September 12, 2025 • 10 mins
Ever landed that dream promotion only to feel more lost than before? You're not alone. That crushing disappointment reveals one of the most persistent myths about success—that external achievements will finally make us feel complete.
After conducting 30,000 interviews with successful people, I've discovered a profound truth: if it doesn't feel good now, it won't feel good when you "get there." We're constantly postponing our joy until the next achievement, turning happiness into a destination rather than a practice.
Ready to stop chasing satisfaction and start creating it? That shift is available to you right now.
Connect with LAURA:
Subscribe to Laura's Peak of the Week:
https://www.lauraeking.com/peak-of-the-week
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Hey, it's Laura, welcome to this week's Peak of
the Week and goodness graciousit has been.
Whew, it's rocky, it's a littlerocky, I don't know about you,
but a little topsy turvy, rocky,I don't know what other words
could describe the state.
But guess what, no matter whathappens on the external, on the
(00:25):
outside world, we can alwaysturn internal, and this is your
time to turn internal,shinebrighter to read.
Or, if you already have it andit's sitting on your nightstand,
go ahead and pick up that book,because Shinebrighter, the High
(00:50):
Performer's Guide to Purpose,presence and Peak Living.
This is everything to me, mygift, my offering to you.
And if you are here, I know youare a very, very, very, very,
very special person and you areon a very, very, very special
journey.
So keep going, keep going, keepgoing, keep going.
(01:11):
What are we talking about thisweek?
This week is the myth aboutsuccess will finally feel good
once you reach the next level.
So this week I'd like to sharea little story with you to
illustrate a myth.
A woman that I know fairly wellhad been promoted to head up an
(01:36):
entire division for her company.
The role she'd been workingtowards for several years Team
of 50 people, budget authoritythat she'd never had before.
And then, let's say, six weeksinto the position, she called me
exhausted.
Laura.
(01:58):
I thought this would be mymoment.
I thought I'd finally feel likeI'd made it be my moment.
I thought I'd finally feel likeI'd made it, but honestly, I
feel more lost than ever.
The imposter syndrome is worse,the pressure is crushing and I
keep thinking there has to bemore to success than this.
(02:20):
This, right here, captures oneof the biggest myths that we
tell ourselves about success.
We believe that success willfinally feel good once we reach
the next level.
Be honest, how many times haveyou told yourself some version
of this story?
Once I get the promotion, I'llfeel confident.
(02:40):
When I hit six figures, I'llfinally relax.
After I lead this major project, I'll prove my worth.
When I get recognized as theexpert, I'll stop doubting
myself.
We've turned happiness into adestination, a reward that we'll
(03:01):
unlock after we've jumpedthrough how many hoops, climbed
high, high, how high, andachieved how much.
But what I've learned after30,000 interviews with
successful, successful people?
If it doesn't feel good now, itwon't feel good there.
(03:27):
Do you get that Like?
If you don't decide to feelgood now, it's not going to feel
good when you get there.
I see this pattern everywhere.
The director who thoughtbecoming head of the department
would bring fulfillment, only todiscover they missed the
(03:48):
hands-on work they used to love.
The manager who believedleading the biggest team would
prove their leadership skills,only to find themselves drowning
in administrative tasks.
The specialist who thoughtgetting recognized as the go-to
expert would boost theirconfidence, only to realize the
(04:09):
pressure to be perfect all thetime was overwhelming.
Each level brings its ownchallenges, its own emptiness,
its own version of is this allthere is?
Because the truth is, externalachievements cannot fill an
(04:31):
internal void.
When you're waiting for successto feel good someday, that,
someday when you X fill in theblank, whatever, whatever you
decide, you're essentiallyputting your life on hold.
You're postponing joy, you'repostponing satisfaction, you're
postponing fulfillment untilsome future moment that never
(04:55):
quite arrives.
That's just a little bitfurther out in the future what
actually works.
So those who break this patternmake one simple but profound
shift.
They stop treating alignment asa reward they'll earn later and
(05:19):
start recognizing it'ssomething available right now.
Be it now.
Alignment isn't a trophy thatyou get for climbing high enough
.
It's not a bonus that comeswith the corner office or a
six-figure salary Alignment is achoice you can make today.
(05:39):
In whatever role you're in,with whatever resources you
currently have, you decide thatyou're enough.
You're enough, you're worthyjust as you are.
It's about showing upauthentically in your current
position just as you are.
It's about showing upauthentically in your current
position, leading from youractual values, instead of what
(06:03):
you think leadership should looklike Making decisions based on
what energizes you, not justwhat impresses others being you.
Let me tell you about Jennifer.
She was a senior manager whospent three years positioning
herself for a director role,convinced that leading the
entire division would finallymake her feel like she'd arrived
.
When she got the promotion, theinitial celebration lasted
(06:27):
about two weeks.
Then reality set in Endlessbudget meetings, difficult
personnel decisions, less timefor the creative work she
actually loved.
That's when she came to mequestioning if she'd made a
mistake.
Instead of looking for anotherrung on the ladder, we worked on
(06:50):
something different.
We focused on how she couldbring more of her authentic
leadership style to her currentrole.
We identified what actuallyenergized her about leading
people and found ways tostructure her time around those
core elements, even within hernew responsibilities.
(07:10):
The transformation wasremarkable.
New responsibilities.
The transformation wasremarkable Same position, same
challenges, completely differentexperience.
She started feeling thesatisfaction she'd been chasing
through titles by simplyaligning more deeply with her
natural way of leading.
Eight months later, she wasoffered a promotion to regional
(07:33):
director, but this time, thistime, the opportunity felt like
a natural extension of the workthat was already fulfilling, not
a desperate attempt to findvalidation through a bigger
title, your micro move this week.
(07:56):
Are you ready to test this?
Instead of waiting for the nextachievement to bring
satisfaction, ask yourself whatwould it look like to find
fulfillment in what I'm doingright now?
Right now, maybe it's havingmore authentic conversations
with your team.
Maybe it's approaching yourcurrent projects from your
natural strengths instead ofwhat you think is expected.
(08:19):
Maybe it's setting boundariesthat honor your values, even in
your current role.
Try one small experiment, onesmall experiment in alignment
this week.
See what shifts when you stoppostponing satisfaction until
someday.
Because the truth, well, successthat feels good starts from the
(08:45):
inside and works its way out,not the other way around.
You don't need a new job, abigger title or a different life
to start experiencingfulfillment.
You need a new way of showingup in the life you already have
(09:05):
the corner office, the salarybump, recognition, wonderful,
they're all wonderful, butthey're not the source of
satisfaction you are, and thefunny thing is, those things do
show up.
They do when you make theinternal move first, when you
(09:30):
align with who you really are.
When you align with who youreally are, what genuinely,
genuinely matters to you.
Success becomes a naturalexpression of that alignment,
not a desperate attempt to feelworthy and that.
That kind of success.
It feels good, it feelssatisfying, it feels like you.
(10:02):
Are you ready to stop chasingsatisfaction and start creating
it?
That shift is available to youright now.
Right now, just make the choice.
If you want support, book anactivation call.
Head to laurakekingcom.
Laurakekingcom.
(10:23):
Work with me.
Activation call.
I'd love to help If this iscalling to you.
I would love to help because Ihave a very deep belief in your
magnificence.
Hey, it's Laura, welcome to this week's Peak of
the Week and goodness graciousit has been.
Whew, it's rocky, it's a littlerocky, I don't know about you,
but a little topsy turvy, rocky,I don't know what other words
could describe the state.
But guess what, no matter whathappens on the external, on the
(00:25):
outside world, we can alwaysturn internal, and this is your
time to turn internal,shinebrighter to read.
Or, if you already have it andit's sitting on your nightstand,
go ahead and pick up that book,because Shinebrighter, the High
(00:50):
Performer's Guide to Purpose,presence and Peak Living.
This is everything to me, mygift, my offering to you.
And if you are here, I know youare a very, very, very, very,
very special person and you areon a very, very, very special
journey.
So keep going, keep going, keepgoing, keep going.
(01:11):
What are we talking about thisweek?
This week is the myth aboutsuccess will finally feel good
once you reach the next level.
So this week I'd like to sharea little story with you to
illustrate a myth.
A woman that I know fairly wellhad been promoted to head up an
(01:36):
entire division for her company.
The role she'd been workingtowards for several years Team
of 50 people, budget authoritythat she'd never had before.
And then, let's say, six weeksinto the position, she called me
exhausted.
Laura.
(01:58):
I thought this would be mymoment.
I thought I'd finally feel likeI'd made it be my moment.
I thought I'd finally feel likeI'd made it, but honestly, I
feel more lost than ever.
The imposter syndrome is worse,the pressure is crushing and I
keep thinking there has to bemore to success than this.
(02:20):
This, right here, captures oneof the biggest myths that we
tell ourselves about success.
We believe that success willfinally feel good once we reach
the next level.
Be honest, how many times haveyou told yourself some version
of this story?
Once I get the promotion, I'llfeel confident.
(02:40):
When I hit six figures, I'llfinally relax.
After I lead this major project, I'll prove my worth.
When I get recognized as theexpert, I'll stop doubting
myself.
We've turned happiness into adestination, a reward that we'll
(03:01):
unlock after we've jumpedthrough how many hoops, climbed
high, high, how high, andachieved how much.
But what I've learned after30,000 interviews with
successful, successful people?
If it doesn't feel good now, itwon't feel good there.
(03:27):
Do you get that Like?
If you don't decide to feelgood now, it's not going to feel
good when you get there.
I see this pattern everywhere.
The director who thoughtbecoming head of the department
would bring fulfillment, only todiscover they missed the
(03:48):
hands-on work they used to love.
The manager who believedleading the biggest team would
prove their leadership skills,only to find themselves drowning
in administrative tasks.
The specialist who thoughtgetting recognized as the go-to
expert would boost theirconfidence, only to realize the
(04:09):
pressure to be perfect all thetime was overwhelming.
Each level brings its ownchallenges, its own emptiness,
its own version of is this allthere is?
Because the truth is, externalachievements cannot fill an
(04:31):
internal void.
When you're waiting for successto feel good someday, that,
someday when you X fill in theblank, whatever, whatever you
decide, you're essentiallyputting your life on hold.
You're postponing joy, you'repostponing satisfaction, you're
postponing fulfillment untilsome future moment that never
(04:55):
quite arrives.
That's just a little bitfurther out in the future what
actually works.
So those who break this patternmake one simple but profound
shift.
They stop treating alignment asa reward they'll earn later and
(05:19):
start recognizing it'ssomething available right now.
Be it now.
Alignment isn't a trophy thatyou get for climbing high enough
.
It's not a bonus that comeswith the corner office or a
six-figure salary Alignment is achoice you can make today.
(05:39):
In whatever role you're in,with whatever resources you
currently have, you decide thatyou're enough.
You're enough, you're worthyjust as you are.
It's about showing upauthentically in your current
position just as you are.
It's about showing upauthentically in your current
position, leading from youractual values, instead of what
(06:03):
you think leadership should looklike Making decisions based on
what energizes you, not justwhat impresses others being you.
Let me tell you about Jennifer.
She was a senior manager whospent three years positioning
herself for a director role,convinced that leading the
entire division would finallymake her feel like she'd arrived
.
When she got the promotion, theinitial celebration lasted
(06:27):
about two weeks.
Then reality set in Endlessbudget meetings, difficult
personnel decisions, less timefor the creative work she
actually loved.
That's when she came to mequestioning if she'd made a
mistake.
Instead of looking for anotherrung on the ladder, we worked on
(06:50):
something different.
We focused on how she couldbring more of her authentic
leadership style to her currentrole.
We identified what actuallyenergized her about leading
people and found ways tostructure her time around those
core elements, even within hernew responsibilities.
(07:10):
The transformation wasremarkable.
New responsibilities.
The transformation wasremarkable Same position, same
challenges, completely differentexperience.
She started feeling thesatisfaction she'd been chasing
through titles by simplyaligning more deeply with her
natural way of leading.
Eight months later, she wasoffered a promotion to regional
(07:33):
director, but this time, thistime, the opportunity felt like
a natural extension of the workthat was already fulfilling, not
a desperate attempt to findvalidation through a bigger
title, your micro move this week.
(07:56):
Are you ready to test this?
Instead of waiting for the nextachievement to bring
satisfaction, ask yourself whatwould it look like to find
fulfillment in what I'm doingright now?
Right now, maybe it's havingmore authentic conversations
with your team.
Maybe it's approaching yourcurrent projects from your
natural strengths instead ofwhat you think is expected.
(08:19):
Maybe it's setting boundariesthat honor your values, even in
your current role.
Try one small experiment, onesmall experiment in alignment
this week.
See what shifts when you stoppostponing satisfaction until
someday.
Because the truth, well, successthat feels good starts from the
(08:45):
inside and works its way out,not the other way around.
You don't need a new job, abigger title or a different life
to start experiencingfulfillment.
You need a new way of showingup in the life you already have
(09:05):
the corner office, the salarybump, recognition, wonderful,
they're all wonderful, butthey're not the source of
satisfaction you are, and thefunny thing is, those things do
show up.
They do when you make theinternal move first, when you
(09:30):
align with who you really are.
When you align with who youreally are, what genuinely,
genuinely matters to you.
Success becomes a naturalexpression of that alignment,
not a desperate attempt to feelworthy and that.
That kind of success.
It feels good, it feelssatisfying, it feels like you.
(10:02):
Are you ready to stop chasingsatisfaction and start creating
it?
That shift is available to youright now.
Right now, just make the choice.
If you want support, book anactivation call.
Head to laurakekingcom.
Laurakekingcom.
(10:23):
Work with me.
Activation call.
I'd love to help If this iscalling to you.
I would love to help because Ihave a very deep belief in your
magnificence.
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