Issue 1 - Why I Walked Away from a High Paying Career.

And What It Taught Me About Success

After more than 26 years working in fast-paced corporate environments, I hit a wall that no title, no promotion, and no salary could fix.

On paper, everything looked perfect. I was leading high-performing teams. Making great money. Trusted to deliver.

Behind the scenes? I was exhausted. Stuck. Quietly questioning everything I had built.

The pressure was constant. The workload never stopped. And no matter how much I delivered, it felt like sprinting on a treadmill that never turned off.

It took me longer than I like to admit to realise the truth: I was not thriving. I was just surviving.

Maybe you know exactly what that feels like too.

The endless expectations. The invisible exhaustion. The creeping feeling that what once lit you up now leaves you drained.

The scary part? To the outside world, you still look “successful.”

But deep inside, you know something has shifted, and you are not sure how much longer you can pretend otherwise.

The Turning Point

There was no one dramatic breakdown moment. Just a quiet whisper that got louder over time:

Is this really what I want for the rest of my career?

Maybe you have heard that whisper, too.

At first, I tried to push it down. Work harder. Push through. Deliver more.

But no matter how much I achieved, the feeling of misalignment only grew.

What many people do not know is that while I was still wearing the corporate title, I had already begun exploring coaching. It started small. A curiosity. A search for meaning beyond KPIs, monthly reports and annual reviews. A pull toward something that gave me energy, not just drained it.

And then life made the choice unavoidable.

Redundancy from my corporate role forced me to confront the harder question:

What do I really want from this next chapter of my life?

Leaving behind a high paying, well respected position was confronting.

Uncomfortable.

Deeply uncertain.

But it also gave me something even more valuable: My life back.

There’s a quote I often reflect on:

Open every door you possibly can. The doors that close, let them close, and keep walking through the doors that remain open.

Letting go created space. Space for reflection. Space for clarity. Space for real growth.

And maybe, if you are honest with yourself, it is the space you have been craving too, even if you have not dared to say it out loud yet.

The Three Core Problems (That You Might Be Facing Too)

Today, I coach high-performing professionals who are facing the same challenges I once lived through. And almost every client I work with is navigating one (or more) of these:

• Overwhelm and Burnout, You are doing everything, delivering everything, and still feeling like it is never enough. Your workload and leadership responsibilities are draining your energy and blurring your boundaries.

• Lack of Confidence and Direction, You have years of experience. On paper, you are “accomplished.” But inside, you are second-guessing yourself. Wondering if you have hit your ceiling, or worse, if you have lost your way.

• Team and Leadership Struggles, You are leading others while barely holding yourself together. You want to inspire and elevate, but you are running on fumes. Managing people starts to feel like another weight to carry, instead of a source of purpose.

These are not just professional challenges - They are deeply personal ones - They impact your energy - Your identity - Your sense of self.

And here is the truth: They do not fix themselves with another promotion. Or another productivity hack. Or another “just push harder” speech.

They require something deeper.

Space - Reflection - Strategy - Support.

Why I Started Coaching

I did not leave my corporate career because I failed.

I left because I realised something most people never say out loud:

Success means nothing if it costs you everything!

Success should feel sustainable. Success should feel fulfilling. Success should feel like you are growing into who you are meant to be, not losing yourself in the process.

That is why I coach today.

Because there are strong, capable, high-performing professionals out there, maybe like you; Who are silently struggling. Who wants a career that feels good, not just looks good. Who are ready to stop surviving and start growing again.

Today, I help professionals:

• Reclaim clarity and momentum

• Lead with purpose (without burning out)

• Build careers that they are excited to wake up to again

If you are still reading this, thank you.

This newsletter is for you.

Because success is not about where you started—it’s about where you choose to go from here.

• You don't have to do it alone.

• You don't have to stay stuck.

• You are not broken.

• You are ready for a new chapter.

If this resonated with you, I offer free 1:1 Career Clarity Calls, just a conversation, no pitch, no pressure.

Sometimes a simple shift begins with the right space to talk it through.

👉 Book your Career Clarity Call today

#CareerCoaching #LeadershipDevelopment #BurnoutRecovery #CareerClarity #GrowCoaching #RushdiKirsten #PurposeDrivenWork #HighPerformanceSupport