top of page

When Success Feels Empty: The Quiet Question Women Leaders Are Asking


An over 50 female entrepreneur recently shared with me:


“When I was younger I listened to a lot of opinions. Now, I stand up for myself. The hardest thing is to trust my gut to know what’s right for me. But that’s also the maturity piece, and for that I’m grateful.”

Her reflection led me to think about this...



There comes a point in many women leaders’ careers when success starts to feel… different. On the outside, everything looks right. The title. The credibility. The accomplishments.But internally, something quietly shifts.


What once energized you now feels heavy. What once defined success no longer fits the woman you’re becoming. And for high-achieving women who’ve spent years building, leading, and carrying responsibility for others, this can be deeply confusing.


You should feel satisfied — and yet, there’s a restlessness that won’t go away.Many women interpret this feeling as burnout or a loss of motivation.It’s not.


Restlessness Isn’t Failure — It’s Data

It’s information that something inside YOU is evolving — your values, your needs, your definition of success. This is especially common for women leaders over 40 — when life experience, health, family responsibilities, and identity begin to intersect differently with work.


I hear variations of this all the time:

  • “I’ve done everything right. Why do I still feel so restless?”

  • “I don’t know what I want next — but I can’t keep doing this forever either.”

  • “I need to prioritize my health and wellness now, not later.”



Redefining success for women leaders doesn’t mean quitting your job or starting over (although it can). More often, it means allowing your definition of success to mature so that it includes:

  • alignment instead of constant striving

  • clarity instead of pressure

  • health instead of burnout

  • choice instead of obligation


When women stop treating restlessness as something to fix and start treating it as something to explore, something shifts. The noise quiets. Self-trust returns. New momentum becomes possible.


Another over-50, female executive recently talked about a shift she’s been experiencing:


“I’d reached a point in my career where it felt performative. I thought about what I wanted vs what I didn’t. In doing that, I was able to find my voice and clearly articulate what it is that I do (very well), and what I’m no longer willing to settle for. Not only is this personal, it’s a motivator that’s empowered me to tackle the restless feelings I’ve had”

Questions Worth Sitting With.

If success feels empty right now, consider these questions:

  • What version of success no longer fits my life?

  • Where am I chasing expectations that aren’t mine?

  • If success included peace and joy, what would need to change first?


A Truth Worth Remembering:



And evolution deserves space, honesty, and compassion — not judgment.


If you’re a woman leader navigating success, restlessness, or burnout, you’re not alone. These reflections are part of a larger conversation about redefining success and leading with alignment in the next chapter of life and leadership.


♥️Today I will be fearless.

Today I am grateful.


P.S. Are you trying to better understand and improve the female dynamics on your team, follow me on LinkedIn to learn more!

 



 
 
 

Comments

bottom of page