Are You Building a Life That Makes Room for Joy?
I recently wrote about the loss of my beloved Miniature Schnauzer, Adrian, and the response I received from some of you was truly heartwarming. Thank you so very much for the kindness you extended to me. It meant so much.
I mentioned in that article that after some grieving time, Mark and I would welcome two puppies into our lives, Emma and Coco. Home is simply not home for me without “four on the floor.” Or, in this case, eight. And our home is now officially “Puppyville” to two baby Miniature Schnauzers.
It had been years since we had “puppy time” in our house, but we’re very familiar with the challenges the little bitties bring. I suppose that’s why God dials the cuteness knob up to 11 for these little furballs. My vocabulary gets whittled down to “nope, no, stop, don’t” as I follow these two little curious girls around the yard or from one room to the next. But I get to hold and hug them, too, and it feels so worth any aggravation. Such joy!
I imagine the inner dialogue of their puppy brains: Ooh, I’ll never let go of this stick. It’s too tasty! Oh, what a wonderful stink buried in this dirt! Sister, come sniff, too! Pee here? Don’t mind if I do.
We’re working on it! We’re training them, but there’s still a lot of learning ahead.
And while I wasn’t sure about getting two, I’m so glad I did. I love watching them interact. They run across the yard side by side. They both approach a kind human hand and roll over for a belly rub, competing for attention. My turn! No, mine!
Innocence melts the heart, doesn’t it? Everything is wondrous before eyes taking in experiences for the first time. Emma and Coco remind me of this. I also think of babies and toddlers and how they can’t comprehend the good or bad we’ve seen. Those beautifully pure eyes set off a desire deep in our hearts — or at least those who aren’t too jaded — to guide the innocent toward good things, not bad.
I think, too, about how we all still have that kid within us to an extent. We all seek guides in certain ways when we enter the realms we don’t understand. When I had cancer, I looked toward caring professionals to help guide me through the processes. I looked into their eyes, wanting to find the friend who cared, who wanted to help lead me toward help, not hurt.
Think about your life. Aren’t you also a mix of the guide and the guided? You’ve had people guide you, and now you are a leader to others. You help them move toward the good, not the bad. And when you serve in that way for others, your value expands, doesn’t it?
As I age, this is my prime motivator: my value is tied to the value I can help others secure for themselves.
Mark is completely simpatico in this thinking. That’s why we started HireSmart Cares, our nonprofit focused on helping today’s youth find meaningful careers without being saddled with crippling college debt. We invest time and money into tangible help for these kids, who will be the leaders of tomorrow.
I also find true joy in business. I found my niche — my “value add” role, my way to guide others toward the good, not the bad. If you’re reading this, I bet you can relate. You’ve found some role, a “zone of genius” that makes life better for others, and you feel pride in that.
I expect your “zone of genius” is something other than international hiring, but I’ve made global talent acquisition my life’s work because Mark and I recognized over a decade ago that the Web knocked down geographical barriers. And you can now find truly wonderful people to join your team as full-time, dedicated staff members at a fraction of the cost of what you pay locally.
This provides business owners with numerous options. You can shift time-consuming workloads off yourself and your on-site staff, scale up your business, and reduce your office overhead costs. You can achieve more with less expense by embracing a new realm of the modern work world.
I get such joy from happy clients when I’ve helped guide them toward more value for their businesses — and their personal lives.
When I watch Emma and Coco discover their world with such pure delight, I’m reminded that the best part of being a guide isn’t just the destination — it’s witnessing the joy that unfolds when someone finds their path.
Every time a client tells me they finally have Saturday mornings free to watch their kids play T-ball, or that they can take that long-postponed vacation because their business is running smoothly with their new team, I feel that same warmth I get watching my puppies tumble together in the grass.
We’re all seeking more time for what truly matters, aren’t we? Whether it’s belly rubs for curious Schnauzers or bedtime stories for little ones, the real magic happens when we clear away the chaos and create space for love to flourish. That’s the kind of guide I want to be — one who helps others find their way back to what makes their hearts full.
If you want a partner in that journey, I’m here for you. Click here to set up a time for a one-on-one chat. I’d love to hear about your business goals, but also, what do you envision as your best life? How can you feel the most value? I feel my most value if I help you find yours.
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