If you had asked me ten years ago what success looked like in my career, I probably would have rattled off a checklist: steady paycheck, promotions, job security, respect, and maybe a fancy title that made people nod approvingly when I said it out loud.
But now, at 47, the checklist has changed—and honestly, I’ve thrown most of it out altogether.
Starting over has made me rethink what I want from work, not just what I’m supposed to want. After years of being driven by deadlines, pressure, and proving myself, I’ve realized I no longer want to sacrifice my well-being to climb a ladder that leads to a version of life I don’t even want anymore.
These days, career success looks like balance.
It looks like flexibility, creativity, and purpose.
I’ve traded hustle culture for something more intentional. I’m working completely from home, which gives me the space to breathe, think, and live while I work. I still put in the hours. I still care deeply about what I do. But I’ve stopped letting my job define me.
Success no longer means being constantly available or running myself into the ground to prove I’m a team player. It means doing work that aligns with my values and creating a career that works for my life—not the other way around.
It also means giving myself permission to explore new paths. I’m building something of my own now—my website, my voice, my vision…and I might even establish my own consulting firm when I retire. I’ve got dreams in my back pocket that might have seemed unrealistic before. But now? I see them as possibilities.
Because I know that at 47, I’m not too late.
I’m not too old.
And I’m certainly not done.
If anything, I’m just now getting to the good part—the part where I get to decide what my version of success looks like.
And here’s what I’ve decided:
I want meaningful work, not meaningless stress. I want connection, not competition. I want space to grow and create—without having to explain or justify it. I want to feel proud of what I’m building, even if it looks different than what others expect.
So to anyone else standing at this same crossroad, wondering if it’s too late to shift, evolve, or start something new—I promise you, it’s not.
Starting over at 47 might just be the career move that changes everything.
With ambition and authenticity,
Aunty Christine 🫶🏻💜🤟🏻
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