All Posts by Ann Tardy

1. Do you like the people?
2. Are you passionate about the product?
3. Are you learning?

Selina revealed that even to this day when faced with various decisions in her business and her life, she references:

1. People
2. Passion
3. Progress

A valuable beacon for our own perspective!

When we get mired in daily issues, altercations, upsets, and missed expectations, perseverance can be challenging. Focused on all that’s going wrong, we can easily lose sight of why we actually chose this job or situation!

I listened to Selina’s interview at the end of one of those days that was choked by issues and unmet deadlines – I was despondent, fiercely disliking my job.

And then I deployed Selina’s 3 pivotal questions:

• Do I like the people I work with? Absolutely!
• Am I passionate about what we do? Definitely!
• Am I progressing and learning? Constantly!

Suddenly I got the perspective I needed to recalibrate my victim mindset.

Once we get clarity on People, Passion, and Progress, the rest becomes mere details to navigate.

I’ve even used the 3 pivotal questions to help my niece. When she was faced with a stick-with-the-cello-or-switch-to-the-clarinet dilemma, I asked her:

• Do you like the people in the band?
• Are you passionate about the cello?
• Are you progressing with the cello?

She admitted that in fact, she wasn’t progressing because she wasn’t passionate about it. But she really enjoyed the people in the band, so she confidently switched to the clarinet!

When we remember our why (People, Passion, Progress), we can deal with almost any what…

But are we busy with activities that contribute to our personal and professional goals? Or do we say “Yes” because we struggle saying “No”?

Busy being busy often results because:

• We harbor a fear of missing out.
• We don’t want to hurt someone’s feelings (people pleasers unite!).
• We lack clear boundaries.

So how can we say “No” in a way that maintains our relationship,  doesn’t require a litany of excuses and apologies,  and communicates an interest in future opportunities?

Grab a go-to-no statement! Here’s the formula:

1. Say yes! to the Person
2. Say no! to the Invitation
3. Say yes! to the Future

Go-to-No examples:

• “I’m so flattered. Unfortunately it doesn’t work for me. Next time!”
• “Thank you for thinking of me! I’m bummed I’m unable to participate. Let’s try again soon!”
• “I would have loved to! I’m disappointed that I have to pass. Rain check?”
• “That sounds amazing! Regrettably it’s not the right fit for me. Please consider me in the future.”

Then be silent. For typically when we reject an offer, we rush to justify: “Oooh! I’m so sorry. I can’t. I have to work on this project, speak on a panel, attend a meeting, join that call, and go to a conference…”

Instead, practice filling the silence with more silence. We don’t owe evidence or explanations to back up our boundaries.

When we project authenticity and graciousness while illuminating our borders with simplicity and confidence, people will respect our “No” – they won’t demand to verify our calendar.

Chaos leaves people confused and insecure, while clarity strengthens trust and relationships.

When busy being busy becomes the norm, it might be time to practice the joy of missing out!

To better understand how zookeepers relate to their work and the influence that has on their happiness, researchers interviewed 982 zookeepers from 157 zoos across the US and Canada.

They discovered:

• Zookeepers who describe their job as “picking up poop and cleaning cages” hate their jobs.
• Zookeepers who describe their job as “protecting the world’s wildlife and educating the public about animals” love their job, see it as their calling, and would do it for free.

Ultimately zookeepers who recognize a purpose in their work are more likely to regard their work as meaningful and important.

I noticed the power of purpose when my mom started volunteering at the Northern Illinois Food Bank after retiring.

Every Tuesday she spends the afternoon with other volunteers bundling various donated foods for distribution to shelters and other feeding programs around the state. Some days she’s packing potatoes, other days she’s weighing rice or sorting cans of tuna.

At the end of each shift, the Food Bank gathers the volunteers to report and celebrate their results. For example, this week she helped to pack 2,460 pounds of food which will provide 2,050 meals.

And as they leave, each volunteer receives a thank you notecard with these numbers.

Why? Because the Food Bank operation depends on its volunteers. And volunteers who know they made a difference will volunteer again. So the Food Bank routinely connects the task to the impact to demonstrate to volunteers that packing potatoes is meaningful and important.

By articulating a purpose, the Food Bank illuminates the why behind their work.

• Do you pick up poop or protect the world’s wildlife?
• Do you pack potatoes or feed hungry neighbors?

Never underestimate the power of purpose to fuel job love!