Hello {{contact.first_name}},
We welcome our COO and ambassador Jennifer Cavender as our guest contributor this week.
Joy is our FUEL!
My story begins with my 21-year career as a CAP. As a financial statement auditor, I spent weeks at a time in businesses, getting to know their people, their culture, and, of course, their financials. However, during that entire 20 years, I kept telling myself, my family, and my friends, "We'll do that after busy season," "I'll enjoy the beach next summer," or "I'll leave my computer at home on our next vacation." Enjoying my life was always something to be done later, after I passed the CPA exam or after completing a big project. Having fun, doing the things I loved, and being present in the moment was always reserved for the future—a reward for hard work. And if you know me now, you know what's coming next.
In 2020, after working on an engagement for six months that seemed to worsen with every passing hour, my team and I had had enough of the delays and excuses. We made a firm commitment, more like an ironclad promise, that we would complete this engagement in the next four days. It was a Thursday, the Thursday before the 4th of July, to be precise, and we set a goal to finish by Monday, July 5th. I worked 70 hours over those four days. We were all quarantined at home during this time, so the only physical interaction I had was with my husband and two daughters, and I barely saw them during this period. Since the beginning of 2020, I had traveled and worked more than ever before, so this wasn't new to them. But this weekend was different for me. While sitting in my home office, listening to the fireworks outside my window and hearing my family watching TV in the next room, I finally saw myself.
I saw all the times I had broken promises, and I saw all the moments I had missed—not because I was physically absent, but because mentally, I was preoccupied with all the things I "should be" doing, things that seemed more responsible than enjoying the moments with the people I love. That was the turning point for me. On that 4th of July, I vowed never to repeat this pattern. I was determined to find a way to LOVE my life, to prioritize JOY. Over the next 10 months, I was drawn to anything and everything related to happiness and joy. I discovered numerous research studies on positive psychology and the impact of happiness on our life outcomes. When a consulting client approached me, expressing the desire for more joy in their finance department, it struck me—this is what we all want: More JOY! I left that career at the end of that 10 months so build a way for companies to do what they do from a place of joy.
Today, I firmly believe that joy is not something to be earned or something less responsible, to be postponed for another time. Joy is our starting point. It is the purpose behind everything we do. It motivates us, refreshes us, and opens us up to new ideas and solutions. Joy is the fuel for the exponential results we all desire in life, not just a destination.
Warmly,
Sheryl Lynn
CEO of JOYELY, Founder & Visionary of The Chair of Joy™ Experience
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