Five Signs Your Success Isnโt Sustainable (Yet)
And five ways to make it built to last.
Most ambitious people focus on how to succeed. Few ask: Can I keep succeeding like this?
Iโve been reflecting on how success can feel like a weight for so many leaders rather than a source of fulfillmentโthe relentless pressure to achieve more, move faster, and keep pace with an ever-changing world can turn success into an ending chase.
Balancing your ambition with your well-being can feel impossible, especially in uncertain times. And when the pursuit of success starts to feel more like survival than something to celebrate, itโs time to pause and ask: Is this really the way itโs meant to be?
I understand this because Iโve been there.
I followed the traditional playbook for years: work hard, climb higher, and achieve more. You know the drill. And it workedโon paper. I built a thriving leadership career at Harvard, Pearson, and in the nonprofit C-Suiteโwhile raising three kids. But no one ever taught me how to achieve and sustain success in a way that felt as good as it looked.
I didnโt realize back then: Success isnโt just about getting โthereโโitโs about being able to stay โthereโ without running yourself into the ground.
And I see this pattern everywhere:
The C-Suite leader whose division finally hit their revenue goal after two tough yearsโonly to feel too exhausted to celebrate.
The entrepreneur who built a thriving businessโbut inside, felt more disconnected from herself and others than ever.
The leader who climbed to the topโonly to look around and wonder, โIs this really it?โ
The rising star who consistently pushed and over-deliveredโuntil burnout forced them to stop.
These people were successfulโby every traditional measure. But their success wasnโt sustainable.
Five Signs Your Success Isnโt Built to Last
Many high achievers are struggling to build lasting success. So, if any of these feel familiar, youโre not alone. But it might be time to rethink how you work and leadโbecause there is another way.
Your energy fluctuates wildlyโyouโre either in overdrive or completely drained. Thereโs no steady rhythm, no middle ground.
Youโre great at managing expectations and needsโexcept your own. Youโre stretched thin trying to be everything to everyone.
You work hard to hit big goals but feelโฆunderwhelmed. The achievement is there, but the fulfillment isnโt.
Your success depends on you working at maximum capacity. If you step back, even briefly, everything stalls.
You keep telling yourself, โOnce I hit X, Iโll slow down.โ But the finish line keeps moving.
If this sounds like you, hereโs what I want you to know: The problem isnโt that youโre not working hard enough. The problem is that this version of success isnโt designed to last.
Thatโs because what we all learn about achievement at home, in school, in university, and in the workplace are all myths designed to keep us on the hamster wheel.
Real successโhealthy, meaningful, lasting successโfeels different; it feels like you at your best.
How to Build Success That Lasts
Sustainable success isnโt about stepping back or drastically changing your lifeโitโs about learning to work differently. It isnโt a destination; itโs a practice. Here are five ways to begin building lasting success.
Set a pace you can actually sustain. Success isnโt a sprint. Set a pace you can maintain over years, not just weeks. While this may seem impossible during intense periods at work, it is nearly always possible to create momentum without draining yourself. (Hint: This will require working differently than you do today.)
Let your wins lift you upโnot wear you out. Your achievements should replenish you, not deplete you. If not, theyโre the โwrongโ wins for you. But if theyโre the โrightโ ones, make time to celebrateโeven the small winsโbefore rushing to the next thing. Reflect on whatโs working instead of only focusing on whatโs next.
Play the long game. Sustainable success isnโt about how fast you get thereโitโs about staying in the game long enough to create something significant. The most successful people pace themselves, knowing consistency and resilience matter more than short bursts of intensity. Optimize for stamina, not just speed.
Redefine success as you grow. Align your work with who you are today. Youโre evolving. What mattered five years ago might not be what matters now. Incorporate regular time to take stock and adjust accordingly.
Protect your energy like your life depends on itโbecause it does. High performance isnโt about pushing throughโitโs about sustaining yourself while you move forward. Stewarding your Vitality is about more than just basic self-care; it means nurturing yourself on all levelsโphysical, mental, emotional, and spiritual.
Your Turn
The way you work today shapes the way you succeed tomorrow. So, how are you setting yourself up for the success you actually want?
So tell me:
Whatโs the most crucial strategy you use to sustain success over time?
Or, if success has been feeling heavier than it shouldโwhatโs one shift you can make today to create success that feels better and lasts longer?
Remember: Success isnโt just about what youโre doing or where youโre goingโitโs about how you feel while getting there and who you become along the way.
Until next time, be well!
Iโm Janine Mathรณ, and my book, Live Your Opus, a revolutionary mindset and method for achieving and sustaining healthy, meaningful success, is coming out soon. Itโs a book for ambitious people who crave deeper meaning, fulfillment, and direction but sometimes struggle to break through. [Reserve your copy here.]
I publish on Substack and LinkedIn on Thursdays. Subscribe and join 800+ people reading my letters. You can learn more about me and my work here. As always, thanks for being here. If this resonates, please share this letter with others who might benefit. Thank you!
**Hereโs how I can help you to achieve success that feels as good as it looks**
๐ค Work 1:1 with me. Please email me at hello@janinematho.com should you wish to explore executive coaching. I have two spots remaining for Spring, 2025.
๐ Join the waitlist for the second cohort of Project Opusโan invitation-only program for entrepreneurially-minded women. Dates for the next cohort will be announced shortly!