I’ve always considered myself an ambitious person, constantly chasing more recognition, more education, more success. But what happens when you get everything you thought you wanted and it still doesn’t feel right? This past year, I’ve been re-evaluating my relationship with ambition and success, and I’ve found that I’m not alone.

In this episode, I sit down with Sheela Subramanian, who landed her dream job in 2020 but realized it wasn’t enough. She embarked on a "year of no," a period of introspection to find what truly makes her feel alive. Our conversation dives deep into redefining ambition, the concept of "enough," and balancing relevance with happiness. Sheela shares her journey of stepping away from the traditional path to focus on what truly matters. Whether you're considering a "year of no" yourself or simply curious about the journey, this episode is packed with insights and practical advice from both Sheela's personal experience and her extensive research on the future of work.

About Sheela Subramanian:Sheela Subramanian is a business owner, investor, author, and speaker. Most recently, she was Vice President at Slack and co-founder of Future Forum, a research consortium dedicated to studying the future of work. She holds over 20 years of experience building and leading global teams at Google, Slack, Salesforce, and startup organizations. As a champion for workplace equity, her work is cited in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, and others. She is also co-author of "How the Future Works", a WSJ and USA Today bestselling book.

Sheela earned her BA from Stanford and MBA from Harvard Business School and is the mother to two magical daughters.

Key Lessons:

* Redefining ambition and understanding that it’s not just about saying yes to everything.

* The importance of setting boundaries and focusing on what makes you feel alive.

* Balancing the need for relevance with personal happiness.

* The concept of "enough" and how to find contentment in being rather than just doing.

Episode Notes:

* Introduction and Background (0:07)

* The Evolution of Ambition (1:04)

* Sheela's Dream Job and the Year of No (2:25)

* The Concept of "Enough" (3:34)

* Setting Boundaries and Redefining Success (18:23)

* Relevance vs. Happiness (18:44)

* Living a Life on Your Terms (21:35)

* Overcoming Fear, Shame, and Guilt (30:44)

* Finding Courage and Contentment (35:10)

* Insights on Productivity and Personal Growth (41:53)

Tune in and join us as we explore what it means to live authentically and find joy in the journey, not just the destination.

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