOURSELF!