Ashleigh Barty

Ashleigh Barty, World No. 1 in Women's Tennis, 25 years old, is retiring.

She won Wimbledon, and, it was enough.

She said, "When you work so hard your whole life for one goal. To be able to win Wimbledon, which was my dream, the one dream that I wanted in tennis, that really changed by perspective."

And, "There was just a little part of me that wasn't quite satisfied, wasn't quite fulfilled. There was a perspective shift in me in the second phase of my career, that my happiness wasn't dependent on the results."

Concluding, "I just know . . . I have nothing more to give. That, for me, is success."

This hits home for me on two fronts: (1) I've played tennis since I was 5 and I admire women leaders in the sport; and (2) I've lived a life centered around the next achievement--a life in which my success and my contentment depended on the results.

But, recently, my perspective shifted.

I realized that each achievement just made way for another step on the achievement ladder.

A never-ending cycle.

Jay Harrington posted about this earlier this week.

Jenn Deal wrote about it in the lovely new book, "Women in Law: Discovering the True Meaning of Success."

What happens when we stop letting the next gold star be the driving force in our life?

Yes, I still have more to give to this profession.

But, what being successful as an attorney looks like is shifting for me.

⭐ I still want to make partner.

I work every day towards that goal.

A goal I've likely wanted, in some form or another, since I was a kid.

⭐ And, I want to change the profession through improved well-being for myself and others.

This passion fuels a new fire in me, making the career even more fulfilling (and sometimes challenging).

⭐ And, I want to fulfil the dreams my husband and I have for our life (and dogs).

That quest pushes me toward achievement in new ways.

Even so, ultimately, I want to come to a place where giving it my all is enough.

Where giving it my all is the gold star. ⭐⭐⭐

#lawyerwellbeing #womeninlaw #success