It’s Time to Redefine Success

For decades, we’ve been told to strive for “work-life balance,” as if success means keeping two sides of a scale perfectly even. But let’s be honest—life doesn’t work that way. Leadership, family, community, and personal growth all demand attention at different times, and forcing them into balance often creates guilt instead of freedom.

The truth is, balance is a myth. What women leaders need is a fresh perspective: harmony. Harmony recognizes that life flows in seasons. Some weeks, your career may need more energy. Other times, personal milestones will require your focus. Harmony allows both to coexist without judgment.

Redefining success means letting go of the impossible standard of balance and embracing what matters most right now. Success could look like leading your team through a critical project, while also making space for a child’s soccer game or time with a friend who needs you. It’s about alignment, not perfection.

Tips for Redefining Success Through Harmony:

• Set non-negotiables. Identify the things you won’t compromise—whether it’s family dinners, self-care rituals, or leading with integrity. They’re not “nice to haves,” they’re “must haves.” For some, it’s protecting family dinners three nights a week. For others, it’s committing to morning exercise, maintaining spiritual practices, or making space for reflection before major decisions. In leadership, it could mean upholding integrity and transparency even when shortcuts look tempting. By naming your non-negotiables, you create guardrails that keep you from drifting into overwhelm or sacrificing what matters most. Write them down, revisit them often, and communicate them clearly to your team and loved ones so they can support you in honoring them.
• Say no with confidence. Protect your priorities by declining commitments that don’t align with your vision. Every “yes” takes time, energy, and attention away from something else. Saying “no” isn’t a rejection—it’s a decision to protect your priorities. For leaders, the ability to decline commitments gracefully but firmly is a skill that builds credibility. Instead of defaulting to overcommitting, pause and ask, “Does this align with my goals or values right now?” If the answer is no, practice responses like: “Thank you for thinking of me, but I need to decline,” or “I can’t commit to this fully right now, and I don’t want to shortchange it.” The more you practice, the more natural it feels—and the more space you create for what truly matters.

• Celebrate alignment, not balance. Success isn’t about equal time—it’s about feeling fulfilled in the areas that matter most. Balance assumes equal weight—an illusion that often leaves leaders exhausted. Alignment, on the other hand, is about congruence: your time and energy are being spent in ways that reflect your values and goals. Instead of judging a week by how evenly you divided hours between work and home, measure it by how aligned your actions felt with what matters most. Did you show up for the project that excites you? Did you make time for a meaningful conversation with a loved one? Did you honor your health? Those are wins worth celebrating. When you focus on alignment, success feels richer and more attainable because it reflects your true priorities—not someone else’s definition of balance.

By shifting from balance to harmony, you remove the constant pressure to “do it all” and step into a way of living and leading that feels sustainable, empowering, and true to you.