This week marked a significant milestone—450 episodes of Focus on WHY! To everyone who has been part of my podcasting journey—thank you. While many podcasters start with big ambitions, not all make it this far. Yet, for me, the number of episodes is not the true measure of success. Instead, my journey has been about something far deeper—meaningful success.
Since launching Focus on WHY on 30 April 2020, I’ve had the privilege of exploring life’s most profound questions, sharing conversations that inspire change and discovering what truly makes a fulfilled and purpose-driven life. Along the way, I’ve realised that success isn’t just about achievements or external recognition—it’s about alignment, growth and impact.
But what exactly defines meaningful success and how do you recognise it in your own life? I believe it comes down to how you measure, mark and value success. My success values guide my approach to both life and work and ensure my journey remains intentional and fulfilling. When you define success through values rather than external markers, you build a foundation that sustains you beyond fleeting achievements.
My core success values are:
Contribution–Giving my all, ensuring my work is meaningful and valued
Confidence–Trusting in my purpose and uplifting others to do the same
Transformation–Embracing change, growth and new perspectives
Connectedness–Building deep relationships and sharing success together
Opportunity–Creating space for possibility, gratitude and expansion
While success values shape your journey, success markers help you recognise when you are truly progressing. These markers come in two forms:
Internal markers (personal fulfilment) which provide you with:
A deep sense of alignment with purpose
Continuous personal and professional growth
Emotional well-being and balance in life.
External markers (tangible achievements) which include:
Recognition–testimonials, positive feedback or awards
Financial stability and career milestones
Impact metrics—people you’ve helped, influence you’ve had and
projects you’ve completed.
Too often you can find yourself chasing external markers without considering whether they align with your values. Meaningful success happens when your internal and external markers are in harmony.
One of my biggest learnings from recording 450 podcast episodes is that success isn’t static. It evolves as you grow. What once seemed like the pinnacle of success may shift as your experiences, priorities and understanding deepen. The key is allowing yourself to redefine success as you evolve. If you cling too tightly to outdated definitions, you risk feeling unfulfilled even after achieving what you once dreamed of.
Sometimes, success markers can conflict with your success values. This could occur if you value balance but your workload leaves you drained. Or perhaps, you value integrity, but you feel pressured to cut corners. Or maybe, you measure success by income, but your most fulfilling work pays less. Aligning your success markers with your values ensures that your achievements feel genuinely rewarding rather than just impressive on the outside.
One of the most profound lessons from my podcast is that failure is a necessary ingredient for success. Instead of seeing failure as a setback, you can reframe it as a:
Lesson in growth–learning what works and what doesn’t
Test of resilience–helping you push through challenges
Path to self-discovery–clarifying what truly matters
Redirection–sometimes, failure leads to something even better
In fact, this is how my podcast was born out of the failure of a previous business. A door closed on me, but another incredible door opened, leading me to deep meaningful success. Each conversation I’ve had on the podcast has reinforced that the most successful people embrace failure as a stepping stone, not a roadblock.
Many people struggle to recognise meaningful success because of:
Social Conditioning–Society tells you success looks like money, status or a certain job title.
Fear of Change–Sticking to an unfulfilling path because it feels safer.
Comparison & Social Media–Measuring success against curated online images
Perfectionism & Imposter Syndrome–Feeling you're never good enough
Another common theme I’ve noticed from my coaching work is that people downplay their achievements. Whether due to humility, imposter syndrome or fear of judgment, they often:
Minimise their success saying, ‘It was nothing’
Shift credit giving it to others
Avoid public recognition–Feeling uncomfortable with praise
While humility is valuable, acknowledging and celebrating success is just as important. When you recognise your own progress, you gain confidence, motivation and inspiration to keep moving forward. To truly recognise meaningful success, pause and ask yourself:
Am I chasing success that looks good or one that feels good?
Does my current path align with what I truly value?
450 episodes of Focus on WHY have reinforced my belief that, just like purpose, success isn’t something you find—it’s something you create. Moment by moment, choice by choice, intention by intention. When you define success on your own terms—rooted in your values and measured by markers that truly matter—you build a life of meaning, fulfilment and lasting impact.
Are you ready to align your goals with what truly matters and create your own unique purposeful path to meaningful success? Then join the first cohort of the Focus on Why Meaningful Success Mastermind starting on 28 March. Make it happen and book in a call with me today here.
Focus on Meaningful Success! Focus on Why!
ACTION POINT: Are you measuring success in a way that truly fulfils you? What’s stopping you from achieving success on your terms?
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