Redefining Success: What Really Matters in Today’s Workplace

I’ll never forget the day a close friend of mine proudly announced he’d finally made it—Senior VP at a big firm. He had the title, the office with the view, and the kind of salary we dream about. But something was missing. Every night, he missed dinner with his kids. One day, he told me, "I missed my daughter's first piano recital because of a client call." He was proud of his work, but no longer proud of the cost. Just two months later, he wanted out.

“All this for what?” he asked me. “I don’t even have time to see my kids.”

That conversation stuck with me. It made me wonder—are we still chasing the right definition of success?

Time for a Redefinition

For years, we’ve been conditioned to measure success by the size of our paychecks, the prestige of our titles, and the influence of our roles. But lately, I’m seeing a shift. People are starting to question these old benchmarks, and it’s a change that’s long overdue. Here’s my take on what really matters in today’s workplace:

1. Purpose Over Prestige: Discover Your 'Why'

Years ago, I knew someone who turned down a major promotion—one that most people would jump at—because she felt it would take her away from the part of her job she loved most: mentoring her team. Back then, I thought she was out of her mind. But now? I totally get it.

Titles are nice, but waking up excited to do work really means something to you? That’s priceless. It’s more than just boosting your resume; it’s about doing work that fuels you—something that gives your career real purpose. ??

Actionable Tip: If you want to inject more purpose into your day-to-day, start by identifying the tasks that energize you and those that drain you. What can you do more of? What can you delegate or cut back on?

2. Flexibility Over the 9-to-5 Grind

I once asked a friend why he left a cushy corporate job to go freelance. His answer? “I just wanted my Saturdays back.” We laughed, but he wasn’t joking. The freedom to control your own time, work when and where you’re at your best—that’s become one of the most valuable currencies in today’s world of work.

Imagine turning down a work meeting because your kid has a football game. That’s a success!

Actionable Tip: If flexibility is your goal, start small: try blocking out ‘non-negotiable’ personal time on your calendar, like that mid-week lunch with a friend or morning workout.

3. Well-Being Over Wealth: Your Health Is Your Real Wealth

Too many people trade their health for a paycheck. I’ve been there myself—pushing too hard, ignoring stress until it catches up with you. I used to be the person who worked late into the night, thinking the harder I pushed, the more I’d get ahead. But it never felt like ‘enough,’ and my health started paying the price. I didn’t realize how close I was to burning out until I saw a colleague go through it themselves. After watching them take a year off to recover, I realized something had to change.

A fancy title and a bigger paycheck won’t matter if you’re too stressed, sick, or drained to enjoy them. Prioritizing your mental and physical health isn’t just a “nice-to-have” anymore—it’s essential. You can’t pour from an empty cup.

Actionable Tip: If you’re feeling stuck or burned out, maybe it’s time to rethink what success really looks like for you.

So, What’s the Real Takeaway?

The definition of success is shifting, and it’s becoming more personal. It’s not about fitting into someone else’s mold of “making it.” It’s about building a career—and a life—that works for you.

Over to You: What’s Your Definition of Success?

Have you ever taken a step back to redefine your own version of success? What triggered that change for you? Was it a specific moment or more of a gradual realization?

Have you ever made a trade-off between your career and your personal life? What did that look like? How did it impact you?

Let me know in the comments—what does success look like for you these days?

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P.S. If you’re ready to shift gears and focus on what actually makes you happy, let’s chat! Feel free to send me a message or connect if you’d like to chat more about creating a work-life balance that works for you.