What if the success you worked so hard for starts feeling… empty?

In this episode, Melie sits down with Dr. Sharon Spano — executive coach, researcher, and expert in human development — to explore why achievement doesn't always translate to fulfillment, and what it means when you reach your goals but still feel something missing.

This conversation opens up the deeper layers of success, identity, faith, and growth in a way that will resonate with anyone who's ever looked around at a "good life" and wondered, Is this it?

In This Episode, You'll Hear About:

• Why high achievers often hit a surprising wall of emptiness

• How developmental stages shape the way we experience success

• The hidden systems influencing your relationships, work, and identity

• Why faith-based achievers may struggle with mixed messages around ambition

• Simple practices that increase self-awareness and emotional resilience

Melie's Takeaways

1. Feeling empty doesn't mean something's wrong — it might mean you're evolving.

2. Self-awareness is the foundation of sustainable success.

3. Journaling is one of the fastest ways to regulate emotions and see your own patterns.

4. You don't have to navigate the ache behind achievement alone.

Resource Mentioned in the Episode

✨ Dr. Sharon's Developmental Stages Assessment — Coming Soon! As discussed in the episode, Dr. Sharon is releasing a free resource to help you identify your current developmental stage and understand your path toward deeper fulfillment.

sharonspano.com/dumpsterfires

(This is where the assessment will be available once released.)

Connect with Dr. Sharon Spano

• Website

• Book: The Pursuit of Time and Money

• Podcast: The Other Side of Potential

If You Enjoyed This Episode…

Please share it with someone who might be quietly struggling behind their own achievements. And if you're navigating your own season of transition, burnout, or "Is this all there is?" moments — you're not alone, and you're not broken. There is always a way forward, and it often starts with awareness.

And remember: even when the hustle burns out and the trophies start gathering dust, there is still beauty waiting to be rebuilt.