Starring in and producing HBO’s “And Just Like That” was a big job perk for Sarah Jessica Parker. This means you can work close to your home in New York.
Parker, who has been an actor since the age of 11, has spent much of his life pursuing a concrete definition of success. She will look for opportunities that challenge her and advance her career, she said at the 2025 New Yorker Festival on Oct. 26. Now 60 and with two teenagers at home, Parker said she accepts roles based on how they fit into her schedule.
“I’m making different choices than I used to,” Parker added. “As a journeyman, I’m trying to find a job where I can continue to learn and get better. Maybe I can travel. I’d love to get paid and work with really interesting people, but right now… I’m a lot more careful about the details of how I spend my time.”
Parker said that before accepting the role, she asked herself, “What is taking me away from my daughters right now? How am I going to spend my days? How far am I from home? What am I missing? What commitments have I made?”
Don’t miss: How to change your career and become happier at work
Many people’s definition of career success changes as they age. Perhaps you are not as satisfied with your job as you used to be. Or maybe you’re lucky enough to have earned enough money that the pursuit of wealth is no longer your priority. Maybe the dream job you had in your early 20s is no longer achievable and you need to change your long-term goals accordingly.
Having a flexible definition of career success is good advice for workers in any field, some experts say. Pursuing a job that makes you happy and intellectually fulfilling, whether it’s along your current industry career ladder or not, can often lead to more long-term success, leadership expert Simon Sinek said on the Sept. 2 episode of the podcast “A Bit of Optimism.”
“The whole idea of ’chasing after’ suggests you’re racing towards something, meaning you have a goal and that’s what you’re most looking forward to,” Sinek said. “And that’s completely false.”
For Parker, choosing an acting job closer to home is just one component of balancing family life, hobbies and career, she says. In addition to acting, Parker runs a wine label in partnership with a company called Invivo, is a judge for the 2025 Booker Prize competition, and works with States Project, an advocacy group focused on advancing Democratic issues and candidates at the state level.
When Parker’s children, ages 23 and 16, were young, she had the luxury of caring for them and was able to work and dedicate time to non-acting projects, she said. Not everyone has that luxury, she pointed out.
“I know how to do (a lot) because I have the support I need,” Parker said, adding, “What surprises me the most is all the women, men and parents across the country who are working two or three jobs in our cities. They don’t have as much support as I do and are really just getting by day to day.”
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