Change Can Feel Like Culture Shock in Business

Change can feel a lot like culture shock.

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I learned this the hard way when I moved from the United States to London back in 2015 (WOW, I’m dating myself. It feels like a lifetime ago). On paper, it sounded easy enough. Same language, just with a beautiful accent. Similar customs. Big, modern cities. I fully expected a smooth transition. Instead, I found myself feeling oddly out of place, second-guessing simple decisions and wondering why something I chose felt so uncomfortable.

Fast forward a few years, and I felt that exact same feeling again. This time when I decided to start my own business as a Mom. Different situation. Same emotional whiplash.

That’s when it finally clicked: the culture shock I felt moving countries was the very same culture shock I experienced building a business. Only this time, I was also doing it with a child, limited time, and a whole lot more on my plate.

Why Change Can Feel Like Culture Shock—Especially as a Mom

Culture shock shows up when what you expected doesn’t match what you’re actually living. And no, it’s not just about geography, it’s about systems, identity, and your everyday rhythm getting a full reset.

When I moved from the U.S. to London, everything that once ran on autopilot suddenly needed my full attention:

• Social norms felt… slightly off
• The pace of life moved to a different beat
• The unspoken rules were completely rewritten
• Even everyday tasks took more brainpower than expected

Like navigating my way around the city. I didn’t have a cellular plan while I was there, so I couldn’t rely on maps on my phone. Instead, I had to prep my routes ahead of time and write them down before I left. And honestly? I loved it. I was more present, more aware, and actually took in the experience because my face wasn’t glued to a screen.

Nothing was technically wrong, but nothing felt familiar either.

And funny enough, the same thing happens when you:

• Leave a traditional 9–5
• Start a business
• Change careers
• Rebuild your professional identity after becoming a Mom

Now add motherhood into the mix. Your time comes in pockets. Your energy depends on tiny humans. Your priorities have shifted, but the world keeps operating like nothing changed.

That’s why change can feel like culture shock on both a professional and personal level. You’re not doing it wrong, you’re just adjusting to a whole new way of living and working.

Moving from the U.S. to London Taught Me More Than I Expected

When I first arrived in London, I compared everything.

How things were done back home.
How long things took.
How people communicated.

Every single comparison made the transition harder.

I also fully expected myself to feel settled almost immediately, because technically, I should have been able to. But comfort didn’t follow my timeline. It showed up slowly, through repetition, patience, and time.

Case in point: my very first day in London, I couldn’t stop crying. Like, full-on emotional wave out of nowhere. Apparently, that’s a completely normal side effect of culture shock. I’m also a Pisces, so… you get it.

I even went so far as to email my administrative counselor back in the States asking about transferring me to the Boston campus. Thank. Goodness. I didn’t.

Within 24 hours, I was finding my footing and not long after that, I was absolutely in love with my life across the pond.

Eventually, I learned the rhythms.
I stopped translating everything back to what I knew.
I started trusting myself to adapt.

And one day, without any big moment or announcement, London felt like home.

As I was writing this, I remembered that I kept a journal when I moved to London and I’m so glad I did! I haven’t looked at it in over a decade, but today I decided to crack it open to see if I’d written about my culture shock experience.

Surprise! I found a few gems in there that I can’t wait to share with you today.

The Same Culture Shock Shows Up When You Start a Business

When I decided to start a business, I truly thought I was prepared.

I had professional experience.
I had skills.
I had a clear why.
I even had a solid network!

What I didn’t anticipate was how unfamiliar everything would feel once I actually stepped into it.

Accounting? What’s that?!
Sales? Not exactly my forte.
Marketing? Suddenly I was wearing all the hats.
Decision-making? Turns out there’s no one to “run it by” anymore.

Everything felt new, unstructured, and slightly uncomfortable kind of like standing on the wrong side of the escalator and realizing it way too late.

But I wasn’t failing. I was adjusting.
Learning a brand-new system.
Finding my rhythm in an environment with no rulebook.
Faking it until I make it, as they say.

And just like London, once I stayed long enough, things started to click.

Just like moving countries, starting a business means:

• No built-in schedule
• No clear rules
• No immediate validation
• No predefined path

Suddenly, I was responsible for decisions I’d never had to make before, and this time around, while also managing motherhood.

The same familiar questions popped up:

• Am I doing this right?
• Why does this feel harder than I expected?
• Everyone else seems more confident than I feel.

Spoiler alert: they’re not. Most people are figuring it out as they go, just like you. Confidence doesn’t arrive overnight; it’s built by doing.

That wasn’t failure.

It was professional culture shock.

Motherhood Changes the Adjustment Curve

Here’s the part that doesn’t get talked about enough: 

motherhood completely changes how culture shock feels and how long it hangs around.

As a Mom, you don’t get the luxury of fully immersing yourself in the new environment. Your attention is split. Your energy comes in waves and your margin is much smaller than it used to be.

That doesn’t make you less capable.

It means your transition looks different.

I had to let go of the idea that I could build a business the same way I would have pre-motherhood. Just like I had to stop expecting life in London to feel the same as life in the U.S.

And once I accepted that, everything felt lighter.

The Adjustment Phase: When Things Start to Click

With both London and running my own business, the turning point came when I finally stopped fighting the unfamiliar and started rolling with it.

I built new routines.
I figured out what success actually meant for me.
I let my business fit into my life instead of trying to make my life fit into it.

And then the little wins started to matter, so much:

• Finding a consistent work pocket without guilt
• A system that actually saved me time (hallelujah!)
• Landing a client and doing a little happy dance
• A random moment where I realized, Hey… I’ve got this

Just like discovering my favorite café or finally mastering the chaos of public transport, these tiny victories stacked up and suddenly, everything started to feel a lot more stable, and a lot more like home.

But let’s be real: that warm, confident feeling doesn’t magically show up every day. I have to be intentional about actively focusing on the wins, filling myself back up with confidence, and pushing forward day after day. Some days I nail it. Some days I barely survive it. And that’s okay. It’s all part of the process.

The More You Do It, the More Comfortable You Get

When I moved to London, each leap made the next one a little less scary. Not because it got easier, but because I started trusting myself more.

I had receipts:

• I survived moving to a whole new country…all by myself
• I rebuilt my routines from scratch
• I found my sense of belonging

So when business got uncomfortable, I recognized the feeling immediately.

Discomfort wasn’t a red flag.
It was just a familiar friend saying, “Yep, growth is happening.”

And just knowing that made it way easier to stick with it.

Why We Mistake Discomfort for a Sign We’re Doing It Wrong

When change hits and it feels like full-on culture shock, the first instinct is usually to run for the hills.

But here’s the thing: that discomfort is usually a good sign. It means:

• You’re learning a whole new system
• You’re shedding an old version of yourself
• You’re stretching beyond the familiar (and probably freaking yourself out a little)

If I had bailed on London during those rough first weeks, I would have totally missed all the magic that came after.

Business works the exact same way. Stick it out, and the payoff comes.

When Everything Falls Into Place

There’s always that quiet, sneaky moment when things finally click.

You stop translating everything back to what you knew.
You stop comparing yourself to everyone else.
You stop questioning every little move.

And then, almost without noticing, you realize: Oh. I belong.

In a new country.
In a new version of your career.
In this new, slightly messy, totally rewarding life you’ve built.

Final Thoughts: Change Is a Skill. Even as a Mom

Change can feel a lot like culture shock, especially when you’re doing it as a Mom, juggling a million tiny humans and even more tiny emergencies.

But here’s the thing: the more you practice rolling with it, the more confident you get. Not because it magically stops being uncomfortable, but because you learn to trust yourself to figure it out.

You don’t need all the answers to take the leap.
You just need to know that comfort shows up… once you stick around long enough for it to settle in.

And trust me, it always does.

Here’s to all the incredible Moms juggling a million things—keep shining bright, cheering each other on, and building the life you love!

Xoxo,

Ashley

Friendly Note: I’m simply sharing my journey, experiences, and lessons learned as a Mom in business. This isn’t legal, financial, or professional advice. Always check with a qualified pro for guidance tailored to you.