From Atlanta to Paris: How Small Steps Made a Big Move Possible
- Kathleen Rouse
- Oct 1
- 2 min read
Updated: Oct 2
Starting with Curiosity
In July 2023, some of our extended family relocated from the U.S. to Paris, the idea of moving abroad went from abstract to possible.
With a young daughter and fledgling business, it was critical to not rush, we started by testing the waters:
Practicing French with Babbel.
Researching my network on LinkedIn and connecting with contacts in Europe.
Researching the realities of living in France through resources like franceformation.
Spending a month in Paris to understand schools, neighborhoods, and daily life.
That trip gave us confidence that this wasn’t just a dream — it could be real.
Building a Practical Plan
Big changes require strategy. I used a mix of tools to prepare:
Budget: You can simply start with a spreadsheet but I also signed up for Quicken Simplifi.
Visas: France Visas for process and timing.
Language: Babbel for consistent practice.
Research: NotebookLM to organize reports on Europe’s economy, CX trends, French regulations, and even motivational podcasts from Mel Robbins and Oprah.
These steps kept us moving forward — balancing logistics with mindset.
Inspired by Leaders
I drew motivation from leaders who turn vision into execution:
Angela Graham Stewart, a visionary in AI for RevOps who turns AI ambition into real revenue impact. Check out her book: The RevOps AI Playbook: How to Transform Your Revenue Engine in Weeks, not Months
Lyndsay Dowd, who bravely leads Heartbeat for Hire, a Leadership Strategist, Founder, Speaker, 2X Author, Podcast Host, and unapologetic storyteller with nearly 30 years in sales and leadership..
Ron Johnson Founder and CEO of Tacilent.AI who is predicting risk and preventing loss.
Their examples reminded me that courage works best when paired with a clear plan.
Lessons Learned
Big changes don’t happen overnight.
Small, consistent steps create momentum.
Planning is as much about mindset as it is about spreadsheets.
For us, that meant French lessons, research, and testing daily life in Paris. For you, the steps might look different — but the principle is the same.
A Question for You
What bold move are you preparing for? And what small steps are you taking now to make it possible?
✍️ This post kicks off my “From Atlanta to Paris” series — reflections on relocating abroad, working with global clients, and what it takes to lead boldly in times of change.
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