At CPA MOMS, we hear it all the time. Accomplished, hardworking women feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, and quietly unfulfilled. You’ve climbed the ladder, checked all the boxes, and done everything “right,” but something still feels off. In this week’s podcast, Nicole Kehl sits down with CPA MOMS founder Mayumi Young to unpack why so many of us feel this way, and how to reclaim your life by putting your values, not your job title, at the center.
This conversation is an honest, heartfelt call to pause, reflect, and start living more intentionally. If you’ve ever felt like your career is running your life instead of supporting it, this is for you.
The Wake-Up Call: “Is This It?”
Nicole shares a moment many of us can relate to: the realization that despite all her hard work, she didn’t feel connected to what she truly wanted. Like so many accountants, she had gone from college to career, head down, working hard, without ever stopping to ask, “What do I want my life to actually look like?”
Mayumi calls this the “default life.” It’s the life we build based on what others expect of us — society, family, culture — instead of what truly matters to us. And it’s easy to get stuck there.
But you don’t have to stay there.
Stop. Create Space. Reconnect.
When someone tells Mayumi they’re overwhelmed or burnt out, her first advice is simple but powerful: Stop. You can’t think your way out of burnout with the same thinking that got you there. You need a pattern interrupt, even if it’s just 15 minutes to step away and breathe.
Creating space gives you access to clarity. It reminds you that you’re in the driver’s seat. You have a steering wheel, and you can choose a new direction.
Your Values Are the Map. Your Vision Is the Destination.
One of the most powerful metaphors Mayumi shares is the idea of your values being your North Star. When everything else is unclear — when the GPS fails and the waves get choppy — your values guide you back.
But what if you don’t even know what your values are?
That’s where the journey begins. And for that, CPA MOMS is offering a free tool to help.
Special Offer: Get free access to the CPA MOMS Personal Vision Course, designed to help you uncover your core values and create a 5-year life vision that reflects what matters most to you. Use code TrueNorth to enroll for free.
From Default to Invented: Mayumi’s Story
Mayumi shares her own powerful turning point. At the height of a demanding corporate career, she looked like she had it all: international travel, prestige, high-level work. But behind the scenes, she was working 100-hour weeks, burnt out, and deeply unfulfilled.
A chance encounter with a young girl and her mother sparked a realization. She was modeling a life she wouldn’t wish on anyone. That moment became a line in the sand. From then on, she committed to living what she calls an “invented life” — one built intentionally around her values, gifts, and purpose.
And now she’s helping other women do the same.
Keeping Your Vision Alive
Nicole points out that even when you do define your values, life has a way of pulling you off track. The key? Community, tools, and regular check-ins. Mayumi compares it to brushing your teeth. You don’t do it once and expect it to last forever. You have to revisit your values and recommit to your vision again and again.
Having a support system that reflects your values back to you — what Mayumi calls a “committed listener” — is critical. Whether it’s a mentor, coach, or aligned community, surrounding yourself with people who see your potential and hold you to it can make all the difference.
You Have Permission to Choose Again
This episode is a reminder that you don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need to start. It’s okay to declare today your “line in the sand.” Everything before was your default life. Everything after? That’s the one you get to invent.
It won’t be perfect. But it can be yours.
If you’re ready to build a career that fits into your life (not the other way around), you’re not alone. We’re here to support you every step of the way.
Start your journey today with the CPA MOMS community: https://cpamoms.com/start