Jess Ekstrom, the author of Making It Without Losing It: How to Stay Motivated in a World Where We Are Never Done, grew up in the shadow of one of the biggest financial scandals in American history. After her family lost everything to Bernie Madoff, she eventually sat across from him in prison and asked him why he did it.His answer was slightly heartbreaking and it became the lynchpin of Jess's personal transformation.What if the next promotion, bestseller list, milestone, or parenting phase isn't the thing that's finally going to make you happy?This week we're talking about the pressure women feel to constantly strive for more and to achieve external validation. We chat about the "arrival trap" that keeps so many of us convinced that real life begins after the next achievement, why motherhood can completely upend our sense of identity, and how to stay ambitious without tying your self-worth to your accomplishments.Order Making It Without Losing It: How to Stay Motivated in a World Where We Are Never Done here.Join our newsletter community here.ORDER The Parisian Heist here.Visit our lovely sponsors here.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices