How I Stopped Chasing Titles and Started Building a Life That Feels Good
For years, I thought success looked like a senior job title and a bigger paycheck. And for a while, that’s exactly what I chased. As a project manager climbing the corporate ladder, I achieved the kind of career milestones that look great on paper, eventually landing a Senior Director role at a global pharmaceutical company. But here’s the truth: the further I climbed, the more I found myself asking, is this it?
Success, as I once defined it, came with pressure, long hours and constant output. It cost me more than I realised… my time, my peace, my presence.
So, I started redefining what success means. Not what anyone else says. Not what looks impressive in a LinkedIn bio. My own version.
My new definition of success is time freedom
Today, success looks different.
It’s time to walk the dog.
Time to read, move my body and rest without guilt.
Time to work deeply for four or five hours, then unplug completely.
Time to support clients I adore… and still be a calm, present parent to my teens.
My definition of success has shifted because I’ve shifted. And I know I’m not alone.
The people I work with aren’t chasing hustle culture or overnight fame. They’re ambitious, yes. But they also crave sustainability, intention and freedom.
This version of success still includes growth
Let me be clear: I still want a thriving business. I still want to be well-paid for the value I bring. But I want growth that feels steady. Not relentless.
That looks like:
2 or 3 focused work blocks a day, with spaciousness woven in
Automations that work while I rest
Saying yes to projects that spark joy, and no to those that drain me
Offers built around how I actually work best
Logging off on weekends without guilt
Creating from clarity, not comparison
This is success without burnout. Growth without overwhelm. Spaciousness without sacrificing ambition.
Choosing alignment over applause
One of the regrets listed in Bronnie Ware’s Top Five Regrets of the Dying has always stuck with me: “I wish I hadn’t worked so hard.” And if you are new to Bronnie Ware, I urge you to read this article here about all five of the regrets.
It’s impactful. Especially as someone who grew up watching their dad who was always busy and not always around. I don’t want to repeat that cycle. I don’t want to build a business that costs me the very life I’m trying to reclaim.
So I made some changes, like taking a sabbatical from Instagram. No more mindless scrolling or chasing trends. It has been so freeing to step off the Instagram content hamster wheel! I love to create, I just much prefer long-form content… like writing blog post articles, or recording a podcast episode. If you ask me to condense my thinking on time and project management into a 30 second reel, I struggle!
If success has to look like constant hustle or pressure, I’m out.
You get to choose, too
If you’re in a season of questioning what success should look like, I see you. It’s noisy out there. But you get to choose a quieter, more intentional path.
Success isn’t a one-size-fits-all formula. It can look like:
A lean, values-aligned business
Systems that simplify your work (not complicate it)
Enough clients; not too many
Space to breathe, create and live
If that’s the kind of success you’re craving, you’re not alone… and you don’t have to figure it out by yourself.
Ready to redefine success for yourself?
If you’re ready to create more ease and clarity behind the scenes, with better systems, smarter planning and a business that supports your life - this is exactly what I help with in my project management consultancy.
Let’s make your version of success feel not just possible… but inevitable.
