What If Success Looked Different? Reimagining Business, Burnout, and Nervous System Peace

Jaclyn Steele Thurmond has always been someone who listens for the frequency underneath the noise. Whether it’s in her soulful brand, her voice, or her conversations on The Freq Show, she’s deeply attuned to how things feel, not just how they look from the outside.

In a recent conversation with Jenna from The Uncommon Way, Jaclyn cracked open a dialogue so many of us are aching to have—one about the pace we live at, the pressure we feel to achieve, and the permission we rarely give ourselves to slow down.

This episode was more than a conversation—it was a soft rebellion against burnout culture and a loving call to rethink what success could look like.

Reimagining Business, Burnout, and Nervous System Peace

The Power of Slowing Down (Even Just a Little)

Jenna’s story began in the thick of hustle culture. High-achieving, check-the-boxes corporate success. But inside? She felt depleted, disconnected, and like something big was missing.

Even when she transitioned to entrepreneurship, the same pattern followed her: overscheduling, overgiving, overworking.

Until one day, she asked a better question: What if I could run a thriving business and still feel peaceful, joyful, and rested?

That question led to her creating "CEO Time"—protected space in her calendar just for thinking, dreaming, and being. It also sparked a bold experiment: a three-day work week.

Most people might assume a shorter week means slower growth, but for Jenna? Her income grew, her creativity blossomed, and her well-being improved dramatically.

And Jaclyn was right there with her, nodding, relating, feeling that deep "yes" in her bones.

Jenna Harrison | Business & Life Coach | The Uncommon Way

Building a Life That Feels Like Vacation

Eventually, Jenna and her family moved to Mallorca, Spain—a literal paradise. But it wasn’t just the island that made things magical. It was the intentionality behind the move.

At first, they landed in a suburb where they needed a car to get everywhere. It felt too familiar. Too much like their old life in Pennsylvania. So, they course-corrected and moved to a walkable neighborhood near their son’s school. Now they walk to the beach. To dinner. To school drop-off.

They don’t just live in a beautiful place—they live beautifully. Slowly. Connected. Deliberately.

“People here are just in a good mood,” Jenna said. “They’re here because they chose this life.”

And Jaclyn could feel that same sense of intentional living mirrored in her own life in Arizona—a place she loves for its sunshine and outdoor energy. “I think this is the happiest place I’ve ever lived,” she reflected. Not because everything is perfect, but because it feels aligned.

Mini Vacations, Micro Joy

But what if you’re not in Spain or the Southwest desert? What if you’re in a gray town, running on fumes, in full-blown survival mode?

Jenna has the perfect practice for that too—one that started at a fairground in rainy Pennsylvania.

Her son was playing in a bouncy castle, and she and her husband were laying in the grass, feeling… meh. But then, Jenna closed her eyes and imagined herself in Mallorca. She inhaled as if there was sea salt in the air. She visualized the sun on her skin. And for two minutes? She was on vacation.

That moment became a turning point.

She now calls them mini vacations—little mental and sensory resets that bring the body and nervous system back into calm, no matter where you are.

Jaclyn loved that. For her, a beautiful lunch eaten slowly is a mini vacation. A breath on the patio. A song played loud. These moments matter. And they’re free.

Releasing the Wiggles: The Role of Movement

But what if you’re so overwhelmed that even closing your eyes feels impossible?

That’s when the body needs to move.

When your nervous system is in overdrive—when you're snappy with your partner or convinced that one missed email will end your career—it’s not mindset. It’s biology.

As Jenna put it: “Your body thinks it’s being chased. You need to move that energy out.”

She recommends something playful and simple: dance to a silly song, do some squats, take a short walk, shake it out like a dog after barking.

Only after that, when the body feels safe again, can you breathe deeply or meditate or enjoy a quiet moment.

Jaclyn laughed and brought up a scene from Nacho Libre—“You’ve gotta release the wiggles!” And it’s true. Movement isn’t indulgent. It’s medicine.

The New 1%: Redefining Wealth and Work

At the heart of this episode was a shared belief: There’s a new kind of success emerging.

It’s not about working 80 hours a week or hitting 7-figure months (though abundance is welcome). It’s about building a business that gives back—not just financially, but energetically.

For Jenna, a high-vibe business means expressing your gifts and living a deeply fulfilling life. One doesn’t cancel out the other.

“We always hear about the top 1% of income,” she said. “But what about the 1% who feel deeply satisfied? Who design their weeks on purpose? Who feel free?”

Jaclyn couldn’t agree more. “I get to do work I love, with people I love. And if my son is sick? I stay home. That is success.”

Just One Thing: What You Can Do This Week

Before they wrapped up, Jaclyn asked the golden question: If someone only did one thing this week to shift out of hustle mode, what should it be?

Jenna’s answer was simple and powerful:

“Create CEO Time. Even 90 seconds. A small intentional pause that reminds you—you’re not just reacting to life. You’re creating it.”

When done consistently, that space becomes sacred. It’s where the clarity lives. The ideas. The alignment. And you deserve it.

If you’re curious how much time you could actually reclaim, Jenna offers a quick, playful quiz at TheUncommonWay.com to show you what’s possible.

Final Thought

So much of what we’ve been taught about success is rooted in scarcity and stress. But what if success is actually a byproduct of nervous system safety, deep joy, and doing what you love your way?

Jenna’s story is a gentle reminder: We don’t have to keep pushing. We don’t have to earn our rest. We don’t have to live in default mode.

We can choose.

We can soften.

We can shake off the old rules and build something wildly uncommon—and deeply, deliciously ours.

You are allowed to feel good. You are allowed to rest. You are allowed to thrive.

And it starts with one small pause this week… just for you.

Live on purpose. Live on frequency.

• Ien Araneta - editor of The Freq Show & The Beckon Times