Summary

In this episode, Andy welcomes Elizabeth Lotardo, author of Leading Yourself: Find More Joy, Meaning, and Opportunities in the Job You Already Have. Drawing on insights from her book, Elizabeth shares a practical and empowering framework for navigating the everyday challenges that can drain energy and joy from our work lives--things like imperfect bosses, lethargic coworkers, and overwhelming workloads.

The conversation explores how we often start a role with excitement, only to find ourselves disengaged over time--and what we can do about it. You’ll learn the key differences between purpose and passion, how to counteract unhelpful workplace narratives, and what it looks like to reclaim agency in frustrating situations. Whether it’s dealing with difficult stakeholders, receiving feedback, or rethinking your career path, Elizabeth offers tangible strategies for finding value and fulfillment in the job you already have.

If you're looking for ways to lead yourself better, rediscover meaning in your work, and take more ownership of your day-to-day experience, this episode is for you!

Sound Bites

“Purpose has a drastically more significant impact on how we feel about the work than passion does.”
“If you're not waking up super hyped about something, that's OK!”
“You're always in control of your own response--even in soul-sucking meetings.”
“This is my chance. It's a mindset shift to reframe interruptions and annoyances into opportunities.”
“Sometimes all you need is 15 seconds of insane courage.”
“When we default to negative assumptions at work, we dig ourselves into ruts that are hard to escape.”
“Just give your brain a moment to articulate: What if it went awesome?”
“Being invaluable means having great value in a variety of situations--not being stuck as the only one who can do a specific task.”
“You are never powerless. That's a sentiment I hope stays with my son.”

Chapters

00:00 Introduction
02:24 Start of Interview
02:34 What Sucks the Joy Out of Our Jobs?
03:49 The Difference Between Purpose and Passion
05:34 Coaching People to Understand Their Purpose
08:08 What Is a Ripple Effect or Impact Map?
09:23 Workplace Lies and Breaking Out of Mental Ruts
12:17 How Elizabeth Deals With Feeling Trapped in a Rut
13:26 Balancing Risk and Opportunity
15:43 The Power of 15 Seconds of Courage
16:47 Reframing Challenges with “This Is My Chance”
19:21 Handling Difficult Meetings and Draining People
22:59 The Indispensable vs. Invaluable Mindset
24:48 How Our Identity Gets Entangled With Our Job
25:58 What Feedback Taught Elizabeth About Growth
29:19 Lessons About Identity and Self-Worth at Work
30:39 Helping Kids Learn They’re Never Powerless
32:52 End of Interview
33:20 Andy Comments After the Interview
38:52 Outtakes

Learn More

You can learn more about Elizabeth and her work at ElizabethLotardo.com.

For more learning on this topic, check out:

Episode 437 with Nada Sanders about future prepping your career in the age of AI.
Episode 318 with Jon Stepper about his book Working Out Loud.
Episode 213 with Christopher Avery about his book The Responsibility Process.

Thank you for joining me for this episode of The People and Projects Podcast!

Talent Triangle: Power Skills

Topics: Leadership, Self-Leadership, Motivation, Purpose, Passion, Agency, Feedback, Mindset, Career Development, Meaning at Work, Workplace Culture, Decision-Making, Project Management

The following music was used for this episode:

Music: Imagefilm 034 by Sascha Ende
License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Music: Fashion Corporate by Frank Schroeter
License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

PPP 458 | Dreading Monday Mornings? How to Find Joy in the Job You Already Have, with author Elizabeth Lotardo

People and Projects Podcast: Project Management Podcast

PPP 458 | Dreading Monday Mornings? How to Find Joy in the Job You Already Have, with author Elizabeth Lotardo