The Day My Desk Calendar Gave Me a Performance Review

We expect feedback to come from managers, clients, or that one brutally honest colleague who has radical candor as a personality trait. But in my case, my desk calendar decided to step in.

Yes, a calendar. A seemingly harmless collection of dates and illustrations that, as it turns out, had some strong opinions about my work habits.

Let me explain.

When Art Speaks, You Listen

I recently bought a desk calendar from Nessart16 ( Nandini Sharma ), a brilliant budding artist and illustrator. I thought it would do what calendars are supposed to do—sit quietly on my desk, reminding me of deadlines I’d pretend weren’t real.

Instead, one particular illustration caught my eye. At first, it was just a lovely work of art. But the longer I looked at it, the more I felt judged.

It wasn’t the illustration itself—it was what it made me realize.

There I was, always chasing efficiency, checking off tasks like a productivity machine. But had I taken a moment to step back and see the bigger picture? Was I solving problems, or just getting things done?

Apparently, my calendar thought I needed a perspective shift.

The Art of (Not) Missing the Point

Here’s the thing—art and work aren’t that different. Both require perspective. The way you look at an illustration determines what you see. The way you look at a challenge determines how you solve it.

But when we’re too focused on moving forward, we stop noticing the details that actually matter.

So, I asked myself (and my calendar, because we were clearly having a moment):

• Am I seeing the whole picture, or just what’s urgent?
• Am I focusing on tasks, or am I creating impact?
• What insights am I missing because I’m too busy keeping up?

What My Desk Calendar Wants You to Know

I know—a desk calendar isn’t your usual career coach. But it did leave me with one solid takeaway:

Pay attention to the things you usually ignore.

Inspiration, feedback, even career-defining insights—they don’t always show up in performance reviews or strategy meetings. Sometimes, they come from unexpected places.

Like a casual conversation. Like a random doodle on a notepad. Like, a desk calendar.

So, if something catches your eye—pause. Look again. It might just be telling you something worth listening to.

(And if your office supplies start offering career advice, maybe take a break. Just saying.)

Thanks for the inspirational Desk Calendar Nandini Sharma .