For years, all I cared about was the next promotion. I wanted the bigger role, t
By Carolinemacphail · October 22, 2026 · Curated by George's Blog
For years, all I cared about was the next promotion.
I wanted the bigger role, the added responsibility, the title that showed I was moving forward.
And the salary! 😂
I was ambitious, driven and very clear on what success looked like. Or so I thought...
The problem with always looking at the next step up is that you don’t necessarily stop to ask what it will cost you, or the people around you.
Your energy, your time, your headspace, your relationships and your ability to enjoy the life you’re building alongside your career can all take a hit.
I understand ambition deeply. I’ve led at senior level, and I know how easy it is to get caught up in the rhythm of chasing more: more influence, more recognition, more opportunity and more proof that you’re doing well.
For a while, it can be exciting. You set a goal, work towards it, achieve it and start looking for the next one.
But at some point, the questions start to change.
Do I actually want the life that comes with this next role?
Does this version of success still fit the person I am now?
Am I making a conscious choice, or just continuing along the path I’ve always been on?
I think this is where a lot of successful leaders find themselves. They’ve worked hard, achieved things they once dreamed of and built careers that look impressive from the outside, yet they’re starting to question whether the life that comes with it is the one they really want.
That doesn’t mean they’ve lost their ambition. It might mean they need to get clearer about what they want that ambition to give them.
You can keep wanting more from your career without sacrificing everything else to get it.
The question is whether you’re still choosing what success looks like for you, or simply chasing the next thing because that’s what you’ve always done.