The Hidden Warning Sign High-Achievers Ignore
Years ago, I wrote a gratitude list on a flight to a client, trying to convince myself I should be happy with the prestigious life I had worked so hard to build. It took me years to realize that when gratitude feels forced, it is often a warning sign that your career is out of alignment. This Thanksgiving reflection shares how I finally saw the truth and the new kind of gratitude that guides my life and leadership today.
The Fear That Almost Stopped Me
I spent eight months traveling solo through 25 countries across Africa and the Middle East. But if you had asked me a few years earlier whether I’d ever do that, my answer would have been a firm “no.” For years, I dreamed of traveling the world, but there were always countless reasons it wasn’t possible (money, timing, safety, responsibility). Then one day, I asked myself a single question. That question changed everything.
When Success Doesn’t Feel Like Success
After years of climbing the ladder, I reached the top…only to realize it didn’t feel like success. What followed was a profound career transformation: a shift from performing success to defining it. This post explores how embracing authentic leadership helped me move beyond burnout and fear, toward fulfillment, alignment, and true confidence in my work and life.