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We are obsessed with goals and we measure ourselves by what we achieve. But reaching goals doesn’t always mean you’re growing. Sometimes, you do reach the finish line and realize the person standing there isn’t the one you hoped to become, leaving you wondering why it doesn’t feel like success at all.

Here’s what that can look like at work:

• Staying late again and again, even when you’re exhausted, just to impress your boss.
• Sitting in meetings you don’t care about, pretending to be more engaged than you actually are.
• Saying “yes” to projects your gut is screaming “no” to, out of fear of disappointing others.
• Sacrificing personal values to fit into a team culture that doesn’t feel like you.
• Chasing promotions or bonuses that look good on paper but leave you empty inside.

If these moments feel familiar, it’s a sign your goals aren’t matching who you truly want to become. It’s not just about what you do. It’s more about who you’re becoming along the way.

But how do you know if you’re off track? Ask yourself:

• Do I still like the person I’m turning into?
• Are my values the same, or am I even ignoring them?
• Which parts of me are growing and what’s getting lost along the way?

The insight is simple: you are not your goals. Your identity is your foundation. Chasing goals without checking in on yourself can make you “successful on paper” but disconnected inside. No job is worth turning into someone you don’t even like, just to get through work you don’t enjoy.