Let’s talk about what happens after you reach your goals.
You build the business, write the books, hit the revenue numbers, and finally get the success you dreamed of. But then something unexpected happens — it stops feeling right.
That’s where today’s guest, Meghan Telpner, found herself.
She was the founder of the Academy of Culinary Nutrition, an award-winning entrepreneur, bestselling author, and teacher to over 3,000 students in 85 countries.
From the outside, she’d “made it.”
And then, she walked away.
In this episode of XO Conversations, Meghan shares how things have changed in her life after success, how she let go of the identity she’d built, how she learned to rest, and why joy — not productivity — is now her measure of success.
From Hustle to Healing
Before she became a teacher and thought leader, Meghan’s story began with something deeply personal: illness.
After being diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, she turned to holistic nutrition, healed naturally, and built a business around helping others do the same. Her career grew fast — from six-person cooking classes in her kitchen to a multimillion-dollar online academy.
“I loved it — until I didn’t anymore,” she said.
“I was running a company, not creating. And if it hadn’t been my company, I would have resigned sooner.”
Like so many of us, Meghan reached a point where success on paper no longer matched fulfillment in her heart.
Knowing When Enough Is Enough
At its peak, her company brought in millions in annual revenue, but Meghan had always been clear on one thing: enough is enough.
She and her husband set concrete goals — paying off their mortgage, planning for early retirement, and creating the life they wanted now, not someday.
“It’s liberating,” she shared. “Knowing your numbers lets you choose freedom over consumption.”
That philosophy shaped every decision — from what house to buy, to whether a $500 pair of jeans was worth “three days of your life.”
Meghan didn’t want to grow for growth’s sake. She wanted space, creativity, and peace.
Life After Achievement
When she stepped away from her company, Meghan entered what she calls a “confronting” chapter — unwiring 45 years of achievement and overachievement.
“I’m learning who I am without the A+, without the launch, without the checklist,” she said.
“Now I’m practicing joy — making art, resting, being.”
She describes this time not as a pause, but as a pivot toward alignment.
There’s no productivity metric for joy. No ROI on stillness.
And yet, that’s where her deepest growth is happening.
Redefining Success
As women in midlife, we often reach a place where the markers of success — money, titles, achievement — don’t feel like enough.
We crave something softer: ease, presence, creativity, meaning.
“The challenge,” Meghan says, “is that our culture rewards output. Productivity equals worth. But what if the real measure of success is peace?”
Together, we explored how our identities shift when we stop chasing external validation and start asking:
What do I actually want my days to feel like?
Lessons from Meghan’s Journey
- Joy is productive.
Rest, art, play — these aren’t indulgent. They’re restorative and deeply necessary. - Know your numbers.
Freedom comes from clarity — understanding what your life costs and defining what “enough” means for you. - Don’t wait for the crisis.
You don’t have to burn out or blow up your life to realign it. Small, intentional shifts can change everything. - Be a permission slip.
Living your truth gives others silent permission to do the same.
If You’re Craving Change…
You don’t have to quit your job tomorrow or reinvent everything. Start with curiosity.
Ask: What brings me joy — just for the sake of it?
Paint, cook, garden, rest. Create not to prove, but to feel alive.
Because sometimes, the bravest decision isn’t to grow bigger — it’s to grow truer.
Explore More
If this episode spoke to you, explore tools for intentional living and emotional resilience at
👉 livingxo.com/resources
Connect with Meghan Telpner Here
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