Big question!

Researchers have found that we need to feel three things regularly for a satisfying life:

• Achievement (recognition; sense of accomplishment)
• Meaningfulness (connection to something larger than ourselves)
• Joy in the moment (happiness; positive emotion)

Many successful working professionals report that they do pretty well on these first two areas, but it is Joy that seems to be experienced less often.  Why is this?

Time is a challenge for many.

Research from Harvard Business School, based on a study of 1,500 alumni with full-time careers and families, sheds light on the challenge of time.  These working professionals reported just over three hours a day for discretionary activities.  While joy was more prevalent in free time than at work, the study found that life satisfaction is higher when free time is spent joyfully – regardless of how much free time one has.

The good news is that it’s possible to find more sparks of Joy in the limited leisure time you already have. Here are five research-backed strategies to help you make the most of your free moments:

1. Engage with Others.  Strong, meaningful relationships are the most powerful predictor of life satisfaction.  The study found that shared experiences amplified joy.  Engaging in any free-time activity with others almost always felt more enjoyable than doing it alone – even just watching TV together.
2. Avoid Passive Pursuits.  After a long day, it’s tempting to collapse onto the couch, but passive leisure like watching TV or scrolling social media can be a disservice.  Research shows that active pursuits such as exercising, exploring hobbies, and volunteering bring more joy than passive ones.
3. Follow Your Passion.  Joy in free time comes when we let it remain free from obligations and societal expectations.  Autonomy—making choices aligned with your personal values—is crucial for well-being.  Pursuits that you find personally rewarding will boost your life satisfaction significantly.
4. Diversify Your Activities.  While following your passion is key, dedicating too much time to a single leisure pursuit can actually diminish its benefit.  Variety, not depth, boosts happiness by preventing monotony and keeping experiences fresh.
5. Protect the Time.  Work often bleeds into free time, but overworking is linked to increased health problems and reduced well-being. Psychological detachment from work during off-hours improves well-being and job engagement.  The study found that for every additional hour devoted to work, joy in life decreased, while using that hour for leisure increased happiness.

You don’t need to find more hours in the day to create a more satisfying life. By prioritizing variety, seeking social and active experiences, and protecting your personal passions, you can find more sparks of joy in the limited leisure time you already have.

*Ideas for this blog taken from: Perlow, L., Menster, S., & Affinito, S. J.  “How the Busiest Find Joy,” Harvard Business Review, July-August 2025.

Is everything going “okay?”

Is “okay” good enough?

Every now and then it is healthy to take a “time out” and reflect upon our career situation.  Is it time for a change?  Here are some questions to ask yourself to help answer that question – based on a recent Harvard Business Review article.

1. Reflect over the past three months.

*How are you doing?  Objectively, how have you been performing?  Are you bringing your “A” game every day or mailing it in?

*How have you been feeling?  Energized?  Bored?  Stressed?

*What has occupied your thinking?  How have you been using your mental time and energy?

2.  Reassess your priorities.

*Make an updated list of your life goals.  What are your priorities?

*What are the most important values you want to follow at this point in your career?

*How do your values and priorities show up at work?

3.  Recalibrate your future.

*Maybe this reflection has shown you that you are good to go, right where you are with no changes.  Great – carry on.

*Or perhaps you see changes that you can make in your current job situation that will allow you to pursue your values and priorities more effectively.  If so, start at the margins and move forward.

*Maybe this is an “Aha” moment for you and it is time for a change.  Talk with trusted colleagues and consider retaining a career coach to help you move forward.  The best time to find a job is when you currently have one.  So take your time and explore the possibilities.

As Ferris Bueller once said, “Life moves pretty fast.”  It is healthy to take some reflection time every now and then to assess our situation.  If you decide you are good where you are, great.  But if it is time to make some changes, you can do so intentionally and effectively.

*Ideas for this blog taken from: Milner, J.  “Is Your Career Heading in the Right Direction?” Harvard Business Review online, October 17, 2024.

My blog from last week

Here is some really good news about the role that luck plays in our lives . . .

You Can Be Someone’s Luck.

No, you can’t change the circumstances that they were born into.  But, there are many ways that we can do – even little things – that can influence others in a positive way.

If enough people do little things to positively influence a person, it could change the trajectory of someone’s life.

Let’s start with some small easy things and go from there.

*Stay in touch with your friends.  Many, many people have mental health issues that we are largely unaware of.  Make that phone call you have been meaning to make, set up a zoom, or schedule a coffee.  We need one another.

*Provide an encouraging word to someone who is having a tough time.  Maybe it is someone at work.  Even more impactful if it is a young person.  People are thirsty for this.

*Tutor a child.  Give as much time as you can.  There is a huge need and there are great programs across the country for this.  There are in person and online options.  One example is Experience Corps.

*Make a donation to an organization that serves the homeless.  No one is homeless by choice.  They are in this situation via a string of unlucky circumstances.  There are amazing organizations in our country “changing the luck” of these people with excellent programs.  But they need our financial support.

*Make a donation to your local United Way or other social services organization.  People are proud and want to be able to take care of themselves.  But sometimes they need a bridge.

None of these ideas are magical or original.  But they will make a difference.

Do you feel like making someone more lucky?

However, a good friend of mine is retiring from teaching after this year.  I saw him the other day and he had just taught the first day of a course he will never teach again.  We talked about how this was the last time he will have taught that opening session.

“How did that feel,” I asked.  “It’s all kind of surreal,” he said.  I can appreciate that.  He has been teaching for a long time – and has been teaching this particular course for a very long time.

This all made me start to think . . .

Maybe I should teach every class NOW, like it is my last semester.  Don’t hold anything back.  The Olympics Finals, Game 7 of the World Series, the Super Bowl.

This all reminds me of several years ago when Randy Pausch, a professor at Carnegie Mellon, gave his Last Lecture.  He had been diagnosed with cancer and had only a few months to live.  His lecture is amazing.  It has more than 20 million views on YouTube.  I encourage you to check it out here.

The lesson here, I think, is that we can all probably do better at Carpe Diem – really seizing the day, every day.  I already tell my students that I promise to bring my “A” game every day.  But maybe it is time to step that up another notch.

I’m going to teach like it’s my last semester.  My last lecture – every day.

But is it time to quit your job?

Looking for a new job takes a lot of effort.  Here are some questions to consider from a recent article in Harvard Business Review to help you think through whether it is time to make that change.

*Is Your Workplace Toxic?  Do you have an abusive manager and is their behavior indicative of the culture?  An important warning sign is if you notice your physical health taking a hit.  This could include difficulty sleeping, feeling perpetually stressed, and overall just feeling exhausted.  If these things ring true then you may want to plan your exit strategy.

*Do You Feel Depleted?  If so, is this constant or is it the result of some unusually high volume of big projects?  Are you delegating enough?  Try to figure out if this is something you can manage.  If not, it may be time to go.

*Are You Miserable or Bored?  Persistent boredom can be depleting, so it is important to know the difference between that and true misery.  If its boredom, then maybe you need a new role or talk with the boss about some growth responsibilities.

*Is There Anything About the Job that You Enjoy?  If so, see if you can reorganize your responsibilities to do more of this.  If not, this could be another sign that it is time to move on.

*Are You Really Giving it Your Best Effort?  Are you bringing your “A” game every day with a positive attitude?  If this is mostly about you then a change of scenery is really not going to help.

*Do You Need Different Work Friends?  It is easy to bond over gripe sessions.  Maybe you need to branch out and find some positive people.  Trying to make things better if you are hanging out in an echo chamber of negativity may not work.

*Have You Tried Everything But Still Feel Awful About Work?  Before you make a 100% decision to move on, take some time to check with some trusted advisors and maybe even a career coach to make sure you are not missing anything.

Is it time for you to move on?  If you ask yourself these questions in a thoughtful way and feel it is time to go, then make your plan.  Especially as our careers progress, we need to be very strategic about our career moves.  Be sure to connect with people who have your best interest in mind as you chart your course.

*Ideas for this blog taken from: Knight, R.  “Should You Quit your ‘Meh” Job or is it Salvagable?”  Harvard Business Review online, April 19, 2024.

Here are three steps you can take to focus your passion.

First, take some quiet time and ask yourself the question:

“What would the world look like if I could have it any way I wanted it?”

As you answer this question, you will note that there is a big gap between the kind of world you want and what the world looks like now.  Next ask yourself:

“Given my strengths, what impact do I want to make in the world?”

Then finally, ask yourself:

“What three goals can I set during the next year that will make that impact?

Then of course you will want to create action plans around these goals and get to work.  To learn more about The Power of Goals, check out this link.

As you ask yourself these questions, it could give you more focus in your current job.

Or, maybe it will give you ideas about passions you want to explore in your volunteer life.

It could even lead you to explore new work opportunities.

Following our passions gives life more meaning and allows us to connect with others who have similar passions.  Reflect on these questions today and give your passion more focus.

It is never a bad time for a checkup.  Here are six great questions to ask yourself, based on a recent article in Harvard Business Review, as you look at your career future:

1.  How do I tap into my purpose?  Having a job is a good thing.  But are there better ways that you can tap into your purpose – either in this job or another one in the future?  Think about your dreams and what personally fulfilling work would look like?

2.  What do I want my days to look like? In your ideal world, what would a “day” look like and be like?  Think beyond the work day.

3.  What trade-offs am I willing to make?  Or stop making?  Making tradeoffs is a part of life, but look at the ones you are making now and others you are willing to make in the future.  Take a strategic look at your career.

4.  What will I regret not having done or learned a few years from now?  Have a conversation with your future self – ten or more years from now.  What do you want to be doing now to set your future self up for satisfaction and success?

5.  What mastery or gift have I developed that I can offer to the world?  You have developed certain strengths and talents throughout your life.  Are you able to fully unleash these at your current job?  If not, consider discussing changes to your responsibilities with your boss or look for other opportunities.

6.  Enjoy the Ride!  Yes – you are going places with your career, but make sure to take the time to savor each day.  Also, take some time to appreciate the road you have traveled thus far.

Our careers can be full of ups, downs, and sideways.  It’s important to keep a focus on what is fulfilling and impactful as we move along that path.  The more intentional and focused we are, the more we will be satisfied with our journey.

*Ideas for this blog taken from: Knight, R.  “6 Questions to Ask at the Midpoint of Your Career,” Harvard Business Review online, February 2, 2024.

SWOT it!  SWOT is not just for organization strategy.

First, imagine yourself accomplishing this new, big goal.  (Check here to learn more about The Power of Goalsetting.)

Next – with that goal in mind – ask yourself:

What Strengths do I have that can help me achieve that goal?  Don’t list all of your strengths, just the ones that you think might be helpful in achieving the goal.

What Weaknesses do I have that I may need to address in order to reach the goal.  Again, don’t list all your weaknesses.

What Opportunities exist that you maybe able to seize to accomplish this goal.

Finally, what Threats do you need to watch out for that could derail you.

Now what?

First, evaluate the Weaknesses.  Will these really get in the way or possible just hold you back a little?  If they aren’t such a big deal, don’t worry so much about them at this point.  If they are significant, then make a plan to address them.  Do you need to develop new knowledge or a skill?  Or – is this something that you can partner with someone on?  If so, ask for their assistance.

Next, look at your Strengths and Opportunities.  Do these line up in any way?  Are there ways for you to seize an Opportunity with one or more of your Strengths?  If so, this needs to be a priority; add that to your plan.

Once you address a Weakness, does that open up a way to pursue an Opportunity?  If so, make that a part of your plan.

Don’t ignore the Threats, just keep an eye on them.  If you think that they pose a significant problem then make some plans to address them.

SWOT gives you a nice tool to use to methodically brainstorm how to accomplish any goal.  Use it to build an even more joyful and fulfilling life!

This past weekend was my final time presiding over our University of Maryland Executive MBA Commencement, before moving on to my next career adventure.

It was a great day!  The faculty and student speakers that the cohort selected reminisced, encouraged, and challenged the group as they enter the next phases of their careers.

For my part, I simply reminded them of the first thing I said to them at their Orientation seventeen months ago:

At the Robert H. Smith of Business, we believe that business – done right and done well, is a noble venture with the possibility of transforming the world.  Done right, business is conducted by ethical, trustworthy people who provide products and services of value to others.  Done well, business creates quality jobs and wealth for a wide spectrum of people.  In a complex global environment, this is all easier said than done.  It takes knowledgeable and inspired leaders of integrity to make it all happen.  It takes YOU – and we are counting on you to lead our world forward.

We want these graduates to Commence with that charge and opportunity.  Let’s go!

If you think about it, every day brings a new opportunity for each of us to reflect on our life purpose and mission.

Let’s Commence with every new day we wake up to.  Let’s focus on our mission and the opportunities a new day will bring for us to make a difference in the world.  Let’s Go!

The pursuit of work-life balance feels like a race without a finish line – people are trying to win the battle of doing more of everything while doing it well. The fruits of those labors create sentiments of disharmony, exhaustion, inefficacy, frustration and disappointment – also known as the warning signs of an imbalanced life.

A better approach is to think of balance as the integration of the elements of your life in ways that contribute to your stability and steadiness.

It’s in the process of mindful reflection and discovery that we find inspiration to execute our decisions and bring our priorities to life.

Much like a tightrope aerialist, successful work-life balance isn’t about going up rapidly, it’s about moving forward steadily. Aerialists set the goal of making it to the other end and recognize that there are no shortcuts. They focus on their next step and compartmentalize all other potential distractions.

In work and personal life, you must pursue your constancy of purpose and identify the small and achievable steps that will bring consistency of action each day, week and month. Unexpected events, conflicts, crises, requests and scheduling shifts, however, will challenge that consistency and require mindful choices to maintain the course.

Is it possible to balance a conflict between an important work presentation that can contribute to a promotion or attending the first recital of our kids? By the time we find ourselves in this predicament, we can only justify our decision. But no matter the choice we make, there will be a residual emotional effect and an impact on ourselves and others.

Discerning what is the right choice must be informed by our values – the balancing pole to a person’s character, attitude and general behavior. It also requires a reconceptualization of a person’s definition of success.

Think of success as the coordinates where joy meets purpose, a combination that leads to a holistic sense of fulfillment.

Here are tips to those seeking to enhance your approach to work-life balance:

Be honest with yourself. Be genuine and articulate what truly matters most to you. Share your intent with your loved ones and heighten their awareness regarding your priorities and the context behind them.

Write it in the calendar. Schedule and honor personal activities and time with friends and family much like with important work-related events. It’s easy to embrace the “always-on” attitude at work and neglect the relationships and experiences that bring stability to our lives.

Set the right tone. For supervisors, be an example to others in the workplace by modeling adequate behaviors for work-life balance. Sending emails in the middle of the night or during weekends may signal there are no demarcations or boundaries.

Create safeguards. Empower and develop team members to become an extension of your leadership. If they feel trusted, empowered, and capable they will amplify your presence and create pockets of freedom in your schedule. Developing your team will allow you to mitigate the discomfort of taking time off, booking your next vacation or having a moment to unplug.

If you don’t make time to reflect and articulate these aspects of your life, you will find it remarkably easy to succumb to the busyness of the moment, rely on coping mechanisms, inadvertently drift and face the insidious forces of an unstable life.  I encourage you to choose joy and purpose!