Redefining Success

September 2026

We had a wonderful night discussing all that comes with being lucky enough to live into midlife and beyond. The topics covered were many - from the lengthy heavy work of life transitions, to the difficulty faced by women business owners as they navigate the world, to looking back and envisioning our 5 year old self and realizing how proud she would be of who we are today. :)

For quick takeaways from the books - In From Strength to Strength, Arthur Brooks argues that as we move through life, the abilities that fuel early success—speed, ambition, innovation, and quick problem-solving—naturally begin to decline. But other strengths grow: wisdom, perspective, judgment, and the ability to connect ideas and people. Rather than fighting this transition, Brooks encourages us to redefine success, shift toward these emerging strengths, and invest more deeply in relationships, purpose, and contribution.

In The Second Mountain***, David Brooks describes a similar shift from a life centered on individual achievement—the “first mountain”—to one centered on meaning, commitment, and connection. Often prompted by a transition, disappointment, or simply the realization that achievement alone isn't enough, the second mountain asks a different question: not What do I want from life? but What is life asking of me? Fulfillment comes increasingly through commitments to other people, meaningful work, community, and causes larger than ourselves.
***We nearly unanimously agreed this book needs to be rewritten by a woman - Women are already overcommitted and over-connected. Rather than adding more, the challenge is to prune our commitments and become more intentional about where—and with whom—we invest our limited time and energy.