You Are Not a One-Hit Wonder

Welcome to the 250 new subscribers to Going Places! I’m so happy you’re here! 

Now, I don’t know which eldest daughter, former editor of the college paper, trying to exit her obsessive personal growth era needs to hear this, but I did so, here it goes:

You may think you're impressive because you have this job that looks incredible on paper.

But you’re wrong.

You have this job BECAUSE you're impressive.

And you can get (or create) another one that doesn’t make you hate your life or question your worth.

Let’s talk about it:

You're Not a One-Hit Wonder

The fact that you landed that competitive job that makes everyone go "Oh wow, that's amazing!" at networking events doesn't mean you got lucky.

Man, the stories we create in our heads! 

"What if I was just in the right place at the right time 10 years ago?"

"Maybe I peaked at 28 and this is as good as it gets."

"I should be grateful—what if I leave and can't find anything else this 'prestigious'?"

No more of that.

You're not some fluke of nature who accidentally stumbled into success. You didn't win the career lottery and now you're stuck with your prize forever, even if it's slowly crushing your soul.

You earned where you are—with your mind, your instincts, your ability to figure things out even when no one was showing you how.

Remember that project where you had zero guidance but somehow pulled together a presentation that made your boss look like a genius? Or when you navigated office politics like a diplomatic mastermind? Or the countless times you've problem-solved your way out of situations that would've sent other people running to HR?

That wasn't luck. That was YOU.

When Success Starts Feeling Like Failure

But here's where it messes with your head: if you're so capable, why does this job feel like it's draining the life out of you?

If you're truly as impressive as your résumé suggests, why does the thought of doing this for the next 10-15 years make you want to dramatically throw your laptop out the window (but you won't, because, y'know, that's expensive and you're responsible)?

Here's the thing your younger self didn't know when she was busy girl-bossing her way to the top: feeling unfulfilled in a "successful" career isn't a reflection of your abilities.

It's actually a signal that you've outgrown the version of success that 22-year-old you thought would make you feel like you were absolutely killing it.

And that's pretty damn normal for our generation.

We were basically raised in the era of "Lean In" and "Girlboss" culture, where the message was crystal clear: climb that ladder, break those glass ceilings, and don't you DARE want anything less than world domination in a corner office.

But what if world domination isn't actually your thing? What if you want more creativity in your day-to-day? More autonomy over your schedule? More peace instead of constant pressure to optimize and hustle?

What if you want to build something with your name on it, instead of deliverable after deliverable for someone else?

It is NOT too late to want these things.

And you don't need to burn it all down tomorrow (please don't). But also: don't gaslight yourself into staying stuck just because your job title sounds impressive at dinner parties.

You're allowed to evolve. You're allowed to want different things than you wanted five years ago. You're allowed to define success differently now that you have more experience.

Because you're not starting from scratch. You're starting from experience.

Every skill you've developed, every challenge you've navigated, every "impossible" deadline you've somehow met—that's all coming with you. You're not erasing your track record; you're redirecting it toward something that actually aligns with who you're becoming.

You've proven you can succeed once. Why wouldn't you be able to do it again, this time in a way that doesn't make you feel defeated every Monday AM?

Maybe that's a completely different career path. Maybe it's the same industry but a totally different company culture. Maybe it's negotiating remote work so you can finally have that work-life integration you've been craving.

Whatever it is, it starts with believing that you're not a one-hit wonder who got lucky once and now has to settle forever.

You're a multi-talented human who deserves a career & professional life that actually fits the full life you want to live.

I share this with you now, a week before my 33rd birthday (aka Season 2 of Sex and the City), because my own life, career, and motivations look almost nothing like I thought they would at this age. No fancy job title (I make up a new LinkedIn headline every few months), no Forbes feature (yet, but we’re past 30 Under 30 by now), no kids, and no idea what the scope of my work will look like even one year from now.

But it all feels more authentic, purposeful, and tailor-made for the woman I am now and want to keep becoming. And I know that feeling of alignment is possible for you, too. 

With you all the way,

Janel

This week’s question comes from Jaclyn over on TikTok:

Okayyy, I’m actually brainstorming an entire newsletter series on Smart Ways to Quit Corporate, and this question is an excellent jumping-off point.

Would you be stoked to read a ~4-part newsletter series on how to decenter your career from the 9-5 model without blowing up your life?

Love the newsletter but want more? Did you know I put together an entire course called Pivot with Purpose? Think of it like a supercharged version of all the best content from this newsletter, tailored to help you nail your career goals.