Sacrifices success requires. Have you ever been told that success requires sacrifice? Maybe you’ve heard that building a thriving business demands hustling harder, grinding longer, and giving up your time, relationships, and even your health. This is the narrative we’ve been fed for years. But what if I told you that’s not the real sacrifice?

I’m Liina, an entrepreneurship coach for ambitious women who wants to build purpose-driven businesses without losing themselves in the process. Today, I want to share the truth about what success really requires—and trust me, it’s not what you think.

The Old Paradigm: Sacrificing Yourself for Success

From childhood, we are conditioned to believe that hard work equals success. In school, we’re taught that better grades come from studying more, working harder, and pushing ourselves beyond our limits. This belief carries over into our entrepreneurial journey. We think that in order to succeed, we must sacrifice:

• Time: Long hours, late nights, and working weekends become the norm.
• Relationships: Neglecting loved ones in the name of ambition feels justified.
• Health: Prioritizing work over sleep, movement, and nourishment takes its toll.

And yet, when we look at those who have truly created world-class success—the ones who have it all—do they seem like they’re sacrificing everything? Some might, but not all. Many have the wealth, the freedom, the relationships, and the peace of mind.

So what’s their secret?

The Real Sacrifice: Changing Who You Are

If you’re an ambitious woman striving for more, you already know that working harder won’t get you to the next level. Exhaustion takes over. Burnout sets in. You feel like you’re giving everything, yet it’s still not enough.

Here’s the truth: The sacrifice success requires is not your time, energy, or relationships. Instead, it’s your old way of thinking.

Success demands:

• A shift in mindset – Releasing the belief that working more equals achieving more.
• A change in behavior – Learning to delegate, trust others, and invest in support.
• The ability to be vulnerable – Asking for help and admitting you don’t have all the answers.
• Taking risks – Stepping into the unknown without guarantees.
• Taking full responsibility – Owning your results and making the necessary changes.

This is where true transformation happens.

The Moment of Surrender: Trusting the Process

There will be moments in your journey when you feel completely depleted. A sense of emptiness takes over. It feels like you have nothing left to give. And that’s when success requires the ultimate sacrifice: surrender.

Surrendering doesn’t mean giving up. Instead, it means trusting that the right support, opportunities, and answers will come when you allow yourself to receive them. It requires releasing the need to control everything and believing that help is available—whether from your team, a mentor, or even an unexpected source.

When you embrace this shift, you move from burnout to breakthrough. A leader emerges—one who creates from a place of abundance, not exhaustion.

Are You Willing to Sacrifice the Old You?

The question isn’t whether you’re willing to sacrifice for success—it’s whether you’re ready to let go of the old you to step into your next level. Are you prepared to, the sacrifices success requires:

• Stop resisting change and start embracing it?
• Trust yourself and the process, even when it’s uncomfortable?
• Manifest what you truly want instead of what you fear?

If so, then you’re on the right path.