Let’s be real: success isn’t just about the hustle, what looks good on the outside, or how many goals you can chase and manifest. After over two decades as an entrepreneur, life & career coach, speaker, mom, and HUMAN, I’ve learned a few things about what actually moves the needle—in business, yes, but more importantly, in life.
And because I have studied success for thousands of hours (prior Success Coach here), and have spoken on the topic countless times, based on my research, here are my 10 real-talk secrets to success. The kind that don’t just make you look good on LinkedIn—but actually feel good when your head hits the pillow at night.
1. Prioritize Self-Care Like It’s Your Job (Because It Is)
If you want to lead, grow, show up, or glow up, you need to stop treating self-care like a side dish. It’s the main course. Whether it’s boundaries, breathwork, sleep, effective time management, or saying no without guilt—your well-being is your foundation. Burnout doesn’t wear a name tag, but it’ll sneak into your life like an uninvited guest if you’re not careful.
2. Clarity Is Power
You can’t build what you haven’t envisioned. Wandering aimlessly can feel like “flow” until you realize you’ve been flowing in a circle for two years. Get clear on your vision—your real one, not the one social media told you to want. When you know where you’re going, it’s a lot easier to make the right next move.
3. Take Imperfect Action
Perfection is cute. Progress is better. If I waited for perfect, I’d still be holding a blank journal and second-guessing my first blog post from 2009. Start messy. Launch before you’re ready. Trust yourself to figure it out along the way. Spoiler alert: that’s how literally everyone does it.
4. Own Your Story (Even the Cringey Parts)
You don’t have to be a polished robot to be successful. In fact, please don’t. Vulnerability is a magnet. Your struggles, pivots, heartbreaks, comebacks—they’re your power. People don’t connect with your perfection; they connect with your truth.
And if you feel called to share your story, here’s a tip that might resonate: Share your scars, not your scabs. In other words, speak from your healing, not your hurting. Share the lessons, not the open wounds. That’s how true connection — and community — is built.
5. Success Without Balance Is Just Burnout Waiting to Happen
Hustle has its season — but it’s not meant to be your whole story. Make space for joy, relationships, white space on your calendar, and moments of presence. You can hit the goal, close the deal, write the book… and still feel empty if you’ve abandoned your joy along the way. True success includes laughter, movement, love, sunsets, sweaty hugs, quiet mornings, and late dinners with the people you love. Make space for it.
6. Serve Before You Sell
Here’s the secret: when you show up to genuinely help, people feel it. Lead with service. Offer real value. Make people feel seen and safe. The sales will come—not because you’re pushing, but because people will trust you. And in today’s noisy world, trust is everything. Lead with empathy? Your audience will grow with you, naturally and loyally.
7. Time-Block Like a CEO, Not a Martyr
Your time is sacred. Stop giving it away like you’re Oprah handing out cars! Time-block your day for focus, creativity, movement, connection, and REST. Yes, rest in all caps. You are not a productivity machine. You are a human being. Act accordingly. If there isn’t a big “OFF” scheduled into your calendar, consider starting.
8. Invest in Yourself Without Guilt
Courses. Coaching. Therapy. Quiet mornings with a journal. Your growth is never a waste. And your growth is always a non-negotiable. If you’re waiting for permission to pour into yourself, here it is: You’re worth it. And when you grow, everything around you rises with you.
9. Stay Rooted in Your Why
Purpose is the fuel that keeps the fire burning when things get hard—and they will get hard. Reconnect often with why you started. Why it matters. Who you’re doing it for. When the “what” feels overwhelming, go back to the “why.” Let your purpose pull you forward. When you’re aligned with your mission, you won’t have to chase success—it will come to you.
10. Redefine Success on Your Own Terms
For me, success is peace of mind, work that lights me up, clients who become friends, stages where I can connect with more people, the freedom to play the drums badly (but joyfully), and slow Sundays with my family. What does it look like for you? Write it down. Then live it. Unapologetically.
Here’s the truth no one tells you: there’s no single blueprint for success. But there is a rhythm to it—and it starts with being deeply aligned with who you are, what you value, and how you want to show up in the world.
So whether you’re scaling a business, raising a family, building your dream life, or crawling out of burnout—remember: success isn’t just about what you achieve. It’s about how you feel while achieving it.
Keep going. I see you. I am cheering you on from the sidelines.
With love and always a side of self-care,
