From Yoga Teacher Dropout to Purpose-Driven Professional
When Ambition Meets Alignment: A Journey of Redefining Success
I like to joke that I'm 25% yoga teacher trained—because that's exactly how far I made it before being asked to leave the certification program. Yes, you read that right. I was actually asked to leave because I missed so many trainings. This admission still makes me squirm a bit, especially since becoming a yoga instructor was something I'd dreamed about for so long.
The Illusion of Success
Flashback to 2018: A prestigious consulting gig extended a job offer that looked perfect on paper. International travel? Check. Higher title? Check. More stable paycheck? Check. But the reality? I was making decisions rooted in fear, not true alignment.
I had meticulously planned this yoga training months in advance, convinced my flexible consulting schedule would make it seamless. Reality quickly unraveled faster than a hemp anklet. What started as a weekday commitment slowly morphed into weekend sessions, squeezed between conference calls and client meetings. Then came the international travel—a whirlwind of client sites and airport lounges that began to consume every inch of my calendar.
I'll never forget one particularly ironic moment: mid-Savasana, limbs heavy with relaxation, the buzz of my phone interrupted the instructor's soft-spoken meditation. Barcelona was calling—literally and figuratively. I needed to get to my flight. I rolled up my mat, slipped on my shoes, and rushed out, the zen of the yoga studio dissolving into the chaos of my professional hustle. It felt glamorous in the moment—this jet-setting, multitasking version of myself. But beneath the surface, I was unraveling, burning through energy and passion without truly investing in either my professional growth or my personal aspirations.
Creating an Attainable Vision Statement
I originally heard of creating a vision statement for yourself in an excellent year-long women's leadership program I took at Adobe, inspired by Joelle K Jay's book The Inner Edge. Just like you may do for your business, the idea is to create an aspirational vision statement for your life.
My Misaligned Vision (Then)
I want to be a VP of an international Series B company, a yoga instructor, travel internationally, and spend time with my husband, all before I try to have a baby and my life is irrevocably changed forever. Oh, and I don't want to change anything about my social schedule, or work habits so I guess I just won't sleep.
The Warren Buffett Wisdom
I recently revisited an exercise from Warren Buffett that provided a profound perspective on goal-setting and focus. The concept is deceptively simple yet transformative: Start by writing down your top 25 things you want to accomplish in a year. These aren't just passing wishes, but meaningful goals that genuinely excite and challenge you. Then comes the hard part—ruthlessly narrow that list down to just 5 core objectives.
But here's the genius of Buffett's approach: The 20 goals that didn't make the cut aren't just set aside. They become your explicit "avoid at all costs" list. These are the tempting distractions, the nice-to-haves that will actively prevent you from achieving your most important goals. By consciously deciding to not just ignore, but actively avoid these 20 items, you create laser-like focus on what truly matters. It's a radical commitment to saying no, so you can say a powerful yes to your most meaningful pursuits. My yoga teacher training should have been on this avoid-at-all cost list (at least for that year). If I had done this exercise, my vision would have been more clear.
My True Vision Today
Now, my vision is crystal clear:
I have made this world a better place than when I found it. I am a builder, a writer, a mother. I am the CEO of my time, my health, and seeking my dharma (purpose). My energy is focused equally at work and at home. I help empower ambitious moms to achieve balance and fulfillment. I prioritize time for both the important moments and the small ones too.
Your Turn
Want to create a vision that actually resonates? Download the free Propel Yourself workbook and follow along with my 5 strategies to achieve work/life balance.
P.S. This week on LinkedIn, I’m sharing 5 powerful strategies to help you align your career with your values, set goals that work for your life, and manage your time in a way that feels good.