What Are You Using Your Career to Build Towards?

There was a time when I thought I had it all figured out.

The goal was to retire early. I ran the numbers, built the strategy, and mapped out exactly how I could achieve financial independence through investments and property. It felt logical, structured, and achievable.

But then I paused and asked myself a question that stopped me in my tracks: what would I actually do with my time?

In this episode, I share a shift in perspective that I think many people will relate to. Because while financial independence can create freedom, it does not automatically create fulfilment.

Over time, and particularly through personal experiences that forced me to reflect more deeply on life, I realised that what I was really building towards was not stopping work entirely. It was choice. The ability to step back when needed, to say no to things that are not aligned, and to design a life that feels meaningful day to day.

This is where so many people get caught out. We focus on future goals, promotions, financial targets, or exit plans, without always asking whether the life we are building towards is one we actually want to live.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why “retiring early” is not always the answer people think it is
• How to balance building for your future while still enjoying your present
• The importance of intentional career and life design
• The simple but powerful questions that help you reconnect with what matters

This is not about abandoning ambition or long-term planning. It is about making sure that what you are building actually aligns with the life you want, both now and in the future.

If something feels slightly off, even if everything looks good on paper, this episode will help you pause, reflect, and start thinking more intentionally about what you are really working towards.

And if you want some support, don't hesitate to reach out at [email protected] to find out how I can help you find clarity in your career, so you can build a life you love. 

Elsa x

Transcript

There was a time when all I wanted to do was retire early. The thought of working 40 hours a week until my late 60s just didn’t sit right with me. I’m a numbers person, so I did what I always do. I ran the numbers. I mapped it out. I looked at how I could achieve financial independence earlier through property, investments, and different income streams. And I realised that with a clear strategy, I could actually get there much sooner than I had originally thought.

For a while, that became the goal. But then I remember sitting there and thinking, what would I actually do with my time if I didn’t have to work again? And I didn’t really have an answer.

This was a few years ago, and recently I came across a post from Timothy Wit on LinkedIn that brought all of this thinking back. He had reached financial independence through building a property portfolio, with the goal of stepping away from work. But when he got there, he realised it wasn’t actually what he wanted at all.

That really stayed with me, because I think many of us are on a similar path. I invest in property, I invest in the stock market, and I am building towards financial independence, but not because I want to stop working. It’s because I want choice. I want the ability to step back when I want to or need to. I want to be able to say no if something doesn’t feel aligned. I want to design my life more intentionally.

And if I’m honest, that perspective hasn’t just come from numbers or a desire to escape work. It has come from life. Over the past few years, I’ve lost my brother, my partner went through cancer and thankfully recovered, and my mum was diagnosed with leukaemia. Experiences like that change you. They make you reflect on what really matters. For me, time has become incredibly important.

I love what I do, and I love that I’m building something meaningful. I want to show my children that they can enjoy their careers, that they can navigate both the highs and the lows, but ultimately build a life that feels meaningful to them, however long or short that life may be.

And this is where I think many of us lose connection with ourselves. We go through the motions of our day-to-day lives. We turn up to work, we do our jobs, we go home, we spend time with family, and it becomes transactional. We forget to zoom out and ask, am I actually happy?

This is something I had to do a few years ago. I had to pause and reflect, partly through my own experiences, and really understand what is important to me and how I want to live my life, both day to day and in the future.

That’s where financial independence comes in for me. It’s not about stopping. It’s about creating flexibility and freedom. But it has also required a shift in thinking. It’s not just about saving and investing for the future. It’s also about living today. And it’s about finding a way to do both.

So the question I want to ask you is, do you enjoy what you do? Do you enjoy your life? And if not, what is it that’s not aligned right now? And is there something you can do about it?

And another perspective to consider is this. Are you at least building towards something you do love? Do you have a plan to get from where you are today to somewhere more aligned?

Because sometimes having that future vision gives you the energy to move through the harder moments. It gives you momentum. But you have to be intentional about it.

There is no reason why you can’t build for your future while also enjoying your present. But it does require awareness. It requires you to step back and think about what you are actually building.

If something feels slightly off, even just a little, I would really encourage you to pause. You don’t need to change everything overnight. But start asking yourself some simple questions. What do I actually want? What am I building towards? And is the life I’m creating one I genuinely want to live?

Because if the answer is no, or even I’m not sure, then it’s worth paying attention to.

This is exactly the work that I do. I support ambitious mid-career professionals who feel stuck, stretched, or slightly out of alignment, even when things look good on paper. Through coaching, I help you step back, see your situation clearly, and move forward with structure rather than guesswork.

If this episode has resonated and you are ready to stop drifting and start being more intentional about what you are building, then feel free to reach out. I’d love to support you.

Thank you for listening. Please follow Career Clarity Insights so you don’t miss future conversations about building a career and life you love, and I will see you in the next episode.