Discovering the wider meaning in ambitious careers
- 7 days ago
- 2 min read
Caolan Haughey is on the fast track, but wants to make sure he consciously aligns himself to where he is going in future
Caolan Haugey (left) with Lewis Connell
In their careers, many of those in their 20s and 30s achieve ambitious goals within their vertical, but are left wondering about the wider meaning of it all. As they win promotions, get bonuses, take on more responsibility and lead projects, they don’t always have a sense of their overall core direction or their own values.
It’s a position in which Caolan Haughey found himself. He’s just turning 30 and has been doing well as a consultant in financial services for the last eight years. It’s a path on which he has every intention of continuing, but he would like to wrap these ambitions within a personal system that compounds the rewards in all areas of his life.
Instead of just taking the next expected step in his career, he’d like to know where he’s ultimately going, not just following the default options. What is it that he’s really passionate about? Where could he reach his full potential? How could he consistently align himself to where he wants to go in future?
After school, he began at the more air-fairy end of self-discovery, before moving on to more concrete forms of self-help. Now he’s a regular at Lewis Connell’s workshops about how to live life on your terms.
‘His growth flywheel is a simple, complete, clear-cut way for putting in place a system of design, achievement, reflection and improvement, which in combination all start working in your favour. I came across it at just the right time it when I was first being considered to lead a project.’
‘We all have the tendency to run into the fire and get things done. With Lewis, it gives you a cornerstone or a bedrock. It’s much more self-fulfilling, when you are aware of how you are using your time and your willpower.’
‘For me, it’s been particularly helpful in thinking about where I can leverage. What can I delegate? What tools can I use? What alignment can I create? What can I automate?’
‘Ultimately, it’ll set you up as a leader,’ says Haughey. ‘Rather than just being a doer, you’ll be thinking about systems, models and approaches. It’s not revolutionary. The impact and productivity are the first layer. The philosophy and psychology are only there if you are interested.’
• 'Life on Your Terms: Designing a life you love' by Lewis Connell, Novaro Publishing, May 2026, ISBN: 978-1-0685644-2-0. See here for details.
