June 18, 2024

Are you a hostage of your own success?

Blog, Leadership, Wellbeing

Category

In my twenties, I started to build a successful career that I could have only dreamed about when I was younger.

I had it all on paper.

The big corporate global job.⁠⁠

The company car.⁠⁠

The house in the country.⁠⁠

The share options.⁠⁠

But inside, I was unhappy.⁠  ⁠

I began to feel like a corporate prisoner, trapped by the big salary and the corporate benefits.

But in hindsight, I wasn’t a prisoner.  

I’d become a hostage of my own success.

I felt like the only way I could prove I was good enough for this big job was to work harder and longer than others.

My success began to own me rather than me owning my success.

I’d created a relentless schedule of meetings on the treadmill of achieving.

My perfectionism was in the driving seat.

I was ignoring my needs.

I wasn’t leveraging my skills and the value I brought to the table.

I was hustling for my worth.

My head was running the show, and my body struggled to keep up.

I didn’t think it was possible to enjoy my career and enjoy my life.

I’d collapse, exhausted at the weekend and started using unhelpful coping strategies.

I became a person I didn’t recognise anymore. And I didn’t like her.

I thought the only way to escape was to walk away.  It took my mum dying suddenly and unexpectedly for me to find the courage to do this.

The problem was I took my high-achieving habits and just applied them to running my own business.

Fast forward a few years, and I burned out.

What I’ve come to realise is that as high-achievers, we are so committed to our careers and lives that we develop a high tolerance for stress.⁠

⁠This means we can swallow our stress and become out of touch with our bodies. ⁠

⁠Our success then owns us. ⁠

⁠Often, this means sacrificing our wellbeing to keep the wheels turning on the success we’ve worked so hard to achieve.⁠

Unfortunately, it took me burning out to learn that I needed to reimagine how I achieved my success.

But fortunately for you – I learnt *a lot* on that journey.  

⁠I now help my clients to avoid becoming a hostage of their success.

⁠I support them in continuing to progress in their careers and have an amazing impact on the world. But they do it from a place of wellbeing and fulfilment.⁠

⁠At first, it feels counterintuitive – prioritising their wellbeing feels like they’ve got to take their foot off the accelerator. ⁠

⁠But the results speak for themselves.⁠

⁠When my clients start to prioritise their wellbeing and careers, they inevitably achieve more impact and recognition as a result.⁠

They’re proof that with the right strategies and support, it’s possible to enjoy a high-achieving career and a fulfilling personal life.

Ready to stop being a hostage of your success? Get in touch for a free, no-obligation discovery call.⁠

Here’s to your continued success and wellbeing.

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