A Guide for High Achievers Seeking True Success
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Chemotherapy is a cocktail.
My first infusion mixed two drugs, prepared fresh just for me—not pulled off a shelf.
That first night in the hospital, I received my first infusion through my newly implanted PICC line at 2 a.m. Every dose in that round had to be given at the same time—2 a.m.
Dark nights in the hospital were marked by the beeps from the IV Drip Pump and the quiet buzz from the nurses' station.
So, plenty of time to think.
In those early morning hours, I had time to contemplate. Not about the why. Or why me? But about how I got here, and if by the grace of God and medicine I survived, who did I want to become?
I realized for more than two decades I had been following a 'life script'--probably written by my Mom, the people in my town, society, patriarchy.
We've all been handed scripts to follow that you didn't write and told to follow it.
That script tells you to prove yourself every day, to be ambitious but never intimidating, to “have it all” but also DO it all.
It tells you that your value is tied to titles, your appearance, and your ability to keep everyone else comfortable.
We’re taught early to follow the path already paved rooted in 'shoulds', even if it was never meant for us. As I later discovered, this is exactly why high achievers need the right kind of wrong, because breaking old rules and embracing your own path often leads to the most authentic success.
It's handed to us early: what a woman at work should sound like, what a mother should sacrifice, what a woman should look like to be taken seriously.
You get to choose a different role. I know this because I did it. And, it was easier than I could have ever imagined once I saw it and became decided.
You get to rewrite every one of those expectations you've learned so they reflect your truth, your power, your vision.
Redefining success for high achievers isn’t about proving your worth, it’s about building a life that feels full of joy, ease, and meaning.
From: You have to prove you deserve to be here.
To: I am already qualified to lead. I do not need to defend my right to be in the room.
From: Be likable, but not too assertive.
To: I lead with clarity and conviction.
From: Outwork everyone to earn your seat.
To: I create impact through focus, vision, and delegation—not endless hours.
From: Gratitude over ambition.
To: I can be deeply grateful and still want more or something else.
From: Don’t outshine them.
To: I shine as brightly as I can in service to my team.
From: A good mother is always available.
To: A good mother models a life she’s proud of.
From: Your family comes first—always.
To: I integrate my family into the life I’m building—one that honors everyone’s dreams, including mine.
I now write my own life script. It's hard on most days, but I'm grounded, moving forward, and having some fun while doing it.
I've also rewritten my definition of success: SuccessFULL: Full of more joy, ease and impact. It's my filter for the choices I make and the vibe I want to bring each day. It's an energy that fuels my spirit.
“Your energy is expensive. Stop handing it out like it’s free!
Our energy is a luxury item and not everyone can afford it.”
Here's to your success!
In Maine with the Family
📓 Journal Prompts for the Week Ahead
What script have I been handed about success, leadership, or motherhood that doesn’t actually belong to me?
Whose voice do I hear when I think of the word “should”?
Where am I still trying to prove myself, and what would it feel like to stop?
Where am I giving away my energy too freely—and what boundary could I set instead?
If my energy is a luxury item, what’s worth the investment—and what’s not?
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