We’re often told that success means doing more: taking on new responsibilities, working longer hours, chasing the next promotion, and always looking for what comes next. But is that the only way to build a fulfilling career? A recent Fast Company article about “cozy entrepreneurs” explores people who are pushing back against hustle culture and redefining what success means to them. Rather than measuring success by constant growth, they’re prioritizing things like flexibility, sustainability, and having a life outside of work.
This can be an especially meaningful question for people navigating cancer. Navigating work after a diagnosis can change your priorities and your relationship with your job. You may find yourself thinking differently about how you want to spend your time and energy, what you need from your workplace, or what you want your career to look like moving forward. But rethinking success doesn’t necessarily mean stepping back from your career. It can mean deciding what matters most to you—and recognizing that there isn’t one right way to be ambitious. The article talks to Deya Aliaga, an entrepreneur who came up with rules to keep a good work/life balance to reduce stress.
Rule 1: Enforce a “Zero Shame Policy”Whether you’re having a bad day, distracted by test results, anxious over an upcoming surgery, someone managing work after a cancer diagnosis might always have something going on to distract from their work. When this happens, you cannot get down on yourself or be embarrassed for an “unproductive” day. Sometimes you may have to end your work day saying, “Today was not a great day, but tomorrow can be better.” Focus more on what you accomplished, than stress about what you weren’t able to do. Sometimes all you need is a good nights sleep to reset and start again. Shame is not going to help at all.
Rule 2: Introduce Boundaries and ConstraintsSetting boundaries can be hard for some people, especially those looking to prove they are still a vibrant, capable employee. But setting boundaries can help you maintain energy and focus to continue doing the job you know you can do. Refusing extra work in a polite, professional way means you can focus on the projects you are already working on and spend the time and care to do them right. A boundary can also be as simple as saying, “Every day at 1pm, I am going to take a break for lunch no matter what is going on.” Stepping away from work will allow your brain to rest and recharge. When you return at 2pm, after a nutritious fueling meal and a brain-break, you could have a new energy to push you through the rest of the day.
Rule 3: Optimize Your Workday Based on How You FeelFor someone working while in active treatment, or even after treatment has finished, not every day is going to look the same. Some days you may feel like you did before your diagnosis, and the next day you could feel cloudy and unfocused. Just like in Rule 1, you should not feel bad for something out of your control. But you can strategically work around your energy levels, focus, or any other side effect you may be experiencing. On days you’re feeling great, try to tackle something that requires critical thinking or a physical task while you have the energy or focus. On days where you just cannot maintain focus, maybe there is a simple task you’ve been putting off that you can do. Maybe today is the day you finally organize your desk and remove clutter. Or spend a few hours mindlessly updating an Excel document. You will feel a sense of accomplishment and be able to cross some things off your list, even if you think they are relatively small. By checking off those small, easy tasks, you may relieve some stress and make it easier to focus on the bigger projects the next day when maybe you’re better rested, or the post-treatment fatigue has mitigated a little bit more.
At the end of the day, success isn't a fixed destination—it's something you get to define, and redefine, as your circumstances change. Whether that means enforcing a zero shame policy, holding firm to your boundaries, or simply working with the energy you have on a given day, these small shifts can add up to a career that feels sustainable rather than draining. Give yourself permission to let go of what success is "supposed" to look like, and instead build a version that actually works for you. You may find that the most ambitious thing you can do is take care of yourself along the way.
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