I used to think that the only way for me to be successful was to work longer and harder.
Whether I was working in corporate America or as a contractor as part of a team, I would find myself overworking and in burnout. There was never enough time, people, or resources.
I desperately wanted to be successful, but achieving more felt overwhelming with the giant workload I already had (anyone else struggle with just saying "no"?!).
I never set big goals for myself because I didnʻt think it was possible to even achieve them, much less crush them. Big goals were for smarter, more creative people. I wasnʻt smart enough to do big things.
From the outside looking in, it looked like I had it all. I had great roles, I worked with well-known tech companies, had a stable career, and was making great money.
But on the inside I felt like something was missing in my life and was constantly hunting for something to make me feel better. No matter where I looked to fill the void- promotions, more money, romantic partners- I found myself feeling miserable, hopeless, unhappy, and screaming for change.