Last Week Was a Huge Milestone in My Life
I don’t typically share stories as personal as this, but this one hit me hard. And if it could help someone make different decisions than I did during the first 20 years of my career, it would be worth it.
Last week, my youngest son went off to college.
In my typical way, I focused on the positives – the quieter house, the uncluttered driveway, the clean kitchen in the morning.
I told myself this was the “next chapter” – streamlined, lighter, freer.
But coming home, the “quiet” chapter hit me differently.
Not peaceful quiet – hollow quiet.
The stillness made room for feeling all of the emotions.
I was reminded deeply that I spent the first two decades of my career in relentless pursuit of productivity and success.
It’s how I built my career – at the expense of presence with my family.
My oldest son was 14 years old when I quit my legal career – without clarity of where I was going, but knowing it was wrong for me.
I ended up as part of a management team for a workplace wellness company – and did I gain a crash course in how it can be. I saw firsthand that you can be incredibly successful without trying to win the competition of who works the most hours (which means you lose at the game of building the best life).
I learned that working smarter, not longer, is a powerful strategy.
Over the past decade, we proved the thesis that you can have a successful sophisticated legal practice AND health and meaning in your life.
Then, over the last few years, we have made it our mission to help other professionals not only see that a better way is possible, but build that together.
That said, I can’t help but have deep regret for the choices I made earlier in my career.
As I ponder what I would have done differently, there are two key lessons:
– Change yourself – your mindset, your fear, your drive. Prioritize more joy, rest, and ease.
– Change the model – create a career and business that bends to your values and priorities, not the other way around.
If you’re in the busy season of life right now, don’t wish it away. Savor the moments, even the messy ones. Because the truth is, it’s not just about building a career you love – it’s about building a life you won’t wish you’d made different.
And if you are ready to change the model, we are here for you!
-Gwen
P.S. Also, I would be remiss if I didn’t add how incredibly proud I am of these young men; they are resilient, resourceful and kind humans. I’m beyond excited to see what the future holds for them. The world is a better place because they are in it.