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In a world that celebrates big milestones, loud announcements, and curated perfection, it’s easy to forget that some of the most meaningful wins don’t make it to the feed.
They happen behind closed doors. They don’t come with applause. They aren’t always photogenic… but they are real. And they are enough.
Today’s episode is a deeply personal one. I’m pulling back the curtain on how my definition of success has changed over the years… How I’m still digging my biggest goals, but now it’s in a way that aligns more with how I want to feel, not just how it all looks.
Whether you’re in a season of quiet growth, private healing, or just choosing to build a life that prioritizes peace over performance, I hope this episode feels like a soft place to land.
Let’s redefine what it means to win… even when no one else is watching.
Loud Wins Get the Applause, But Quiet Wins Build the Life
We live in a world that rewards and celebrates the loudest wins. The ones that go viral, get all the clicks, and show up perfectly packaged. But what about the wins that aren’t photogenic? The ones that look like setting boundaries, protecting sacred spaces, or finally feeling calm in your own life?
I’ve spent over a decade building my brand in the public eye. From sharing personal health journeys to launching products and achieving business milestones, I’ve made a lot of noise in the past.
But today, the parts of my life that feel the most meaningful are the ones I choose not to share. They’re sacred, and they’re mine.
My therapist once told me that boundaries exist to protect what’s sacred. And the more I lean into that, the more I recognize that peace is its own kind of powerful success.
Redefining Success on Your Own Terms
I used to think success had to look a certain way. I vividly remember a college textbook image of a woman in a power suit standing in a corner office. That was the picture of success back then. But over time, I’ve realized how limiting that definition is.
Recently, I spent a weekend with a group of incredible women in Nashville. Being in that circle reminded me how vastly different our definitions of success can be, and how that is not only okay but necessary.
Right now, my version of success looks like showing up for my kids, protecting my time, and staying in alignment with my values.
I’ve had to unpack and reimagine what success looks like in this season of my life. And I’ve also had to reconcile that much of the success I’m enjoying now came from years of hustle.
Knowing what I know now, I believe it’s possible to define success in ways that don’t lead to burnout or leave you wondering if it was all worth it.
The Internet Feels Like a Noisy Bar, So I’m Stepping Outside
Lately, being online feels like standing in a crowded bar full of half-conversations and noise. And truthfully, I’d rather be outside in my garden, watching the chickens peck and watering the plants.
Social media is full of quick content and surface-level moments. But I want the depth. I want the space to think deeply, feel grounded, and be fully present where I am.
Choosing presence over performance isn’t about quitting. It’s about stepping into what actually matters to me.
I don’t want my days ruled by the need to post something just to stay visible. I want to write stories and live them fully, even if no one sees. I want to be present with my family, my friends, and my real life, without feeling like I’m missing out by being offline.
The Best Wins Aren’t Meant for Instagram
When I look at my life right now, the most meaningful moments are the ones that never make it to social media. It’s bedtime stories, impromptu nature walks with my kids, and quiet dinners with my family.
None of it is optimized for content, but all of it is deeply fulfilling.
My friend and I were laughing recently, saying that no one will look back and remember their most viral post. But we will remember the way we felt in those quiet, present moments that shaped our lives.
To be honest, I want my business to be the least interesting thing about me, because for so long, I built my identity around my work.
These days, I want my identity to come from how fully I live my life. If your daily rhythms reflect your values, then you are living a kind of success that no algorithm will ever be able to measure!
My New Role Models: Other Quietly Successful Women
The other day, I asked ChatGPT to list women who chose to step away from the spotlight after achieving success. It gave me a list of women I admire, women who shifted into a quieter, more intentional version of success.
That search was a powerful reminder that choosing a different path doesn’t mean disappearing. It means prioritizing what matters most.
I want to leave you with this question: Who might you become if you didn’t have to share it with anyone?
Let yourself imagine the answer. What would change if you stopped living for visibility and started living for vitality?
If you’re in a season of slower growth, deeper alignment, or quiet transformation, I hope this episode gave you the permission slip you didn’t know you needed.
Your wins still matter, even when no one claps for them…. Actually, ESPECIALLY then.
Let’s stop measuring success by the noise it makes and start honoring it for how it makes us feel. Your path is yours alone. And your quiet, unseen progress might just be the most important work of all!
National Small Business Month Feature: Victoria Clark
Last by not least, we’re celebrating National Small Business Month with a special feature from one of YOU in the Goal Digger community! Today’s Small Business Spotlight goes to Victoria Clark, a piano teacher and digital product creator from the UK who’s taken the advice from this podcast and turned it into real momentum in her business!
Victoria, thank you for sharing your heart and mission with us. You are what this community is all about. Connect with Victoria on her website or follow her on Instagram here!
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