Finding Your Natural Path
“Success should feel good… so why am I so miserable?”
That’s what I kept asking myself at 3 AM, staring at the ceiling, trying to convince myself I was living the dream. VP role at a fast-growing company. Innovative team. Excellent compensation. I had everything that was supposed to make me happy.
So why did I feel hollow every time I walked into another team meeting?
One sleepless night, after hours of tossing and turning, a realization struck me:
What if I’m not burnt out—what if I’ve been running a race I was never meant to run?
I’d spent years pushing myself to run faster, trying to keep pace with everyone else’s definition of progress. The prestigious roles, the high-visibility projects, the “strategic initiatives”—they were supposed to get me to that level of success everyone seemed to want.
But every evening, exhausted from running, I’d find myself drawn to the water. Those quiet moments working on creative projects, building deep connections with my team, solving complex people problems—that’s where I felt alive. That’s where I moved with natural grace and power.
The irony?
I could have been moving toward my goals all along, just in a way that felt natural to me. But I was so focused on running the race everyone else was running, I forgot I was built to swim.
The Hidden Cost of Running Someone Else’s Race
Turns out, I wasn’t alone. A study from the Center for Workforce Transformation found that while plenty of professionals hit traditional success markers, only 29% feel truly fulfilled in their careers.
That gap isn’t just a statistic—it’s the difference between sprinting on dry land and gliding effortlessly through water…when you have fins instead of feet.
The Truth About Working Against Your Nature
When you’re moving against your natural strengths, it shows up in subtle but significant ways:
Pushing through “strategic” projects that leave you gasping for air
Following others’ paths while your own instincts scream for a different direction
Building a career that looks impressive from the shore but feels like drowning
I see this pattern all the time. The director running harder on the executive track when her heart longs to dive into creative work. Or the CFO sprinting through spreadsheets while sacrificing his natural talent for connecting with people.
The problem isn’t your drive to succeed. It’s trying to succeed in ways that fight against your nature.
Your Mirror Moment™
If you’re feeling like you’re constantly fighting against the current, start here:
Think back to a moment when movement felt effortless. When did success feel like gliding instead of struggling?
What made that moment different? Were you using skills that came naturally? Working in ways that energized you?
Look at your calendar for next week. How much time are you spending running versus swimming?
One woman I worked with did this exercise and had an epiphany: Every time she approached challenges like a sprint, she felt depleted. But when she allowed herself to dive deep and explore solutions thoroughly—her natural style—both she and her team thrived.
Your Challenge: Find Your Water
This week, take ten minutes to identify where you’re naturally strong. Where do you move with ease? Where does work feel like flow instead of friction?
Then ask yourself: What’s one way you could work more naturally tomorrow?
If you’re a natural connector, turn that presentation into a conversation
If you think deeply, block time for strategic work while others are sprinting through meetings
If you solve problems creatively, approach that challenge from angles others might miss
Small shifts in how you move through your work can lead to profound changes in how far you go.
Where are you still running when you’re built to swim? Hit reply—I’d love to hear what resonates.
