What does your career mean to you?

What does a ‘successful’ career mean to you?

When I was a junior lawyer, I knew EXACTLY what it meant.

It was what the legal industry told me it was. 

It meant qualifying as an associate at a ‘good’ firm, performing ‘above class’ then getting on the partnership track as soon as humanly possible. 

Things not factored into the ‘success’ narrative:

• Sleep… or any type of rest really
• Relationships with human beings outside of work
• Time for other interests, commitments etc. 

Looking back, I don’t regret going for partnership. I enjoyed a LOT about my job, the people, the challenge, the deal-closing adrenalin … ☺ 

But I never really questioned the definition of ‘success’ that society and my industry had handed to me. Which made it REALLY HARD to set boundaries or choose a different path. 

When I started questioning my priorities and options, I felt like a FAILURE…

Crazy looking back at it. But at the time my brain went automatically to ‘failure’ because I’d totally internalised someone else’s model of what ‘success’ looks like. 

A model created by white middle-class men 70+ years ago. Men with totally different commitments, support systems, values, priorities and expectations of life than me. 

So, in case this resonates, I just wanted to remind you that YOU are the authority in your own life and career. You get to decide what ‘success’ means for you. 

Maybe it’s

• partnership or the equivalent in your field.
• pivoting to a different role or industry.
• creating a life with more space for other things that matter.
• making a ton of money doing something else.

Maybe it changes in different seasons of your life. 

Whatever the case, good for you. Go for it. 

Remember, what qualifies as a ‘successful’ career is just an opinion. 

Your version is just as valid as anyone else’s.