Is work-life balance real, or just an elusive myth? In this episode of Career Can Do, guest host Chris Sandland speaks with Kathy Oneto—founder of the Sustainable Ambition Movement and host of the Sustainable Ambition podcast—about how we can align our ambitions and energy to create a fulfilling and sustainable career. Kathy shares practical insights from her upcoming book, Sustainable Ambition, and offers a fresh, realistic alternative to the outdated notion of work-life balance.
Kathy challenges traditional thinking: “The challenge that I have with work-life balance is... it sets the wrong expectations.” Instead of striving for perfect equilibrium, she introduces a method focused on aligning the right ambitions at the right time with the right effort. This approach leads to goals that are “self-defined, meaningful, and motivating,” helping individuals sustain energy and purpose over time.
Through their conversation, Chris and Kathy explore the concept of “right ambition”—tapping into what truly motivates you based on your personal values, purpose, vision, and passions. Kathy explains, “What we all are really striving for is how do we navigate the conflicts across all we want to do in our life and with our work.”
Avoiding burnout and managing ambition are key themes throughout the episode. Kathy provides tools for protecting your time and energy, such as prioritizing your work based on what truly requires your best effort, leveraging your strengths for efficiency, and even reminding you of the power of the 80/20 rule. “You can get 80% of the way there with 20% of the effort,” she reminds listeners.
Whether you're highly driven or feeling like your ambition has shifted, Kathy’s message is clear: it’s never too late to redefine success. “My hope with my work is to really bring more joy, peace, and ease to people navigating their lives and work.”
Learn more about Kathy’s work and upcoming book at sustainableambition.com, or follow her on LinkedIn. Her powerful insights will help you redefine your ambition on your own terms—and do so sustainably.
Resources
Kathy Oneto on Web | Sustainable Ambition Podcast | Sustainable Ambition Book | LinkedIn
Chris Sandland on LinkedIn
Mary Ann Faremouth on the Web | X (Twitter)