We're taught that financial success and early retirement are the ultimate goals. But what happens when you achieve them and still feel empty? Why does having unlimited choices sometimes feel more paralyzing than liberating? Emma discovered that "doing too little can be just as draining as doing too much" - so what should we focus on instead?

👉 Find the full playlist of episodes HERE: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLO6l9CNQoSFdYrSofAAHBcTdsnpYk8iYg

Emma Steenson is a property investor, former management consultant, and executive coach who experienced "accidental early retirement" in her mid-30s after selling her successful business. Despite achieving financial independence and reaching what seemed like her finish line, she found that remaining idle without purpose was unsatisfying and draining. This led her to redefine success and train as a coach focused on helping SME founders and business owners who feel stuck or unfulfilled despite external success. Emma's work centers on helping leaders realign their goals with their own values to create meaningful momentum.

Today, expect to learn:

• The unexpected challenges of achieving financial independence too early and the existential vacuum it can create.
• Why "doing too little can be just as draining as doing too much" and what this means for our relationship with work and rest.
• How the paradox of choice makes unlimited options feel paralyzing rather than liberating, and what to do about it.
• The crucial difference between happiness (a fleeting emotion) and contentment (a deeper, more sustainable state).
• Why tunnel vision toward goals can be both helpful and harmful, and how to develop better discernment.
• How societal expectations and inherited models of success no longer fit our rapidly changing world.
• The role of coaching and reflective conversations in helping people clarify what they truly want beyond external expectations.
• Why letting go of finding "the one right answer" is essential for moving forward, even when it feels uncomfortable.
• Practical strategies for self-coaching and using trusted friends as thinking partners when professional coaching isn't accessible.
• How to redefine success through work-life integration, personal values alignment, and finding joy in daily moments rather than chasing abstract goals.
• And more!

Research shows that early retirement often requires restructuring life purpose, with many retirees experiencing the "retirement paradox" - dissatisfaction despite newfound freedom. The "paradox of choice" demonstrates how excessive options lead to anxiety and decision paralysis. Studies distinguish between momentary happiness and longer-term contentment, with contentment proving more sustainable. Executive coaching has been proven to improve self-efficacy and life satisfaction, while traditional linear career models are increasingly being replaced by flexible, multifaceted approaches to success.

W H A T T O D O N E X T :

GUEST LINKS ~

WEBSITE: https://emmasteenson.com

LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmasteenson/

HOST LINKS ~

WEBSITE: https://sevenjacobs.com

SUBSTACK: https://sevenjacobs.substack.com

SOCIALS: https://sevenjacobs.com/links

SHOW LINKS ~WEBSITE: https://sevenjacobs.com/lost-and-searching

YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@lostandsearchingpodcast

ALL EPISODES (Spotify): https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/lostandsearching

ALL EPISODES (Apple): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lost-and-searching/id1771369908