What are you willing to sacrifice?

A road to success comes at a price. Take a DJ career, for example. Success as a DJ typically means five, ten, twenty gigs a month. Travelling the world and playing at the largest stages might be a lot of fun, but at the same time, it means sleepless nights in the clubs, countless hours in the airports, living out of a suitcase, and missing out on friends’ birthdays as they usually occur on weekends. My own gig schedule was never that intense, but over the last decade of my music career, I’ve spoken to hundreds of artists who have found themselves in that position.

No path to success is without sacrifices. One path is not ‘better’ or ‘worse’ than another; it’s a matter of priorities, and ultimately, the choice comes down to what you are willing to sacrifice. If you dream big, this principle applies across industries.

We often hear success stories and discussions about work-life balance, but more often than not, they come from people who have already achieved security and stability, having worked long hours in their 20s or 30s and sacrificed health and relationships along the way.

While sacrifices are inevitable, it’s worth considering whether they are intentional and align with your values. We sacrifice comfort for adventure, stability for growth, or leisure for mastery, sometimes without even realising it. Are you content with the trade-offs? Do they bring you closer to the life you envision?

These choices shape who you become and determine how far you go. In the end, success isn’t measured only by what you achieve, but also by what you’re willing to let go of to make space for what matters.