The inner work behind women’s success: Beyond money and status
Written by Isra Altayar
I look around the room.
Some confident butterflies flutter effortlessly from one conversation to another and from one person to the next.
Some women are here to share their businesses, others to learn, grow, and build themselves quietly from within.
Some are financially stable, others are yearning for stability, for freedom, for more.
And as I observe, I reflect quietly.
What makes some people financially successful while others struggle?
Is financial success the kind of success women truly want?
And what is the cost of success, emotionally, mentally, spiritually and on the family unit?
These are questions I find myself reflecting on often alone and with my clients so that growth happens with alignment and contentment.
From years of working closely with women as a personal and business coach and a therapist, I know this with certainty: healing and financial stability matter deeply for women and possibly more today than ever before. When a woman heals, finds purpose and has a stable level of financial security, she is removed from a state of inner and outer vulnerability. It reduces the risk of her remaining stuck, be it in relationships, in mindset, or a life that does not reflect their values or potential.
Women are different from men. We know this from the Qur’an.
فَلَمَّا وَضَعَتْها قالَتْ رَبِّ إِنِّي وَضَعْتُها أُنْثى وَ اللَّـهُ أَعْلَمُ بِما وَضَعَتْ وَ لَيْسَ الذَّكَرُ كَالْأُنْثى وَ إِنِّي سَمَّيْتُها مَرْيَمَ وَ إِنِّي أُعِيذُها بِكَ وَ ذُرِّيَّتَها مِنَ الشَّيْطانِ الرَّجِيمِ
(So, when she delivered her, she said: 'My Lord! I have delivered a female (child) -and Allah knew best what she delivered - and the male is not like the female; and I have named her Mary, and I commend her and her offspring into Your protection from the accursed Satan'.
This difference is neither good nor bad, it simply is. We are physically and psychologically built differently. And when a woman embraces her femininity in a healthy, grounded way, when she embraces her unique personality and purpose, she accesses true strnegth. When we try to follow models of success that ignore this reality, burnout is inevitable.
This strength & power is not egotistic.
This power comes from the soul within her.
Inner Traits shared by Successful women
When hosting MWBN, we were intentional about bringing together women with different forms and levels of success. Each speaker was inspirational in her own unique way, no two stories were the same. Yet, despite their differences, I want to share and reflect on core inner traits and success skills that stick out to me in successful people:
The 5 inner traits that set them apart
1. Mindset: Resilient and expansive. Successful women have what I would call “the yes mindset”, a mindset rooted in taking on opportunities, resilience, courage, and forward movement. These women were not consumed by self-doubt or trapped in their own thoughts.
When your work and service are no longer just about you, inner challenges become obstacles you learn to move through, not barriers that stop you.
2. Freedom from perfectionism
This trait deserves to stand alone, even though it’s about mindset. Perfectionism is often praised, yet it is one of the greatest limitations to growth. These women were not waiting to be perfect to begin. They understood that perfection is not real and that attachment to it often leads to stress, burnout, and stagnation, even among those who “succeed.”
3. Willingness to work hard and then work smart None of them believed in shortcuts. They understood this reality of the dunya life: effort is required. They worked hard without fearing effort, yet at the same time they were not emotionally attached to ‘hard work’. They learned when to shift from effort to strategy- shifting their work from hard to wise. This gives successful women the ability and courage to then say ‘no’ intentionally, giving them ‘balance’ in life.
4. Commitment to self-investment
Every successful person invests in herself. Investment is time, money, and energy. As much as we would all love it, getting something for free and easy doesn’t build us! Investment in yourself is the act of taking yourself seriously, which in turn means others take you seriously. Whether for personal or professional growth or business development, these women consistently developed their skills.
I remember a stage in my own journey where I was confident in my ability to transform clients, but business development required an entirely different skillset. One I had to learn, and now teach others. Knowledge alone is not enough. Action is where growth and financial expansion truly happens.
5. Purpose-driven Each woman had different passions, strengths, and skillsets. What they had in common was their desire to grow and serve in ways they genuinely cared about. They were not chasing someone else’s dream. They were aligned with their own. And that alignment made all the difference.
I often meet women who are stuck, not because they lack potential, but because they cannot see what others see in them. It honestly hurts to witness this.
We must shift from living as victims of our lives to becoming creators of them. You may not have had control over your past, but you are certainly in control of your future. Your new chapter can begin today. You must choose it!
On the flip side I also see those who become attached to “more”- more money, more fame, more children, more qualifications. I promise you, I’ve seen it all. Too often, these women are exhausted, burnt out, and searching for something they believe they don’t yet have.
There is beauty in growth.
But attachment to “more” is different.
It often reveals that someone is running from something or searching for what already exists within them.
So how do you distinguish between healthy growth and unhealthy attachment?
Ask yourself one question: How do I feel?
Your emotions will guide you to the answer.
I want to sincerely thank everyone who attended, every speaker, and every helper. Each of you is a gift in this life Allah created. Each of you contributed to the learnings and energy in the room to rise and life others.
Finally, I want to invite you to learn from the inner traits of those around you, not by copying their exact paths but creating your own. Your journey must be yours.
You have a unique personality.
Unique responsibilities.
Unique values.
Learn from others, but live your life true to the real YOU, the one Allah created in the best of ways.
Join us at our next event
