An Important Reminder From a Friend

It was one of those nights when I kinda wanted to stay home with my friend Netflix. But, I had a dinner date with a friend so got my @ss off the sofa.?

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She’s not just any friend. She’s an oncologist whose specialty lies in lymphomas and other blood cancers. She’s lectured all over the world and presented at global conferences.?

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More than two decades into her career – one steeped in life-or-death decisions, ground-breaking research, and relentlessly seeking improvements in treatments –?I couldn’t help but ask whether her passion still burns brightly.?

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Her eyes sparkled in response: “I love what I do,”?she said. “Every day I learn something new and I face new challenges.”?

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Her journey is ever-evolving: new research emerges, patients’ cases are diverse, and collaborations vary.?

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But she didn’t shy away from the realities. (For those of you who haven’t heard, the Canadian medical system is far from nirvana.) Some days are brutal, but given the choice, she’d choose this very path all over again.

So why share this?

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It’s a reminder to ask yourself:

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?? Does your work ignite a fire in you??

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???? Do you find joy and challenge in your work?

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?? Are you skillbuilding??Are these new skills taking you in the direction you want in your career?

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??? Does your workplace foster your growth and stand with you in your career journey??And, if it doesn’t, are you proving yourself capable of taking on a different role? How are you going to get from here to there?

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It’s not always ?? and ??. But if it’s none of the above, take a closer look at why. There's pressure all around to “follow our passion” or “do what you love." But ultimately, you have to think about what works for?you.?

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Jumping ship isn't always the answer (though sometimes it is!) First, spend time thinking about what’s not working. Making small changes may help you reset your course in a better direction.?

BITE-SIZED INSPIRATION

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??? LIGHT FARE:?Spring is the perfect time to switch up your go-to dinner options and discover new seasonal faves. Here are 40 Spring?recipes?perfect for weekdays, courtesy of?Delish. Crispy salads and herby chicken? Oh, yes.?

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??? PERFECT COMPLIMENTS:?A compliment can easily make someone's day. For?Time, experts?share?their favourite compliments and why they land every time. Among them? “You handled that situation so well.” Read five more?here.?

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????? AGE GRACEFULLY:?A personal trainer?shares?her key to a long, healthy life: stability and balance exercises. The trainer, who works with people in their 60s and 70s, says it's never too late (or early!) to incorporate stability exercises.?

SUBTRACTION STORIES

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“Packing lunches for my teenage daughter.”

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It was an AHA moment for many in our workshop. This participant – we’ll call her the Lunch Lady – said she packs school lunches because it feels like it's the "right thing" to do.

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But oftentimes, the lunches were coming home untouched. So she decided to stop preparing them. COLD.?

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Maybe it's not school lunches for you. But are you still, metaphorically, someone's Lunch Lady? Are there tasks they could take on themselves?

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Try that subtraction today!?

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

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Tupperware, the iconic container brand founded in 1942, has long been a leader in the space. We're all familiar with the story: suburban housewives popularized the brand by throwing Tupperware parties and selling plastic containers to their friends.

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However, in recent years, Tupperware has toppled from the top of the food storage pyramid as more eco-friendly competitors entered the market.?In the?Atlantic, writer Amanda Mull?explores?the rise and fall of the behemoth container brand. (Bottom line: they never evolved with the times. Note to self: always be looking around the corner).

Thanks for reading!?

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With more than 35 years as an entrepreneur, executive, consultant, and mentor, I founded The Difference Lab as a way to help those who are cramming it all in. The answer? Simple: Subtraction.?

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Be well,

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Janet Winkler

Co-Founder of?The Difference Lab