Last week I was so inspired watching Alysa Liu compete at the Olympics. She had retired, came back, but this time entirely on her own terms. Her own music, her own clothes, skating for the pure joy of the performance, regardless of the result. And she won gold.
Around the same time, I came across an interview with Marco Bizzarri, former CEO of Gucci. He described walking into a company all-hands where everyone looked tense and on edge. His response was simple: he reminded them they had the luck of working in one of the most wonderful industries in the world, creating beautiful things for people to wear, giving someone a little extra confidence. Relax. Enjoy it.
Two very different worlds, but the same reminder.
Most of us are not performing open-heart surgery, flying planes in a storm, or going to war. We have the luck of simply providing a good product or service to another human or company. No more, no less. And that, if you think about it, is actually pretty wonderful.
I think back to my best years in consulting, and they were not the years I worked the hardest or took everything most seriously. They were the years I allowed myself to be a little lighthearted. I connected more genuinely with clients, I was bolder in my thinking and communication, I had fun. And the paradox is that my performance kept improving.
I still remember colleagues frowning every time I used the word ‘fun’ at work. I wore it as a badge of honour 😄
When I launched Northstar, I wrote a personal manifesto, and two things went straight in:
1️⃣ ‘I will prioritise joy on a daily basis’
2️⃣ ‘I will give myself the luxury of working only with clients I genuinely like (and trust)’.
It sounds simple, but it changed everything for me.
Today that translates into a coffee and a cookie before a coaching session with my clients, a beautiful office in the centre of Amsterdam, writing about topics i genuinely love (like im doing now), leaving early on a sunny afternoon to run in the park, or waking up knowing I’ll spend my day with people who genuinely energise me.
And the paradox? It makes me a better coach. I show up with more energy and confidence, I attract better clients and partners, and I do the best work of my career.
So if you are navigating a job search, a career transition, or figuring out your next move, yes, do the work. But don’t forget to also bring some joy along for the ride. Celebrate the small wins, have nice little moments, enjoy the journey. It will help you more than you think.
How much joy are you letting into your work right now?
