I worked in finance for 16 years, specifically in corporate leadership. I remember one year getting ambitious and writing out my professional goals for the next three years—goals that I was sure would bring me success and satisfaction.
Fast forward three years, and I had met or exceeded all of them. But here’s the thing:
I wasn’t satisfied or particularly happy. I had reached the pinnacle of the success I had planned and strived for, but it didn’t bring the joy I had envisioned.
That’s when I started to wonder—could I really keep going like this? Could I keep working six days a week, 10+ hour days, like I had been doing? At some point, would my progress slow or stop? And what would happen then? Would I wind up looking back at my life with regrets, like so many people do at the end of their lives?
Top 5 Regrets of the Dying:
1. I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.
2. I wish I hadn’t worked so hard.
3. I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings.
4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.
5. I wish that I had let myself be happier.
These reflections struck me deeply. Was there a way to get off what I now know as the “hedonic treadmill” of success, yet still be fulfilled, successful, and happy?
The answer, I quickly realized, was YES.
But creating a personal plan wasn’t enough. I began to see that God had been positioning me to help others uncover the same truths. The “secrets” I uncovered were honestly available to anyone with a will to live a life of joy and purpose—and who is willing to put in the work to achieve it.
Over the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing more of my personal story and the specific, tactical steps I took to break free from the treadmill. These are steps you can replicate to create true success in your life and business—success that’s filled with joy, fulfillment, and a deep sense of purpose.
Step 1: Curiosity—What Else Could Be Possible?
The first step in this journey is simple but profound—curiosity. When I hit that wall of dissatisfaction, I could have kept pushing forward blindly, but instead, I got curious. I asked myself a simple yet life-changing question: What else could be possible?
The first step in this journey is simple but profound—curiosity. When I hit that wall of dissatisfaction, I could have kept pushing forward blindly, but instead, I got curious. I asked myself a simple yet life-changing question: What else could be possible?
Curiosity opened me up to new perspectives, fresh ideas, and a completely different approach to success. It was the first spark that ignited the fire of transformation.
One of the biggest lessons I learned during this time was that to truly expand what’s possible, you need to surround yourself with people whose realities reflect your dreams. Getting into environments where your goals are someone else’s normal pushes you to think bigger and stretch beyond your current limits. Mentors and peers who have already walked the path you’re aiming for can help you see the potential you might never have imagined on your own.
When you surround yourself with people who inspire you and challenge you to elevate, your curiosity naturally transforms into momentum—and that’s when real progress happens.
Over the next few blogs, we’ll dive deeper into exactly how you can tap into curiosity and leverage the power of mentorship and community to begin your own journey toward joy-filled success.
Curious? That’s a GOOD thing! – Stay tuned for the next steps!
Let’s get off the treadmill together. Your life, your business, and your opportunity to impact others can be more than just a grind—they can be joyful and truly meaningful.
To your next level,
Carmen
