--- title: I Look Successful, But I Still Feel Behind [W&S 146] description: Tune in if you’ve ever caught yourself scrolling LinkedIn thinking, “Everyone else is sprinting ahead. What am I doing with my life?” image: https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/hubfs/WnS%20146%20(2).png --- [Skip to content](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/blog/ws-146#main-content) [![Full_COlour](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Full_COlour.png?width=456&height=80&name=Full_COlour.png)](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/) - [Retirement Marketspace](https://retirementmarketspace.thefinancialcoconut.com/) - [Events](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/events) Show submenu for Events - [For Investors](https://tfcmysterymeetup.com/) - [For Business Owners & Creators](https://ipcreatorunite.peatix.com/) - [For Salaried Workers](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/thought-leadership-series) - [TFC Events](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/events) - [Shows](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/tfc-shows) Show submenu for Shows - [Wise and Shine](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/wise-and-shine) - [The Business Show](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/tfc-business-show) - [Chills with TFC](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/chills-with-tfc) - [Blog](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/blog) Show submenu for Blog - [Work Smart](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/worksmart) - [Invest](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/invest) - [Retire Well](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/retire-well) - [Business](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/business) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [Retirement Marketspace](https://retirementmarketspace.thefinancialcoconut.com/) - [Events](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/events) Show submenu for Events - [For Investors](https://tfcmysterymeetup.com/) - [For Business Owners & Creators](https://ipcreatorunite.peatix.com/) - [For Salaried Workers](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/thought-leadership-series) - [TFC Events](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/events) - [Shows](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/tfc-shows) Show submenu for Shows - [Wise and Shine](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/wise-and-shine) - [The Business Show](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/tfc-business-show) - [Chills with TFC](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/chills-with-tfc) - [Blog](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/blog) Show submenu for Blog - [Work Smart](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/worksmart) - [Invest](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/invest) - [Retire Well](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/retire-well) - [Business](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/business) - [Contact us](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/contact-us) [Contact us](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/contact-us) Nov 17, 2025, 8:58:22 AM # I Look Successful, But I Still Feel Behind \[W&S 146\] ![Picture of The Financial Coconut](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Square%20(2)-3.png?width=50&name=Square%20(2)-3.png) [The Financial Coconut](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/blog/author/the-financial-coconut) Share: [facebook-f icon](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/blog/ws-146) [linkedin-in icon](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/blog/ws-146) [envelope icon](mailto:?body=https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/blog/ws-146) [Share this page](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/blog/ws-146) [![Follow The Financial Coconut](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/46975693/interactive-182431637553.png)](https://cta-service-cms2.hubspot.com/web-interactives/public/v1/track/redirect?encryptedPayload=AVxigLL2CjCe42iR2RH2MpVX0Ej%2BKJQ%2F3A0Z7pXnUs35To%2Bo6nbKcpBVq9I98X5NUungVEwfs5YCKuM%2FaP97VxIITkTlihT57%2F%2F4XDW9rT3VR4MatSLDi%2BMU5mbQqihfX3LRRz83ij8K19OiD8UXy8sdct4t0Q%3D%3D&webInteractiveContentId=182431637553&portalId=46975693) Feeling like you’re behind in your 30s or 40s… even though, on paper, you’ve done everything “right”? Dive into that quiet mid-career ache: when the promotions, pay raises, house, family and “LinkedIn wins” still don’t stop you from feeling… not enough.  Tune in if you’ve ever caught yourself scrolling LinkedIn thinking, “Everyone else is sprinting ahead. What am I doing with my life?” ## Here’s what we’ll explore (without giving too much away): - Why mid-career success can still feel strangely empty – even when you’ve ticked most of society’s boxes. - The invisible pressure of LinkedIn & humblebrags – and how constant comparison messes with your self-worth. - Internal vs external success – are you chasing your own definition… or a script handed to you by parents, school, or culture? - When your job title is your identity – what happens when retrenchment, restructuring, or redundancy hits. - How to start decoupling your worth from your work – small mindset shifts to move from “never enough” to more grounded contentment. - Why life purpose often gets louder in your 30s & 40s – and how to listen to it before burnout forces you to. ## Our guests this week: - Michelle Mah – a psychotherapist and coach in her second career, who works with high performers that “look like they’re winning” on the outside but struggle with meaning and self-worth on the inside. - Esther Koh – a senior HR leader in the financial services industry, as well as an ontological coach, parenting coach and counsellor, who’s led transformation at work while navigating caregiving, loss, and redefining success on her own terms. If you’ve ever wondered, “Who am I without my job title or my pay slip?” …this episode is your permission slip to find out. **What We Discuss:** - [05:20](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stQ9ppoiirk&t=320s) Why does success often come with dissatisfaction in mid-career? - [07:49](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stQ9ppoiirk&t=469s) How do social media and internal expectations affect mid-career professionals? - [16:07](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stQ9ppoiirk&t=967s) When did you realize that your success was shaped more by others than yourself? - [25:12](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stQ9ppoiirk&t=1512s) What are your tips for finding career alignment in mid-life? - [28:55](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stQ9ppoiirk&t=1735s) What advice would you give to someone who feels left behind? - [31:12](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stQ9ppoiirk&t=1872s) How can you find meaning again after feeling lost in your career? **Episode Resources:** - [Spotify](https://linktw.in/wBflqb) - [YouTube](https://linktw.in/PdwhTd) - [Apple podcast](https://linktw.in/csjeLx) New episodes every [Monday](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/blog/tag/wise-and-shine)  Share us your thoughts on this episode and let us know what do you want to hear next. You can now be our community contributor and make a [pitch ](https://thefinancialcoconut.com/contact/)to have your favourite personality be on our show. Join our [community group](https://linkin.bio/thefinancialcoconut/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaY2-JSYItZawSUnNP4YhAicLp0H2wXwx8EBmQgbzOJrjA6YRiPWXtFDSH4_aem_t1DMRY5jrSAapreaSX9ntw) and drop us your insights on this topic.   ### Stay ahead in your financial journey! Sign up for our newsletter to receive insights, tips, and strategies from The Financial Coconut Share: [facebook-f icon](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/blog/ws-146) [linkedin-in icon](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/blog/ws-146) [envelope icon](mailto:?body=https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/blog/ws-146) [Share this page](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/blog/ws-146) [![](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/hs-fs/hubfs/WnS.png?height=200&name=WnS.png)](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/blog/ws-finale) ## [Our Last Wise & Shine Episode](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/blog/ws-finale) [![](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/hs-fs/hubfs/WnS%20161.png?height=200&name=WnS%20161.png)](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/blog/ws-161) ## [Should You Tell Your Boss About Your Mental Health Diagnosis? \[W&S 161\]](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/blog/ws-161) [![](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/hs-fs/hubfs/WnS%20160.png?height=200&name=WnS%20160.png)](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/blog/ws-160) ## [The Builder Traits That Make Mid-Career Professionals Irreplaceable \[W&S 160\]](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/blog/ws-160) [![](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/hs-fs/hubfs/SG%20Budget%20React%203.png?height=200&name=SG%20Budget%20React%203.png)](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/blog/ws-157) ## [What Budget 2026 Isn’t Saying About the Job Market \[W&S 157, Budget Special\]](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/blog/ws-157) [wise and shine](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/blog/tag/wise-and-shine), [show](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/blog/tag/show) ## Let us know what you think of this post ## Related posts [![](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Chills%20%20233.png?height=200&name=Chills%20%20233.png)](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/blog/chillswithtfc-233) [show](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/blog/tag/show) ## [Ex-Workaholic Simulates Retirement with $50k in 38 Countries. 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