What if the success that you've been seeking isn't as elusive as it may appear? What if the hustle isn't the muscle that will get you where you want to be? Are you earning more money than ever before and yet you still feel like something is missing?  

Addressing these and other questions starts with slowing down and realigning our values with our actions and decisions. Intentionally slowing down not only benefits us as individuals, helping us to avoid burnout, but also pays dividends to those around us, helping us to offer our whole, complete, connected, resourced, healthy selves to our staff, our clients, and even our families and friends.

Defining Core Values, Establishing Boundaries

Slowing down allows us to specifically identify our core values, which serve as our guiding light to lead us through life – both professional and personal – thus improving decision making. These core values provide not only direction, but also context. They keep us connected to what's important as life throws challenges and opportunities our way, supporting us to make decisions from a deeper place.  

Equally important, establishing clear boundaries helps protect us and our values from blowing in the wind. Boundaries create a framework of what you will and won't tolerate, and how you do and don't want to be treated. They help you stand in your power, even when it's scary, protecting your energy, space, body, mind, and spirit.  

You Get to Decide What Success Means

Your success does not have to look like society’s definition of the word. You don't need to strive for things that don't resonate with you, shoot for someone else’s goals, or try to please or impress someone else in order to be and feel successful. 

You get to decide exactly what success means to you – what it should look and feel like for you.

Michelle Kooi, CPA, CPCC/APC, is principal of Confluence Coaching and Consulting, LLC, Durango. Now a professional coach, writer, and speaker, she left traditional public accounting and tax work after 19 years to focus on helping leaders, small business owners, and individuals in a way that better aligned with her values and life vision.

Looking for more insights on redefining success, exploring core values and boundaries, and finding a better way to get where you want to go? Join Kooi, along with several other speakers and panelists, at the 2024 COCPA Women’s Summit: Elevating Your Excellence, Aug. 23 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Denver. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain practical strategies to enhance your professional and personal development while networking throughout the day with other women in the accounting profession. 

Click here to explore the full Summit agenda.