Last week I took a call with someone who suggested we go into business together.
On paper, it sounded incredibly tempting. The potential profits were around a minimum of £300k per year.
A few years ago, I probably would’ve jumped at an opportunity like that immediately. Said yes first and figured the rest out later.
Because for a long time, I thought success meant more.
More money.
More opportunities.
More achievement.
More impressive things to say at dinner parties or put on LinkedIn.
But this time was different.
I was able to turn it down pretty quickly.
Not because it wasn’t a good opportunity.
Not because I’m not ambitious.
But because I know myself better now.
I know I don’t have the bandwidth, capacity or genuine passion for it.
And honestly? That felt like growth.
I think a lot of high-performing women struggle with this.
We become so used to proving ourselves, achieving, pushing and saying yes that we stop asking ourselves a really important question:
“Do I actually want this?”
Not:
- Would this make me look successful?
- Would people be impressed?
- Would this make more money?
But:
Would this life actually feel good to live?
Because those are two very different things.
I know women who “have it all” on paper but privately feel exhausted, disconnected and deeply unfulfilled.
And I understand it because I’ve had moments of feeling that way too.
Especially as South Asian women, many of us are raised to chase security, validation and external markers of success. We’re praised for being productive, responsible and high-achieving.
But rarely taught to ask: What do I actually want my life to feel like?
These days, success looks very different to me.
It looks like autonomy.
Flexibility.
Peace.
Space to breathe.
Meaningful work.
Community.
Being able to work outside in the sunshine on a random weekday and not feeling guilty about it.
It looks like having ownership over my time and energy.
And perhaps most importantly, it looks like having the clarity and confidence to say:
“This opportunity might be amazing for someone else, but it’s not aligned for me.”
That kind of self-awareness saves you from building a life that looks successful externally but feels exhausting internally.
Which is why I wanted to share something I’ll personally be joining next month.
My friend Tazmin Suleman is hosting The Aligned Success Roadmap, a 5-day online experience for high-performing women who are done chasing success that looks good externally but doesn’t actually feel good internally.
This isn’t about hustle culture, toxic productivity or squeezing more into an already full life.
It’s about clarity.
Understanding what actually matters to you. Redefining success on your own terms. And building a life that feels aligned, sustainable and fulfilling.
And honestly, at £47, it feels like such a valuable investment for the level of reflection and clarity it could unlock.
I’ll be doing it too 💖
📍 Next Cohort: 1st–5th June 2026. All the details are here
