Rocket Science for Recovering Overachievers 🚀

How your hard work might be holding you back

But first, a little bit of a question…

I’m headed to Milwaukee for a speaking engagement on March 7th. If I were to host a meet up at a local bookstore (probably the 6th or the 8th), would you be able to attend?

And now, onto the newsletter…

Rocket Science for Recovering Overachievers 🚀

In "The Coven," my small community for overcoming over achieving and finding lives we f*king love, one of our members dropped a BOMB on me when she asked, “is hard work inherently good?” This question HIT HOME.

As an elder millennial, I LIVED the hustle life. I was programmed with the classic success formula: grind through prestigious schools, land the big job, stack that 401k, retire (or die) rich. And honey? I executed that plan like a BOSS. By my early thirties, I was one of the youngest VPs at Comedy Central, living what looked like the dream.

Except... I was waking up at 4 AM with anxiety sweats about work projects. I made climbing the corporate ladder at breakneck speed look EASY but I felt like a burnt-out shell of a human. I didn’t know if purpose in life should matter or have ANY clue what mine would be. When layoffs hit in 2020, I completely unraveled. "This isn't how it's SUPPOSED to go – I worked so hard," I screamed into the void, mascara running, identity crumbling.

But since pivoting into my dream career, one which is more meaningful, profound, easier and (oddly) more lucrative, here's what I've realized: Hard work isn't inherently valuable. It's more like a rocket booster.

Rocket boosters are those MASSIVE engines that launch spacecraft into orbit. They burn through insane amounts of fuel and are absolutely essential for breaking free from Earth's gravity. But – and this is key – they're designed to fall away. In fact, continuing with rocket booster energy would be COUNTERPRODUCTIVE AND EVEN HARMFUL. Why?

• The boosters are too heavy (like carrying emotional baggage)

• They're the wrong type of propulsion for space (like using hustle when you need flow)

• They burn through resources faster than I used to burn through episodes of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

same, lisa. same.

For me, hustle was my rocket booster. It launched me out of my circumstances, but continuing to operate at that burn rate nearly destroyed me. The intense hustle mindset that launches a career can actively hold us back once we're more established, when what we really need is innovation, creativity, and sustainable energy.

Sometimes the bravest thing we can do is let those boosters fall away and trust that we've already reached escape velocity. EVEN IF we have further to go in our careers, we can rest easy in the fact that we made it into f*cking OUTTER SPACE!!! After all, the real mission isn't the launch – it's what we discover once we're in orbit.

Love you, mean it. Drop a comment below and tell me: What boosters are you ready to release? Does this resonate with you at all? I worked really hard on this metaphor lol.

T$ Stamp of Approval:

• In this New York Times article: “My Boyfriend Lacks Ambition. Is that a Deal Breaker?” therapist Lori Gottlieb encourages us to question our assumptions about hard work. PERFECT TIMING, LORI!

• If you’re as intrigued by self-awareness as I am, you must check out Sarah Kubrick’s book, It’s On Me. It’s a beautifully written, thought-provoking guide to understanding the self - what it means, how it’s shaped, and how we can reclaim it. Sarah’s prompts are pure gold for anyone looking to connect with themselves on a deeper level. Trust me, this is one you’ll want to keep on your nightstand.

Glow Getter of The Week: 

Every week I feature one member of “The Glow Getters” my paid, “inner-circle” community. Think of it as my tree house! Readers get journal prompts, supportability groups, and much more! 

Let’s meet our Glow Getter, Tiffany.

How did you find ALTTH?

I first learned about your work from your episode on Tori Dunlap’s Financial Feminist podcast. It was so encouraging!

What’s your favorite part about being a Glow Getter?

I love the intentional journal prompts relevant to the season or life happenings. Each day of the particular week feels like peeling back the layers of a rose (not an onion!).

I also love journaling AND I love being involved with clubs so a journaling club is really my jam and this has been so fun to explore!

Preview of This Week’s Glow Getters:

I’ve created a QUIZ for you to take - find out if your daily grind is a labor of love or someone else’s expectations.

I can’t wait to see what you discover.