You’ve made it. So why do you feel empty?
3 minute read - @cultureshift.project
You did everything right.
The MBA. The 70-hour weeks. The political navigation. The sacrifices.
And now you're here: corner office, six-figure salary, respect from peers.
So why does Monday morning feel like a prison sentence?
You're Not Alone (And That's the Problem)
67% of Australian leaders report feeling "trapped" in their roles.
Let that sink in. Two-thirds of people in leadership positions across Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane are secretly googling "career change at 45" during lunch breaks.
Whether you're running a company, leading a team, managing a department, or building your own business, the feeling is the same. Success on paper, empty inside.
But here's what should really scare you:
Organisations with disengaged leaders see 32% lower growth.
That's right. Your secret misery is showing up in the results.
The Three Lies That Got You Here
Lie #1: "Success equals happiness"
You believed that once you reached a certain level, fulfilment would follow. Instead, each promotion brought more politics, more pressure, and less connection to why you started.
Lie #2: "It's too late to change"
You've invested years building this career or business. The mortgage needs paying. The kids need uni funds. So you convince yourself that wanting more is ungrateful.
Lie #3: "This is just how leadership feels"
You look around at other leaders and assume everyone else has it figured out. News flash: they're all performing too. 73% report their work lacks personal meaning despite their achievements.
The Real Cost of Staying Stuck
Sarah Chen was a CFO earning seven figures. Successful by every measure. Miserable by her own.
"I was medicating with wine and Netflix," she admits. "Snapping at my kids. Going through motions in meetings. I'd built a life that looked perfect and felt empty."
Then she did something radical. She spent 2 hours getting crystal clear on her actual purpose, not her job description, but her real reason for being.
That clarity changed everything.
She restructured her role around financial empowerment, not just number management. Launched a supplier financing program that helped small businesses while improving cash flow. Her team engagement scores jumped 47%.
The kicker? Her division delivered 23% year-over-year growth. The highest in company history.
Your Move
Right now, you have two choices:
Close this tab. Go back to your inbox. Pretend you didn't just recognise yourself in every paragraph.
Admit that something needs to change. That you didn't work this hard to feel this empty. That the people you lead deserve someone who's actually alive, not just managing.
The Legacy Workshop isn't therapy. It's not woo-woo. It's a practical 2-hour intensive that helps leaders reconnect with their actual purpose and turn it into exponential results.
Special offer: $150 (normally $300). Because we believe purpose-driven leaders change everything.
But here's the thing. We only run this monthly with 20 spots. And leaders who finally admit they need change don't usually wait for the "perfect time."
Because there isn't one.
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