Everyone’s idea of professional success differs, and the opportunity to make money online has shifted the tides even further. When women began to enter the workforce, they sought to reach the same level of corporate achievement as their male counterparts. But now, there are far more options to explore than office work. Even building your own brand is an admirable and totally achievable goal in modern culture. While many people think career growth has to stem from achievement alone, there are other ways to grow and develop as a professional without quitting your current job. Here are five inspiring goals you might add to your bucket list.

Build Financial Independence

Even if your job pays well, successful professionals still rely heavily on their paychecks to stay stable. Financial independence means having greater savings than earnings, meaning you could face hardship without finding yourself floundering to make ends meet. Consider a two-fold approach to building your independence. First, focus on increasing your savings. This can be done by lowering expenses, earning passive income and spending less. Next, focus on ways to cut down larger bills, whether it’s a more affordable car or refinancing your student debt. Refinancing lets you pay off all your loans by taking out a new one to cover the balance. The end result is one single monthly payment that has a lower interest rate and monthly bill than your previous loan balance.

Network More

Put your best foot forward, learn to strike up a conversation and be present in your industry. Networking can be intimidating, especially if you don’t feel confident about your position. Don’t let this limiting mindset stop you from growing. Networking is about more than fishing for career opportunities. It’s a way to learn from others, build positive connections and showcase your own skills and knowledge. One way to improve networking is to start making content for LinkedIn. Instead of sliding into people’s DMs and having an awkward three-line conversation, make content that breaks the ice for you.

Stop Saying No to Yourself

The worst thing you can do is hold yourself back because you’re afraid to fail. Trial and error help you grow, and not every risk has to be life changing. Saying yes more can be freeing, especially once you get over the initial anxiety hurdle. Saying no to yourself might manifest as avoiding opportunities, ignoring gut instincts and delaying your own growth. Make sure that you ask yourself how your current job and lifestyle is serving your higher goals in life. What can you do today that will benefit you one year from now?

Balance Your Work and Life More

A healthy work-life balance is essential to not only career success but long-term wellness. Your mental health will thank you for the break. Find ways to accomplish this like adding exercise to your daily routine where it naturally fits. This will eliminate the pressure of taking time for yourself just feeling like one more thing on your to-do list. You’ll also find that you can show up to work and be more present in your job. For a perfectionist, focusing on life can be a challenge. It feels more difficult to acknowledge what’s lacking in your life than to constantly overexert yourself in the workplace. Make sure you aren’t chasing success because it’s easier than following your heart.

Build More Confidence

Find what makes you feel proud to be yourself and apply it to your career. Real growth stems from being able to confidently take action, even if it brings on future uncertainty. Career growth will help you set your eyes on new horizons and reach beyond your wildest dreams.