Guess Who? It's Bigger Than You

Today’s Topics

• The Broader Lesson 🏫

• Leave a Slice 🍰

  5 Mins Read Time

The Broader Lesson 🏫

By Jo

Every frustrating moment in life feels personal. Whether you're stuck in a customer service loop or navigating life's inevitable challenges, it's easy to think, Why is this happening to me? But here’s the truth: it’s not about you. It’s bigger than you. How you respond doesn’t just affect your situation—it influences the world around you.

The Domino Effect of Your Actions

When you lose your temper with a customer service rep or someone in your daily interactions, it’s not just you who’s impacted. That person carries your energy into their next interaction. Frustration multiplies. But when you approach even the most aggravating situations with respect and composure, you send out a ripple of positivity.

This idea extends to life. How you handle your frustrations shapes how others perceive and interact with you. Your patience might inspire someone to be patient themselves. Your respect might teach someone the value of staying composed.

The lesson? Every moment you choose grace over anger, you contribute to something bigger—a collective atmosphere where problems can be solved more effectively.

It’s Not About Winning—It’s About Building

Too often, we approach frustrating situations with a mindset of winning. You want to be heard, validated, or “prove your point.” But focusing on control or dominance is short-sighted. It’s not about winning an argument or proving who’s right; it’s about building relationships and ensuring progress.

In customer service and in life, success comes when you make the process easier for everyone involved—not harder. You might feel justified in snapping at someone, but ask yourself: is that momentary release of frustration worth sacrificing the larger goal?

By recognizing that it’s bigger than you, you shift your focus from personal gratification to collective progress.

The Power of Stepping Outside Yourself

In those moments of frustration, it’s easy to be consumed by your own emotions. But when you step back, you realize the situation isn’t solely about your feelings—it’s about solving a problem, ensuring someone else’s day isn’t derailed, or even setting an example.

Think about how you’d want someone to treat you if roles were reversed. That perspective shift can be life-changing. It reminds you that everyone’s carrying their own load, and your patience might make all the difference.

The Bigger Picture

Life will always present challenges that make you want to lash out. But every one of those moments is an opportunity to rise above your instincts. When you choose patience and respect, you’re not just resolving one issue—you’re building a legacy of grace under pressure.

Every time you control your emotions and focus on the bigger picture, you send a message: This isn’t just about me. You show that progress, unity, and respect are greater than momentary frustration.

A Reminder for the Road

The next time you’re dealing with a frustrating situation, ask yourself:

What’s the real goal here?

How can I contribute to a solution instead of escalating the problem?

What example am I setting for others?

By focusing on these questions, you’ll not only get through the situation more smoothly, but you’ll also remind yourself of the bigger mission: living a life that uplifts those around you and contributes to a better collective experience.

It’s never just about you… it’s about the impact you leave behind

Leave a Slice 🍰

By Marcus

Remember that time you ate more than you should and you got sick? Your stomach had the capacity to hold more food, but a full stomach doesn’t always equal a happy one.

Life is like this sometimes. We take on more than we should, and the result or consequence is not always immediate.

Most of us have experienced this in one way or another. As we add more to our lives, we also add layers of complexity that need to be considered as well.

With Purpose Comes Complexity

or the sake of this article, let’s take this basic formula for finding purpose:

Purpose = Passion + Values

It’s great that you’ve found your passion. It provides meaning in your life. What isn’t always factored in is the complexity involved.

I like to help people. It aligns very closely with my values and gives me a strong sense of purpose. I had a job where my primary role was helping people. It didn’t pay the greatest, but it was rewarding, and I was energized by the impact I was making.

Well, my purpose was fulfilled, so I should feel great and be happy, right?

This is where complexity comes in. Yes, my purpose was met, but here’s the list of complexity that came along with it:

• Stress - As I got more responsibility, more people (clients, families, and employees) relied on me.

• Income - More stress, no significant pay increase, bills to pay, student debt, etc.

• Time - I spent on average, 50-60 hours a week (the joy of salary) at this job and worked weekends as well.

• Health - As I worked more, stressed more, and felt like I earned less, my health began to decline.

• Overtime - Job searching, interviewing to find a better opportunity, picking up a seasonal job.

• Fun - Dead & Gone…

• Burnout - Operating on fumes, with reduced value to friends and family if they needed me.

Honestly, I’m leaving a few things out here.

If a crisis comes and I’m overwhelmed, how can I help people who may need me? I’m cooked.

BUT I’m working in my purpose, so that should cover it, right?

The Power Source

A power grid is at its most efficient when it has the capacity to support power surges. Naturally, when a power grid fails, it overloads despite the fact that its very function and purpose is to supply power without disruption.

You are your own power grid, built to endure life’s challenges but not invincible.

Take the normal complexities and curveballs of life, and you may discover that being everything can leave you with nothing. Protect yourself.

Leave a Slice

Fulfillment isn’t about doing it all—who can honestly do it all? By leaving a slice of your energy, time, and attention available, you empower yourself to have room for resilience and the unexpected.

That space isn’t a weakness; it’s a superpower.

Passion + Values + Availability = A Sustainable Purpose

"You can do anything, but not everything." 

– David Allen