Why Heart-Led Work Still Matters — Even Before It Pays

For those creating meaningful work — in health, impact, or creativity — this is a reminder that quiet progress still matters, even when it isn’t yet profitable.

Not long ago, someone said to me, “If you’re not making X amount a month, you’re not building a business.” Another friend told me, “You should stop doing this health coaching thing and just sell products by building on the personal brand that you have already created — it’s easier to make money.”

They meant well, giving helpful comments as friends should — offering practical solutions that work for them in their own position. But those words landed somewhere deep — not because they offered the clarity I needed, but because they brushed against something I’ve been working hard to clarify within myself:

What does success look like when you're building something aligned with your values, not just your revenue?

For Those Building Slow, With Purpose

This is for anyone who’s ever left a career that made sense on paper, but no longer fit the rhythm of their life. Anyone who chose caregiving over corporate, who took the uncertain road of passion instead of a predictable paycheck. Anyone building a mission-driven business, nonprofit, coaching practice, or creative platform that might still be in its early stages — but is rooted in purpose.

Years ago, I was a senior executive at a Fortune 500 company. It was everything I had once dreamed of: meaningful work, a strong title, generous compensation. I was proud of it. But when I had my first child, priorities shifted. Living in Shanghai, I couldn’t bring myself to leave my baby with strangers, as the structured childcare system was practically non-existent. So I stepped away.

And like many women, I stepped into a season of invisibility. No job title. No income. No elevator pitch. Just “Mom”, or “Tai-Tai.” And though it was meaningful, it was also disorienting. I lost the identity that the world applauded — and started the quiet work of rebuilding one that aligned with my inner compass.

This Work Was Never About Going Viral

When I became a caregiver for my mother during her cancer journey, I felt lost. There were too many questions, too little guidance, and too much fear. So I started learning. Then I began sharing what I learned — hoping it might ease the fear and uncertainty for others walking a similar path when their loved ones are newly diagnosed with cancer.

Over time, I became deeply fascinated by emerging science in health and longevity — and that journey eventually led me to become a certified health coach. Not because I wanted to be an influencer. But because I wanted others to feel less alone in their questions.

Now I coach individuals on suboptimal health concerns. I also support cancer patients and their caregivers — helping them navigate blood test reports, side effects, food choices, and emotional overwhelm. I do it quietly, sometimes one person at a time. It doesn’t make headlines. But it matters — to them, and to me.

And I believe those building NGOs, eldercare centers, nurseries, or creative spaces walk a similar path. What we do may not bring significant monetary returns — but it matters deeply to those we serve.

What If Success Is Measured by Impact, Not Dollars?

The world celebrates speed, scale, and income. But there is another kind of success:

• The pride of doing work that heals, even if it doesn't scale overnight

• The joy of helping someone feel seen, rather than trying to be seen by thousands

• The courage to build something real, even when others don't understand it

• The fulfilment of creating beauty — as artists, makers, and visionaries do — even if it touches only a few

• The nourishment of connection — built through community, one conversation or gesture at a time

• The quiet satisfaction of tending a garden — not for fruit to harvest, but to nourish pollinators and invisible ecosystems

  
  

There’s nothing wrong with wanting to earn from meaningful work — to build a sustainable practice and affirm the value of what you offer. But for many of us, what fuels the journey is purpose — knowing your work aligns with what truly matters.

It’s not about rejecting traditional success, but about redefining it on your own terms — and honouring the worth of slow, heart-led work.

If you’re creating something with care — healing, making, teaching, or building community — your impact is already unfolding. Even if it’s not yet reflected in traditional success metrics, it’s no less real.

Your work matters. Quietly. Consistently. Deeply.

To Anyone Else on a Path Like This

If you’re building something slow, heart-first, and not yet lucrative — whether it’s an NGO, a wellness practice, a creative project, or a community platform — this is for you. If you’ve chosen a path that’s slower, less conventional, or built on purpose rather than profit, you’re building in a way that honours your values — and that takes strength of its own.

The world may not applaud you right now. It may even misunderstand your path — not because your work lacks value, but because it’s hard to categorize in a world that measures worth by titles, profits, and public visibility. Sometimes, you’re simply building something that isn’t always visible — a quiet form of impact, a long game of care — and you’re just early.

It’s a reflection I return to often — a way to stay grounded when the noise of conventional success starts to cloud the deeper purpose of the work.

Keep going. Your work matters. Even when it’s quiet. Even when it’s questioned. Even when it’s still becoming.

So next time, when someone tries to measure you by how much money you make, remind them:

“Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts.” — William Bruce Cameron

I’d love to know — what does success mean to you right now? Feel free to reply, forward this to a friend who needs it, or just sit with it. Thanks for reading.

About the Author

Miri is a certified health coach and wellness educator who previously held a leadership role at a Fortune 500 company. She now supports individuals navigating suboptimal health and cancer recovery through one-on-one coaching, education, and compassionate guidance. Her work blends science, care, and lived experience — helping people build resilience and clarity on their own healing path.