"In Give and Take, Adam Grant tells the story of call center employees on the edge of burnout—until one small shift changed everything. After meeting just one student whose scholarship was funded by their work, their motivation soared. With no change in hours or pay, their performance doubled. Why? Because they saw the meaning in what they did.
When people connect their work to real impact, they don’t burn out—they light up."
Lately, people have been telling me:
“You should have more fun.”
“Go out more.”
“Maybe you’ll get lucky if you just relax.”
I get it. They mean well.
But let me tell you something I’ve learned from watching the greats and walking the path towards meaning.
1. Mastery isn’t magic. It’s reps.
You don’t become a world-class athlete, writer, leader or entrepreneur because you’re lucky. Won't you agree? You get there because you choose to show up. Again and again. You choose to get undeniably great by putting in draconian effort.
I get jealous in the best kind of way when I see people being exceptional.
When someone speaks and the room goes silent.
When someone builds a product that helps millions.
When someone masters their craft.
I get chills and goosebumps!
And what I’ve seen - and heard from those I admire, from research on peak performance and skill acquisition – is this:
No reps = no mastery.
No shortcuts.
Just time, tension, tiny improvements, deliberate practice.
When you see someone being great - there are countless hours of work put in the shadow.
This is what lights me up.
Not passive “happiness,” but the thrill of progress.
Of doing meaningful work. Of serving.
Of getting better. Sharper. More useful to others.
2. Happiness looks different for different people.
What brings me joy?
➤ Getting better at what I do.
➤ Seeing it impact more people.
➤ Spending time with a few people who matter.
➤ Feeling useful.
Service, mastery, and meaningful impact.
That’s what I optimize for.
That’s what fuels me.
That's my drive!
3. Rest? Yes. But not the kind you're sold into.
I sleep 8 hours a night. I take breaks. I hike mountains weekly.
But I don’t plan my recovery around Friday nights or lazy Sundays just because “everyone does it.”
Rest is biological. Weekends are a societal invention, boundaries to be re-evaluated.
And I believe there’s a different kind of rest that comes from living in alignment with your purpose. (Adam Grant's research seems to agree)
Working on something your soul believes in is more energizing than lying on a couch or "having fun"
And that's what my calendar shows.
I’m here to serve.
To grow. To do great work. To challenge others to become their best.
Ask yourself this today, dear reader:
Is your daily life designed around what truly fulfills you?
Or are you following someone else's template for happiness?
What drives you?
With love & fire,
Angela
Helping You Stay the Course🧭
💬 P.S. Drop your thoughts in the comments. Let’s learn and grow together.