Thriving Without the Grind: How I Stopped Overthinking and Built a Career That Works For Me

The Breaking Point eleven years ago, I hit a wall. I was waking up exhausted, drowning in tasks that felt urgent but never meaningful . My calendar was a kaleidoscope of meetings, my inbox a warzone, and my to-do list? A never-ending treadmill. I kept thinking,

“If I just work harder, the ‘success’ will stick.”

Spoiler: It didn’t.

Then I realized something: Careers aren’t built by brute force.

They’re built by design.

I started my own Coaching practice, and its been the best career decision ever!

The Mountain vs. the River: Choosing Flow Over Force

For years, I lived on the “mountain” side—grinding, pushing, sacrificing my energy for the illusion of progress. But careers thrive when you stop fighting gravity.

How I shifted:

• I audited my week: 70% of my time was spent on reactive tasks (emails, unscheduled meetings).
• I asked, “What’s the 20% of work that drives 80% of my impact?”
• I started saying “no” to distractions.

Your move: What’s one task this week that feels like pushing a boulder? Delegate it, automate it, or delete it.

The Puzzle Piece: Owning Your Superpower

Early in my career, I tried to be good at everything . Spoiler #2: I wasn’t.

Thriving started when I stopped fixing weaknesses and leaned into my superpower: connecting people and ideas .

How I shifted:

• I found out what problems I helped others solved
• I delegated tasks outside my zone (yes, even if it meant hiring help).
• I reframed “weaknesses” as “opportunities for others to shine.”

Your move: What’s the work that makes you lose track of time? Do more of that.

The Hourglass: From Chaos to Clockwork

Time management is a myth. Time leverage is real.

I used to pride myself on being busy. Now I pride myself on being effective .

I automated repetitive tasks (hello, email filters!), templated my go-to responses, and blocked “deep work” hours. Systems aren’t restrictive—they’re freedom.

Your move: What’s one system you can build this week? A template? A boundary? Share it in the comments.

The Tree: Roots Before Growth

You can’t fake a thriving career without strong roots. For me, that meant:

• Values: Aligning projects with my “why.”
• Strengths: Doubling down on what I’m wired to do.
• Boundaries: Protecting my energy like it’s my most valuable asset (because it is).

Your move: What’s one root you need to nurture? Sleep? Saying “no”? Write it down.

The Road Sign: Choosing “Essential” Over “Busy”

“Busy” is a choice. So is “essential.”

I started asking:

“Will this matter in a year? In a week?”

If not, it got cut. Ruthlessly.

Your move: What’s one “Busy” commitment you’ll eliminate this month?

The Result? Momentum.

When you design your career around your strengths, systems, and values, something magical happens:

Your work starts working for you.

Your Turn This isn’t about laziness—it’s about leverage. It’s about trusting that less can yield more .