What if the version of success you’ve been chasing was inherited, not consciously chosen? In this episode, Brooke Taylor, former Google Marketing Lead turned career coach and author argues that many ambitious women are unknowingly suffering from what she calls “the success wound”: the belief that our worth has to be earned through achievement. From elite schools to prestigious careers, we’re taught to chase accomplishment as the path to freedom. But what happens when you finally get there… and still feel empty? Brooke opens up about how her own success nearly destroyed her career at Google and shattered her sense of self. She also details why achievement can become a coping mechanism, how comparison quietly shapes our identities, and why so many outwardly successful women are falling apart behind the scenes. Brooke shares:

• Why high achievers often feel empty after “making it”
• The hidden psychological cost of tying self-worth to achievement
• Why success can quietly become a coping mechanism
• The breaking point that led Brooke to leave Google and completely reevaluate her life
• What Healing the Success Wound reveals about burnout, ambition, and identity
• The difference between healthy ambition and trauma-driven hustle
• The five types of unfulfilled achievers: Grinder, Pleaser, Hider, Seeker & Work Hard Play Hard
• Why outward success doesn’t guarantee inner fulfillment
• The surprising reason high-achieving women experience more anxiety and burnout
• How perfectionism keeps women stuck playing small
• Why curiosity (not confidence) may be the real key to healing
• Why learning to make decisions with only 51% certainty can transform your confidence and self-worth
• The dangerous lie behind “I’ll relax once I get through this season”
• How to stop using productivity to prove your worth
• Practical ways to rebuild self-worth without losing your ambition

Brooke’s book recommendation:  My Life on the Road by Gloria Steinem

Follow Brooke on Instagram @brookevtaylor

Be sure to grab a copy of Brooke’s book Healing the Success Wound here