Have a story or inflection point to share? Tap here to message us — we’d love to hear it.

What happens when the blueprint you've been handed for success starts suffocating your soul? Chris Blount's journey offers a compelling answer to this question that many of us face but few dare to confront.
Growing up in a blue-collar New Orleans family, Chris absorbed the message that a man's worth was measured solely by his ability to provide. "You work until you don't. That is everything that you're worth," he recalls being taught. This belief system propelled him through various customer service roles across multiple cities, eventually landing him a stable government position in Tacoma, Washington. On paper, he had achieved the American Dream – steady income, benefits, stability for his family.
But beneath the surface, something was breaking. The disconnect between his work life and his true self grew wider each day. While Chris prioritized happiness over tradition in other aspects of his life, work remained sacred ground where suffering was simply expected. "I did not think about my mental health or happiness," he shares. The toll became unbearable – he wasn't present for his family, couldn't connect with his children, and found himself spiraling into depression.
The watershed moment came after a mental health crisis that nearly cost Chris his life. With his wife's unwavering support, he made the terrifying decision to walk away from security and launch On-Purpose Recordings, a business aligned with his passion for creativity and connection. "Especially after that mental breakdown... I almost lost my life over this. So I think I need to make a bold choice, at least to try. At least to try, because why not?"
His entrepreneurial journey hasn't been smooth – he's faced everything from equipment theft to difficult clients – but the freedom to define success on his own terms has been worth every challenge. "I can enjoy what I want to do, I can get paid for stuff that I like, and that to me is the new American dream – to be able to enjoy life as what it is."
Whether you're questioning your career path or simply feeling the weight of expectations that no longer fit, Chris's story reminds us that sometimes the bravest move is walking away from what no longer serves us. What might be possible if you had the courage to rewrite your own definition of success? Listen now and join the conversation about integrating who you truly are into how you lead your life.

You can connect with Chris:
Instagram: @onpurposerecordings
Website: www.onpurposerecordings.com

Connect with Beki on LinkedIn: Linkedin.com/in/BekiFraser
Learn more about her coaching: TheIntrovertedSkeptic.com

Follow Short Story Long's LinkedIn Page: Linkedin.com/showcase/shortstorylongpod
Get her book, C.O.A.C.H. Y.O.U.: The Introverted Skeptic’s Guide to Leadership - Amazon
Short Story Long is produced by Crowned Culture Media LLC