There’s a thin line between ambition and idolatry—and I didn’t realize I’d crossed it until the burnout hit. My drive for excellence had quietly become a search for identity. I wasn’t working with purpose anymore—I was performing for validation. Work can be worship, but not when it replaces your worth. The job was never meant to define me. It was meant to serve the mission in me.

Success isn’t just about preparation — it’s about alignment. The right role, project, or partnership needs both the right time and the right team. Even the best ideas can fail without the conditions to support them. Use tools like the Clarity and Care Model™ to ask: Is the timing aligned? Is the team ready? When both are true, you’re not just making moves — you’re making meaningful progress.

Workplace culture evolves—just like any relationship. From honeymoon highs to tough conversations and earned trust, each stage reveals who you are and what you stand for. This piece unpacks what relationship growth taught me about people, policy, and leading with care.