Is it just me, or does success feel more like a mess than a milestone?

In this solo episode, Gayle Kalvert gets real about something we all chase but rarely feel: success. 

It’s not as glamorous as social media makes it look. 

Gayle opens up about her experience of juggling work and family, all while feeling constant pressure to keep moving forward. She shares her struggle to stay grounded while grappling with the fear of missing out on bigger opportunities if she slows down.

Is it just Gayle, or do you feel this, too?

Resources:

Gayle’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gaylekalvert/

What is Work in Progress?

No one has it all figured out. And anyone who says they do? Well, they’re lying.

This is for the women who are trying. Trying to juggle all the things. Trying to make sense of what they actually want. Trying to keep their heads above water without losing themselves in the process.

Career. Money. Relationships. The pressure to do it all. The pressure to want it all. And the moments you secretly wonder, is it just me?

Here we speak openly, laugh through chaos, and ask questions instead of pretending to have all the answers.
Because we’re all a work in progress.

Gayle Kalvert (00:00):
How do we take breaks and enjoy what we've got when we are so wired to keep moving? This is Work in Progress. I'm your host, Gayle Kalvert, and yes, I'm a work in progress.

Is it just me or does success feel like more of a mess than a milestone? Because honestly, I thought success would feel different. I thought there would be these big shiny moments, a new client, a team win, hitting a revenue goal that would make me feel like I made it like I'd arrived somewhere, or at least I was on my way to arriving somewhere. But most days it doesn't feel like that at all. It feels kind of like a mess. Like I'm juggling client work, team needs, school schedules, emotional check-ins, orthodontist appointments, and trying to put something semi-coherent on social media, all while wondering if I put the laundry in the dryer, which I rarely remember, but I'm proud of what I've built.

Gayle Kalvert (01:04):
I love my work. I feel really lucky to do what I do, but I'm also tired and I don't always feel grounded in all of it. I rarely stop to celebrate the wins because the pressure to keep going, to not drop the ball, is so constant. I feel like if I pause, I'm going to miss an opportunity or worse, I'll fall behind. And my work is what matters most for my family. And it's not just the business stuff. There's your marriage, your children, taking care of relatives. I have so much on my plate that I feel stretched so thin that I could snap. And of course, I'm sure like many of you, I do. I'm not perfect. I do lose my patience. I do sometimes break down crying from all of the pressure, and then when I go on social media and you're looking at your LinkedIn feed or Instagram, wherever you are, I'm assuming that every entrepreneur is out there killing it.

Gayle Kalvert (02:12):
Meanwhile, I'm just trying to keep up with my inbox, prep for meetings, and be present for my kids. So it's messy and I have to believe I'm not the only one. So this is an issue that I definitely do not have the answers to. I wish I did, but the truth is I'm figuring it out as I go, just like I'm hoping many of you are. I don't always know how to slow down long enough to celebrate. I don't know if balance is really real. I keep thinking I'll have time for that in the future, but right now I just need to keep my head down and keep moving forward. I don't know when success is going to feel like enough, and I definitely don't know how anyone keeps their house clean while running a company, but I do know I'm not the only one asking these questions, and maybe that's the point of Work in Progress: to admit that we're all struggling and have questions and need help and answers in different areas of our life.

Gayle Kalvert (03:16):
So tell me, what does success look like for you? Do you celebrate the milestones? Do you ever wonder if you've missed milestones because you were too busy cleaning up the mess? So drop a comment, let me know. How is this looking for all of you? I really do want to know because I don't have this all figured out and I need as much help as the rest of us. I don't think we're all supposed to have all the answers, but I do think we are meant to answer these questions together. One of the greatest things that has come out of this show, even in its really, really early days, is the community and people reaching out to me saying how much the content and the topics are resonating with them and what they're facing every day. So selfishly, I hope that you all have some answers for my questions here and I would love to hear them.

Gayle Kalvert (04:12):
I also want to know what it is that maybe you're struggling with and wondering is it just you. Comment, message me. I really would love to hear because I need to figure this one out with all of you. How do we take breaks and enjoy what we've got when we are so wired to keep moving? I'm looking forward to this conversation. I do hope I'll hear from you. I'll see you next time on Work in Progress.

Gayle Kalvert (04:40):
So is it just me or any of you asking yourself the same question? DM me your is it just me moments. Because let's be real, none of us have it all figured out.