The Year I Stopped Waiting for the Perfect Plan

Just start. It sounds simple, but it’s one of the hardest pieces of advice to follow—especially when you care deeply about the work you want to put into the world. We all wait for the perfect moment, the perfect plan, the perfect level of confidence… but the truth is, we evolve by doing, not by preparing.

Social media has only made this more difficult, and I hate that I contribute to it in any way. That's why relatability and showing the ups and downs have always been a core pillar of my online persona, which is 100% who I am offline, even if that's scary at times.

But back to just starting. When you start before everything is polished, you give yourself room to grow into the version of you who can handle what you’re building. You learn what works and what doesn’t. You discover strengths you didn’t know you had. You uncover opportunities that never would have existed if you had stayed waiting or settling.

Yes, structure is important. But you don’t need a fully fledged out business plan. See my video on this here. It's ok to launch fast and adjust even faster, and it's important to refine, rework, and redirect as you go. But there’s also a kind of magic in not having every detail mapped out—because it leaves you open to possibilities you couldn’t have planned for. Some of the best chapters of any business or career begin with a single imperfect step.

And that’s been especially true in my own journey. Every shift—from developing  (while in law school) and then running an influencer management company to practicing law in the creator economy—started long before I had everything figured out. I didn’t know exactly where each decision would take me, but I trusted that movement was better than standing still. In all honesty, I just knew I was onto something and wanted to see how long I could do it for or if it went anywhere. 

And over the last few years, the path forward just revealed itself in ways I couldn’t have predicted. It hasn’t been smooth the whole way through and there've been several detours, sharp turns along the way but each iteration brought me closer to the work I’m meant to be doing.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that momentum matters more than mastery. Start where you are, stay curious, adapt quickly, and remain open to where the journey leads. The best parts often aren’t in the plan—they’re in evolution.

And if we’re getting personal for a minute… just wait for next week when I share my annual Birthday Letter to Myself. But this advice is applicable here too. If you want a hint, I’m talking all about timelines and milestones. But more to come soon!

Bringing the Creator Economy to the Classroom

As 2025 wraps up, I’ve been doing a bit of reflecting, and one of the highlights of this chapter of my career has been getting the chance to pour into the next generation of legal and business professionals. As a student myself, I wanted to hear more from real lawyers with real-world experience. I wanted the hands-on experience and real talk. So to be invited to provide that means everything.

I recently spoke at the law schools at both St. Thomas University (STU) and Florida International University (FIU), and each event reminded me why I love the work I do—and why the creator economy needs more voices willing to demystify it.

At STU Law, their Florida Association for Women Lawyers (FAWL) chapter invited me to join the students for a Coffee Break chat. It was an intimate, open space to talk honestly about my path in the legal field—how I got here, the pivots I’ve made, and what it’s really looked like to build a career that doesn’t fit neatly into a traditional box, plus I got to spill the BTS of what Capitol Hill was really like. Thank you to the leaders of that organization for inviting me and creating such a warm, welcoming space for real conversation.

At FIU Law, I also had the chance to speak at a Lunch & Learn (really dinner), where the conversation shifted toward the business side of what I do, specifically, what it looks like to run a law firm built for influencers, creators, and digital entrepreneurs. A huge thank-you to both the Intellectual Property Student Association and the Business Law Society, and to their leaders, for inviting me and creating such a thoughtful space for this discussion.

We talked about how I really got my start, how I learned the ropes, and where the future of the creator economy is going, and how lawyers can be a part of it. One of my favorite parts of these sessions is the Q+As and the insightful and thought-provoking questions they throw my way. I’m always left reflecting on my own journey based on their curiosity, which only benefits me more, so I can’t wait for the next one.

Both of these invitations were a reminder that the next generation isn’t just watching the creator economy—they’re actively preparing to shape it. 

The Info Diet

The Info Diet is a sneak peek into what I’ve been consuming lately that has been feeding my perspective. My hope is that this becomes a place to share with you and trade inspiration - a snapshot of what’s been sparking curiosity, reflection, or growth for me each week.

1. Creating Success Word by Word with Tracee Ellis Ross – Aspire with Emma Grede

Why I’m into it: Tracee Ellis Ross is the daughter of Diana Ross and an icon in her own right. Hearing her reflection on her personal development, growing up with intention and how she started Pattern by going against the traditional celebrity brand model was truly the conversation I didn’t know I needed. She also shared how she approaches dating and as an entrepreneur and powerhouse woman myself, it was a healthy dose of sisterly love.

2. What We Can All Learn From Failure with Ami Colé Founder Diarrha N’Diaye – Aspire with Emma Grede

Why I’m into it: Emma Grede has quickly become one of my favorite podcast hosts. I don’t know if it's her rolodex, her British accent or the insights I get and how easy it is to apply to my own life and career but I have to tune in weekly, so you get two from her. After the infamous The Cut article Diarrha wrote about closing her brand to a few weeks later being announced as the new EVP of Skims Beauty & Fragrance, this podcast episode seems to have a lot to do with it so I had to listen and it was an incredible conversation about whitespaces, scaling, pivoting and failure. All topics that are important for any female founder but just anyone in general, I think.

3. Marina Larroude on Disrupting Luxury Footwear (Without Going Broke) - Networth and Chill with Your Rich BFF

Why I’m into it: A female founder story that goes there. Marina is not afraid to be honest about how scrappy she was and what it took to build her business and I wish more founders were this open. They’re still a little more than I care to spend on shoes since I have a tendency to destroy them but they're on my wishlist!

Outro

If there’s one thread running through everything I shared in this newsletter—from my own speaking opportunities at STU Law and FIU Law to the podcast episodes I shared—it’s this:

We are all figuring it out as we go.
And that’s not a flaw. It’s the process.

The creator economy is evolving. The legal landscape is evolving. Our careers, our confidence, our capacity—they’re all evolving too. None of it is meant to be perfect on the first try. What matters is that we show up, stay curious, keep learning, and keep moving. The opportunities, clarity, and alignment come after the action—not before it. And most people’s “success” looks pretty messy no matter what Instagram tells you.

Previous business opportunities and my own time as a creator (I still am, but it's secondary now) taught me about creators: who they are, why they start and continue to create content, and how they work. Starting Kayla Moran Law taught me how I work and that it's important to meet my clients where they’re at. Speaking on campuses taught me how the next generation is preparing for what’s ahead and how I can do the same, and maybe give them a leg up. And building a sustainable business—emotionally, financially, and professionally—taught me how essential it is to listen to myself as much as we listen to the industry around us.

So wherever you are in your own journey—whether you’re building something new, refining something established, or standing at the edge of a direction you didn’t expect to take—remember:

You don’t need the perfect plan. You just need a starting point.

Keep Up With Kayla and Kayla Moran Law

Let’s make November a month of purpose, passion, and productivity.

Thanks for reading!

Talk soon,

Kayla