How a Near-Death Experience Taught Me That Success Means Nothing Without Happiness

Shayla King’s rise from IHOP waitress to Chief People & Culture Officer wasn’t luck, it was relentless drive, real-world grit, and a deep belief that leaders, especially moms, can have high-stakes careers and be extraordinary parents, partners, and healthy, happy humans. Her career took her from flipping pancakes to leading global M&A initiatives and managing seven-figure contracts before 40.

Years before her near-death experience, Shayla faced a different kind of wake-up call ,  what she now calls her “frozen-arm moment.” Overworked and constantly on the go, her body finally said enough. That moment sparked her obsession with understanding what makes people truly happy, successful, and healthy. It’s the work that helped her rise to the C-suite with peace and freedom.

When a nurse’s error years later left her in a coma on life support, it didn’t create her transformation, it reinforced it. That experience became the moment she decided to go all in on teaching others the mindset and performance tools that had already changed her life.

Today, Shayla is an executive coach, founder of Evolve Career Coaching, and the creator of the Performance + Happiness (PH+) Formula. She leads The PH Lab, her signature leadership-development program for driven corporate leaders, and hosts The 5% Club for Leaders podcast, where she shares real-world strategies for achieving executive results and human joy. Through her coaching, training, and thought leadership, Shayla helps leaders succeed in their careers ,  without sacrificing their health, happiness, or peace along the way. Her message is changing the way leaders at the top succeed while enjoying the ride.

From Burnout to Breakthrough

Before her transformation, Shayla was a rising star in the corporate world, working long hours and achieving high levels of success, but at a cost. The pressure to perform came with burnout, stress, and a loss of joy. Success was no longer fulfilling; it felt like survival. Her time in corporate taught her a critical lesson: success often comes with loneliness and pressure that can steal the joy from the journey. That realization became the foundation for everything she teaches now,  because burnout isn’t a badge of honor; it’s a signal to evolve.

The PH+ Formula: Where Performance Meets Happiness

Shayla’s PH+ Formula is a powerful framework for leaders who want executive results and human joy. It’s about more than performance, it’s about designing a life that fuels success. The PH+ Formula helps leaders realign how they work and live by focusing on mindset shifts, essentialism, and rituals that create luxurious amounts of time for what matters most. Her clients often describe the transformation as learning to achieve peace, success without suffering. Rooted in lived experience, Shayla’s coaching blends corporate credibility, compassion, and humor.

“I didn’t just study leadership; I lived it,” she says. “This is real talk for real leaders.”

Why Success Alone Isn’t Enough

In her experience, many professionals believe success will bring happiness. But that mindset often leads to exhaustion and isolation. “We’re taught that success is the ultimate goal, but rarely are we taught how to live well while achieving it,” she says. Shayla helps leaders redefine success, not just through results, but by fostering joy, resilience, and peace in their personal lives. Her clients often find that once they stop proving and start embodying who they already are, everything changes. (Who before how.)

The Power of Mindset Shifts

One of the cornerstones of Shayla’s work is mindset. Central to her approach is what she calls the King Mindset, training the brain to create both performance and peace. Through her PH+ Formula, Shayla teaches the neuroscience of rewiring thoughts, building emotional regulation, and leading with calm confidence. Instead of operating in constant overdrive, her clients learn to think and feel on purpose, cultivating energy for the life they want.

These mindset shifts are foundational to success. By integrating self-awareness, compassion, and intention into leadership, Shayla’s clients not only perform at a higher level but finally feel proud of the life they’ve built.

Coaching for Real Results

Shayla’s coaching isn’t theoretical, it’s transformative. Through The PH Lab, her signature group-coaching experience, and personalized 1:1 sessions, she helps leaders reach their next-level roles while creating balance, energy, and fulfillment. Her corporate collaborations bring the PH+ Framework into organizations to strengthen performance, retention, and well-being cultures. Her clients, from Fortune 100 executives to emerging leaders, consistently achieve measurable career growth, greater confidence, and peace of mind.

Ready to Redefine Success?

Shayla King’s story proves you can rise to the top, love your life, and never settle for either/or. Her work is redefining what it means to lead, proving that you can build wealth, impact, and freedom without burning out. With her PH+ Formula, she helps leaders create more money, less stress, and a life they truly love.

For more information about how to work with Shayla and experience her transformative approach, visit Shayla King’s Website and follow her on Instagram, LinkedIn, or listen to her podcast on Apple Podcasts.