Byline: Andi Stark

Success is often portrayed as a linear journey, where hard work and perseverance lead to promotions, financial stability, and accolades. Yet, many find that reaching their career goals doesn’t provide the happiness or fulfillment they anticipated. Instead of contentment, they are left with a surprising sense of emptiness.

Psychologists have studied this extensively. The "hedonic treadmill" concept explains why achievements bring only temporary happiness: people quickly adapt to new circumstances and begin chasing the next milestone. Research from the University of California, Berkeley, shows that external rewards like wealth and status are less effective at promoting long-term well-being than intrinsic factors like purpose, relationships, and self-growth.

Kasia Siwosz, a life coach with an investment banking and elite sports background, has seen this pattern among her clients. “People come to me after they have achieved what they thought would make them happy, but something feels off. They’ve climbed the ladder but do not feel fulfilled or know why.”

Why Titles and Achievements Are Not Enough

Society has glorified tangible success for decades which are titles, salaries, and accolades. These markers are easy to measure, making them appealing benchmarks for self-worth. However, focusing solely on external accomplishments often leaves individuals disconnected from their inner values and needs.

Leadership research by McKinsey & Company highlights a growing trend. Professionals report high levels of burnout and disengagement despite reaching significant career milestones. Many of these individuals cite a lack of alignment between their values and professional lives.

Siwosz explains, “Success is often defined by what others see, like titles, achievements, and external rewards. But true satisfaction comes from within. It’s about living in alignment with your values and finding meaning in what you do.” As a life coach, Siwosz helps clients uncover what motivates them, moving beyond traditional definitions of success.

The Role of Personal Growth and New Goals

Success does not always translate to happiness because traditional goals are static. Many professionals set objectives early in their careers, focusing on metrics like salary or promotions. Once those goals are met, they struggle to find new sources of motivation and fulfillment.

Setting dynamic, evolving goals can counteract this. Experts emphasize the importance of creating aspirations that reflect personal growth, curiosity, and contribution. For example, instead of aiming solely for a promotion, individuals might focus on developing new skills, pursuing creative passions, or mentoring others.

Siwosz encourages her clients to redefine their definitions of success. “It is about asking yourself, ‘What matters to me?’ For some, that is making an impact, but for others, it is finding balance or rediscovering a sense of wonder in their work.” Life coaching provides the tools and guidance to identify and effectively pursue these personal goals.

Insights from Psychology: What Truly Drives Happiness

Positive psychology offers valuable insights into what makes people genuinely happy. Martin Seligman, a pioneer in the field, identifies five key elements of well-being, summarized in the PERMA model. The model encompasses experiencing positive emotions like joy, gratitude, and optimism. Engagement is being deeply absorbed in activities that use your strengths, and relationships are about building meaningful connections with others. Other include meaning and achievement, which are about pursuing a sense of purpose beyond oneself and accomplishing goals that matter.

Professionals who feel unfulfilled after reaching the top often lack balance across these dimensions. They may achieve career success while neglecting relationships or failing to find meaning in their work.

To address this imbalance, psychologists recommend practices such as mindfulness, journaling, and volunteering. Life coaching, focusing on introspection and personal development, complements these practices by helping individuals discover what drives their happiness and create actionable plans.

How Leaders and Organizations Can Support Fulfillment

Workplaces play a significant role in shaping employees' experiences of success. Traditional workplace cultures often prioritize performance metrics over personal well-being, inadvertently reinforcing the myth that titles and achievements guarantee happiness.

Progressive organizations are rethinking this approach. Companies can create environments where employees thrive professionally and personally by integrating wellness initiatives, mentorship programs, and opportunities for personal development.

Studies from Gallup show that employees who feel aligned with their company’s values and mission are 55 percent more engaged and 67 percent more likely to stay long-term. Siwosz emphasizes that life coaching within organizations can help foster this alignment, supporting employees in connecting their roles to personal values.

Finding Meaning Beyond Career Success

For individuals reassessing their relationship with achievement, the journey to fulfillment begins with introspection. Reconnecting with personal values, setting meaningful goals, and cultivating a growth mindset are essential to finding satisfaction.

Siwosz often guides her clients through this process. “Success is not a destination, it is a continuous journey. It is about growing, contributing, and finding purpose in what you do, not just what you’ve achieved.”

Professionals can break free from the satisfaction myth by reframing success as a multidimensional concept that includes personal well-being. As Siwosz and other experts suggest, true fulfillment comes not from reaching the top but from embracing the ongoing pursuit of a meaningful life. Life coaching serves as a resource for individuals navigating this path, providing clarity, direction, and support.