Stepping Off the Treadmill of Achievement

Chapter 5 is my most favorite chapter of the book, Lean Out: A Professional Woman’s Guide to Finding Authentic Work-Life Balance.

It’s titled Stepping Off the Treadmill. In this chapter, the book takes a turn from criticizing lean-in culture and identifying the current problems faced by women in high-octane professions. It acknowledges that the system is broken, but stresses that YOU have the power to make changes now instead of waiting for a slow evolution of the culture.

Chapter 5 also addresses many of the common belief systems that hold us back from leaning out right now.

All-or-nothing thinking, anyone?

Got guilt?

When you understand these and recognize your own patterns in them, you can then do the work to cultivate the confidence and vision for your lean out journey. The subsequent chapters of the book outline how.

As a primer to the chapter, I’m going to read right now the sidebar on page 47, The Truths of the Treadmill:

1. Even though it costs a lot to replace you, you are easily replaceable.
2. There is no loyalty in the workplace.
3. You are not a savior. Your clients and patients will be okay without you.
4. Many people are worried about what others think of them, but most of the time, people are too busy thinking about themselves.
5. You can have allegiance to your clients and patients – and also to yourself at the same time.

What do you think? Are these truth bombs, or am I off the mark?

Listen to this chapter for free, then share your thoughts by leaving a comment below!