Shifting the Lens, Shifting the Outcome

It’s been a minute since my last Quantum Joy post — and for good reason. I’ve been living in the in-between phases of change.

You know, that quiet, disorienting, deeply fertile space between what was, what is, and what’s next.

The past few weeks brought both stillness and momentum: I was sick (a forced pause) and also launched The Strengths Studio (a fresh beginning). 

At first, it felt like opposite energies colliding — contraction and expansion at once. But that’s the essence of the neutral zone — the transitional stage William Bridges described as the liminal space between endings and beginnings. It’s uncomfortable because our old rhythm no longer fits, but the new one hasn’t fully formed.

Here’s what I’m learning: every neutral zone is an invitation to shift the lens.

Instead of asking, “Why is this happening?” 

I’ve been asking, “What’s unfolding?” and “What’s the opportunity in this moment?”

When I make that shift, everything changes. The same situation becomes a growth portal instead of a roadblock.

We all grow and develop throughout our lives — and the more moments we take to look through a new lens, the greater our potential for expansion. I’m not the same person I was ten years ago, five years ago, or even six months ago, because each moment gives me an opportunity to evolve into a truer version of myself. Those small moments compound over time.

Growth isn’t always loud. Sometimes it’s happening quietly — in the body that needs rest, in the business finding its footing, in the brief parenting moments with our kids, in the conversations with our colleagues, and in the inner dialogue learning to trust the new path.

Every opportunity — even the ones wrapped in fatigue or uncertainty — still holds potential to expand us. When we bring curiosity instead of control, the outcome naturally transforms.

So this is my reminder (to myself and to you, if you need it too):
Don’t rush the neutral zone.
It’s not wasted time. It’s the chrysalis.

Quantum Joy isn’t about bypassing the messy middle — it’s about noticing the quantum shift already forming within it.

And when the lens shifts, so does the outcome.

Redefining Work: The Gift of Time

I recently watched a short video that’s still echoing in my thoughts. A young woman was talking about her daily routine: working 9–5, commuting long hours because she couldn’t afford to live near her job, and coming home so drained that all she could do was eat, shower, and go to bed.

The comment section split right down the middle. Half said, “That’s life. Welcome to adulthood.” The other half said, “This isn’t right. Life shouldn’t feel like this.”

And for a long time, I would’ve been in the first group — the pragmatic one, nodding at the realities of the working world. But now, I can’t help but think differently. With all the advances in technology, with AI transforming what’s possible, isn’t it time for the world of work itself to evolve?

Because life is meant to be lived — not endured.

Time Is the Real Dividend of Progress

Technology was supposed to make life easier. AI can do in minutes what used to take hours. Automation handles what once required whole teams. Yet instead of freeing people, many organizations use that efficiency to pile on more.

We’ve been conditioned to think that “efficiency” means doing more, faster. But what if true progress means doing enough, wisely — and then giving people back the time they’ve earned?

Imagine if companies said, “You’ve found a smarter way to work — so here’s the gift of time.”
Not more projects. Not more pressure. Not a pay cut. Just time.

The irony is that this reward costs almost nothing, yet it could change everything.

The Efficiency Paradox

Technology took flight, but our workplaces stayed grounded.
That’s the paradox of the modern world of work.

AI and automation have revolutionized what’s possible, yet most companies still measure success by hours logged instead of outcomes achieved. We’ve built tools that can compress forty hours of work into ten — and then we fill the remaining thirty with meetings, emails, and busywork to preserve old structures.

It’s not just inefficient. It’s inhumane.

Rewarding the Smart and Efficient

What if being efficient didn’t mean being punished with more work?
What if the reward for intelligence and effectiveness was freedom — not additional responsibility?

If someone completes their goals in less time and delivers strong results, why not let them have the rest of the day, or week, to live?
To recharge, to think, to grow — to be human again.

We’ve equated hard work with long hours, but the next era of success will belong to those who equate impact with wisdom.

The Ripple Effect

If we gave people the gift of time, imagine the ripple it would create.
Parents could be more present.
Communities could be more connected.
Innovation could flourish because people would finally have space to think.

Burnout would decline. 

Health would improve. 

Joy — that elusive thing we chase on weekends — might actually find its way back into the week.

The economy might move at a gentler pace, but it would deepen in quality. We might produce less noise and more meaning.

Evolving Work with the Individual in Mind

The next evolution of leadership isn’t about managing time — it’s about honoring energy.
People don’t want to escape work; they want work that respects their humanity.

The organizations that thrive will be the ones that understand this: AI isn’t here to replace people — it’s here to liberate them. To let humans do what only humans can — connect, create, care, and imagine.

A Final Thought

We built AI to make work easier.
Maybe its greatest gift will be reminding us that life was never meant to be all work.

Because time — not title, not task — is the true measure of wealth.
And giving it back to people might just be the smartest investment the world of work could ever make.

The Energy Budget

We’re taught to budget our money and manage our time, but the real currency of life isn’t dollars or minutes — it’s energy. Everything we do is an exchange: every conversation, decision, task, and thought has a cost. And just like any budget, when the spending outpaces the deposits, we end up running on overdraft.

Deposits

Energy doesn’t just appear; it’s earned through what fills your system back up. 

Sleep. Movement. Laughter. Creative flow. Nature. The people who make you feel seen instead of sized up. 

These are your income streams — the ways life pays you back for showing up.

Withdrawals

Some expenses are necessary — work, responsibilities, caring for others.
But we all have sneaky leaks: overthinking, people-pleasing, doom-scrolling, trying to fix what was never ours to fix. They may feel small, but together they drain the account fast.

Interest

Here’s the good news: some things actually grow your energy as you spend it.
Joyful effort. 

Meaningful conversations. 

Acts of kindness done from abundance, not obligation.
These are compound-interest investments — they give back more than they cost.

Debt

Then there’s energetic debt: the constant drain of worry about what you can’t control, resentment you haven’t released, or roles you’ve outgrown but keep funding.
The universe doesn’t charge late fees, but your body does — fatigue, irritability, detachment.
The only way out of energetic debt is awareness and recalibration.

Diversify

If all your energy comes from one source — your job, your partner, your kids — a single disruption can crash the system. Diversify your joy. Find small deposits everywhere: a morning walk, a playlist that moves you, the quiet satisfaction of something done with care, a cup of coffee, etc.

Closing Reflection

Ask yourself:

• What deposits am I overlooking?
• Where are the withdrawals and unintentional leaks?
• Which investments actually compound joy?

Write them down. Adjust the flow. It’s not about hoarding energy; it’s about spending it where it matters most.

Tune in and routinely, check your balance before you say yes. Give yourself permission to step back or say no; it is possible to decline things with grace.

Remember: you are the CFO of your own energy and when you manage your energy with intention, you stop living in reaction and start creating from overflow. That’s where the real wealth is - and that’s where you can truly live from a place of joy!

Notice the Magic in the Mess

Life doesn’t always go the way we planned — and maybe that’s the best part. The burnt toast, the wrong turn, the travel delay — sometimes the funniest and most joyful moments are hiding right there in the middle of the mess. What looks like chaos can actually be life sprinkling us with glitter, if we let ourselves see it.

We’ve all had those moments that didn’t go “according to plan."  The coffee spill right before the meeting. The suitcase that got lost on vacation. The perfectly timed rainstorm at the exact wrong moment.

Sure, in the moment we might groan — but those same “oh no” moments often become the stories we laugh hardest about later. It’s like life hands us a bloopers reel on purpose, just to remind us not to take ourselves too seriously.

Laugh First, Learn Later 

Here’s the truth: we’re not here to perfect life; we’re here to enjoy it. Sometimes the lesson is obvious right away, and sometimes it’s just about learning to laugh in the middle of the mess. When we let go of the need for everything to be polished or controlled, life starts to feel lighter, freer, and a lot more fun.

Sprinkle the Sparkle

And even more importantly, joy is contagious. When we choose to laugh in these moments, to find the small magic in the everyday, it ripples outward. A spilled drink can turn into a funny story. A wrong turn can become a chance discovery. A plan gone sideways can open space for something unexpected and wonderful. These moments are little winks from the universe — reminders that joy isn’t always neat, but it’s always there if we’re willing to see it.

Final Thought

Life unfolds in surprising ways. Maybe joy isn’t about avoiding the mess — maybe it’s about dancing right in the middle of it. So the next time life throws you a curveball, see if you can laugh first, learn second, and sparkle anyway. Because even in the chaos, there’s always magic waiting to shine through.

What’s the Deal with the Mouse?

Lately, I’ve noticed something funny — the mouse keeps showing up. Not the kind in your pantry (thankfully), but the ones in stories and symbols. Walk with me here:

• In The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, the two beings secretly running the universe? Mice.
• The world’s largest imagination empire? Disneyland, which began with a single sketch of a mouse.
• And in our everyday lives, how do we navigate the digital realm? With a computer mouse.

At first, I laughed. Coincidence, right? But then the “holy moly” moment hit me: what if the mouse isn’t random at all? What if it’s an Easter egg from the simulation — a tiny, humble clue reminding us to pay attention?

Small but Mighty: The Mouse Archetype

Across myths and stories, mice embody the paradox of smallness with outsized impact.

• In Aesop’s fables, a tiny mouse frees a mighty lion.
• In Hindu mythology, Ganesha rides a mouse — a symbol of mastering the subtle and elusive mind.
• In Western tales from Cinderella to The Tale of Despereaux, mice are helpers, underdogs, and secret witnesses.

They’re not grand or flashy; they’re humble, curious, nimble. And maybe that’s the point. The mouse keeps whispering: don’t underestimate the small things.

The Test Subject… or the Experimenter?

And let’s go a bit deeper here … mice are the archetypal lab animal — humanity’s test subject. But Hitchhiker’s Guide flips this on its head: what if the “test subjects” are actually testing us?

From a simulation lens, the mouse might be a wink — we think we’re running the experiment, but maybe we’re the ones being observed. Or maybe the whole universe is a kind of laboratory of consciousness, and the mouse shows up to remind us of the inversion.

The Mouse as Portal

It’s uncanny that the biggest entertainment empire in the world started with a mouse. Mickey wasn’t random. Walt Disney chose a creature that was accessible, relatable, and full of spirit — and that mouse became the gateway to an entire universe of imagination. 

And let’s take this a step further and into our daily lives with the computer mouse. With one small click, it opens vast worlds. The hand that moves the mouse controls the screen — an almost too-perfect metaphor for navigating life’s “simulation.”

Click to Wonder

Maybe the mouse is just a funny coincidence. Or maybe it’s a breadcrumb from the universe, a reminder that small things matter and may open vast worlds — if we’re curious enough to click. Because in this game we call life, it’s often the mouse that moves the cursor.