"I built the career I always wanted—then I made a profound pivot and walked away from it to raise my babies." 👣👶

That sentence still sometimes takes my own breath away. Hi, I'm Kim. 👋 For years, my identity and my definition of success were deeply intertwined with my project management career at a prestigious S&P 500 company. I was ambitious, driven, and had meticulously crafted the professional life I thought I’d always craved. 💼✨

Some women instinctively know they want to be stay-at-home mothers once they have children. That wasn't my story. 🤷‍♀️ In fact, I was raised by a stay-at-home mom who often expressed her unhappiness, telling us that having kids could feel like a mistake 😔 and that a career was a more fulfilling choice. 🚀 Society, too, often glorifies a singular version of success: the "woman who has it all"—which usually translates to an image of someone excelling professionally, often at the expense of time with their children. For a long time, that was the success I thought I was chasing. 🛤️

 As an international student in the U.S., I poured everything into my education 🎓, earning a bachelor's degree from a sought-after business school and then an MBA. I climbed the corporate ladder, landing my dream job. It wasn't without its sacrifices and tears 😢. Furthermore, having gone through a divorce prior to marrying my husband (with whom I now share our two children) had deeply impressed upon me the vital importance of financial independence and career stability. This past experience would later contribute significantly to the internal difficulty I faced when considering stepping away from the very career I had worked so hard to build. My ultimate goal was clear: a career that not only afforded quality childcare but also made the trade-off of working feel financially and personally worthwhile according to my then-definition of success. 💰🎯 

Then, I became a mom. And something shifted within me, something profound and unexpected, signaling the start of a major life change. 💖 I found myself yearning to be with my babies far more than I had ever anticipated. 🥰 Suddenly, I felt adrift. Looking in the mirror, the woman staring back felt like a stranger. 🤔 Who was I now? As a natural planner, I was bewildered by this internal sea change that was challenging my entire notion of success and identity; I didn’t know how I’d arrived at this emotional crossroads. The identity crisis was intense and very real. 🌪️

We had a wonderful nanny when I worked from home during the first couple of years of COVID. But then, my job began requiring travel again. The thought of leaving my children, even for a single night, felt unbearable. 💔 It might sound dramatic, but my heart ached, truly tearing apart at the prospect. This was the catalyst for a new direction I hadn't foreseen but could no longer ignore.

The decision to leave my job wasn't made lightly. It was a deliberate pivot, a conscious choice. Even more significant was the realization that I didn't just want a different job; I wanted to be with my children full-time, a path that required me to completely redefine success for myself. I vividly remember the burning desire in my heart 🔥 as I prayed, seeking guidance from God. 🙏 In that moment of quiet reflection, I knew this new direction was the path I needed and wanted to take—for myself and for my family. 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

Of course, anxieties surfaced. 😟 Would I ever be able to return to my career after this career shift? It was a scary prospect, as I’d never taken a professional pause in my life. Yet, a deeper sense of faith settled in, a trust that God would guide me when the time was right. ✨

Looking back, I can honestly say I have zero regrets about making that decision. ✅ In fact, I know I would have deeply regretted not embracing that turning point. Those two years as a full-time mom were some of the most enriching and joyful years of my life, a testament to a newly redefined success found not in promotions or titles, but in presence and connection. 😊 There was so much learning. I read more books 📚 than I had since my school days. I started journaling ✍️, a practice that became a lifeline and a source of discovery.

During this time, many other moms confided in me, sharing that they wished they had the courage to change course in their own lives but feared straying from the conventional path to success. Their stories, coupled with my own transformative experience, planted a seed: 🌱 I wanted to write the book I wished I had when I was navigating that transition and learning to redefine success for myself.

Now, having returned to my career, I feel I’ve come full circle. 🔄 I'm living proof that a career change or break doesn't diminish you; it can actually make you stronger 💪, more focused, and bring unexpected gifts. My definition of success now encompasses this resilience, adaptability, and the joy of aligning my life with my deepest values. 🎁 It was the space and creativity nurtured by being fully present with my children that allowed me to write my book. 📖

This journey has been one of unexpected turns, deep reflections, immense growth, and a powerful pivot that led me to redefine success on my own terms. I hope by sharing it, you might find some resonance or encouragement to navigate your own life changes and define success for yourself. 🌟 My book is a deeper dive into this experience, and I truly hope you'll find it and read it. ➡️ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F1DP2XYX

What about you? Have you faced a similar crossroads or needed to make a significant shift and redefine success in your life? 🤔 I’d love to hear your story! 💬