*New workshop* Redefining Success, Balance + Self-Worth
Trialling a new workshop is always a nerve-wracking experience, even after nearly a decade of facilitating training for global businesses. But this one felt different. This time, it was part of a wider full-circle moment.
Earlier this week, I returned to Manchester Metropolitan University, where I did my foundation before moving to London in the late 2000s. Walking through those familiar buildings, I was hit with memories of a younger version of me. One that was so full of ambition, so many questions, and a deep desire to “make it”, even if I didn’t quite know what that meant at the time.
The session I delivered today for students was “Redefine Success, Balance, and Self-Worth Means to You”, which was basically a reflection of my journey over the last two years. My journey of burnout and recovery, of letting go of old definitions of success and a journey of coming back home to myself.
The Questions We Don't Ask Ourselves Soon Enough
I wanted to give students space to ask themselves the questions I wish I’d asked before I became a full-on workaholic–a term I don’t use lightly. Before I tied my worth to productivity. To pause and reflect on what’s really driving that constant need to perform, succeed, and exceed.
We explored questions like:
What does success feel like to you?
Where are you full, and where are you depleted in different areas of your life?
Who are you when you’re not trying to prove anything?
We also looked at how stress shows up in the body, especially in high-pressure environments, and shared practical tools to manage overwhelm and move through pressure with more ease.
All of this has come off the back of a deeply personal two-year journey. One that began, quite poetically, on the same day in October 2022 that my co-founder told me she wanted to leave. I was completely shocked by the news, and later that very same day, I had my first-ever therapy session. I remember sitting with my new therapist (shoutout to Sonya!), still shook, and when she asked me what I wanted to work on, I just stared at her, frazzled, and said: “I just want to know who I am without the work.”
This kind of self-inquiry and strategy isn’t just for students. It’s relevant to anyone navigating burnout ‘hustle’ culture, high expectations, or the weight of success stories that don’t quite feel like their own.
I’d love to run this session with more businesses, leadership teams, organisations, or communities that are ready to rethink how they support wellbeing, purpose, and performance without burning people out.
If this resonates, drop me a message and let’s see what we can do.
