05/28/2026
This made me smile. Listen to what Morgan had to say about her experience in our office. She originally came in with a debilitating back injury.
“It’s like…an internal rebrand…for your spine…” he said. “You know, like in marketing but a rebranded you.”
That’s what my new chiropractor, Dr. Matthew Phinney, said to me a few weeks ago—a simile for the health of my spine and, unbeknownst to him, the health of my personal brand.
Just a few visits in, Dr. Phinney gave me a motivational charge. Not just physically, but mentally. I'll set the scene for this spine-to-career analogy.
During this transition period in my life, I triggered a long-existing back injury. (Very on-brand for Morgan, if you ask me and anyone in my immediate circle.) The pain was so unbearable that I was on the verge of tears every day for two months.
We’re talking:
Pinched nerve with searing sciatica-like pain
Cold, numb and tingling left leg & foot
Tense piriformis muscle
And a host of other painful sensations
Walking, standing, breathing, sitting, lying down, laughing, coughing, sneezing, crying, you name it... Everything hurt. Nothing but extremely unconventional yoga poses gave me momentary relief. It was a lightning strike of pain I can only describe as an acidic yellow-ish green color.
These are the X-ray images of my 29-year-old spine taken on Monday, May 4, 2026.
Level 2 disc degeneration.
Unhealthy curvature.
Lopsided hips.
Crooked neck.
(Who knew that gymnastics at age 6, 4 years of high school show choir, years of being overweight, falling from dance risers & half-attempted track and field in 7th grade would cause this damage???)
Even though you’re seeing the physical root of my pain, the mental toll this took on me was major.
This injury showed up during a season already meant for change. I’m writing this post about a year and a half into my new life as a Michigander. I’m transitioning from Morgan Ellis, Communications Manager to Morgan E., Founder of The Clarity Agency.
And in that transition, I’m graduating from a phase of:
đźš« Perpetual burnout
đźš« Creative blocks
đźš« Lack of interest
đźš« Depression & fatigue
đźš« Constant brain fog
đźš« Suppressed workplace traumas & anxieties
đźš« Round-the-clock accessibility
đźš« Digital exhaustion
đźš« Vicious ADHD triggers
đźš« Physical pain & hindrances
To a phase of:
đź’Ž Renewed energy
đź’Ž Endless creative ideas & concepts
đź’Ž Revived interest in something other than personal survival
💎 Ability to “play in the sandbox” & implement without punishment
đź’Ž Grace & intentionality for my own health
đź’Ž Openness to something new
đź’Ž Strong sleep hygiene
đź’Ž Restored, regularly scheduled runs, walks & road rides
đź’Ž Ambition to keep going, even when it gets hard
đź’Ž A healthy, pain-free body
Spinal health aside but, absolutely necessary to function at a high level, this “internal rebrand” is required right now. Physically & mentally.
Dr. Phinney was right.
And I’m on the right path forward helping small businesses, nonprofits and childcare providers conquer the health of their own brands, and maybe even leading them through rebrands. All without pain."
