Articles

Explore career transitions and identity shifts, and the quiet questions that arise when previous definitions of success no longer fit.

Rooted in lived experience, they invite thoughtful reflection on what comes next.

When Working Hard Goes on Autopilot
Rui Cao Rui Cao

When Working Hard Goes on Autopilot

I used to believe that pushing through was a virtue.

I used to believe that busyness equaled value.

I used to believe that happiness lived in the next milestone.

When working hard went on autopilot and became the default mode, we rarely stop and ask us: is this still where we wanted to go?

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Looking back: what consulting career has given me, and what it took
Rui Cao Rui Cao

Looking back: what consulting career has given me, and what it took

This is not a piece about right or wrong, nor is it an evaluation of any single firm. It’s a reflection written from some distance - after stepping outside the system - trying to make sense of why I chose it in the first place, and how deeply it shaped the way I think, work, and relate to myself.

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Listening to Our Inner Wisdom
Rui Cao Rui Cao

Listening to Our Inner Wisdom

When the world gets loud, perhaps the most important voice to invite into the room is your own.

Inner wisdom rarely disappears.

We are often just too busy or too afraid to listen.

And when you are willing to pause, even briefly, you may find that the answer has been there all along.

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