Guest writer Kate Sotsenko runs thegoodbusy.com, a company focused on helping busy mid-senior leaders eliminate unnecessary work so they can focus on what matters most. Without stress. Without burnout.
Start with the foundation - exercise inside
"Feeling fulfilled requires mastery and recognition; but both, effort and reward, are internal things." - Marshall Goldsmith & Sally Helgesen
"It's not me - it's the company culture. I can't change that. "
This is what a client told me in our first session.
Do you ever like happiness at work is impossible because of the environment you're in? Like no matter what you do, the system is broken?
If so, keep reading. This might change your mind (and your life.)
I asked my client a simple question: "What is company culture?"
What's your answer?
Here's why this question matters:
A company is just a group of people.
Its culture? The sum of their actions - including yours.
If you want to feel happier at work, it doesn't start with HR policies or office perks. It starts with you.
And according to science, your choices play a far greater role in your happiness than you think.
the why
We've all heard the cliché, "Happiness is within."
Sounds too simple, right? (Hello, complexity bias!)
I thought the same until I took a short course on happiness and came across Sonja Lyubormirsky's research.
Here's what she discovered:
External factors: We often blame our environment, but it has minimal impact.
Genes: Half of our happiness is wired into us.
Actions: The remaining 40% is shaped by our choices.
And here's the magic 🪄:
Your actions influence how your genes are expressed.
Here's the proof.
I grew up in a culture obsessed with "what could go wrong." For years, colleagues told me, "Kate, why are you so negative?"
But in my 30s, I decided to rewrite that narrative:
Read 200+ books
Watched 2,000+ TED Talks
Took 50+ online courses
Practiced yoga and reiki
Worked with coaches and therapist
Lived in several countries across Europe and Asia
The result?
Now people say: "Kate, how are you so positive?"
The shift is real - and it's not luck. It's the result of better choices.
the how
I'm sharing the same exercise I did for myself - and the same one I guide my clients through.
It's a 3-step blueprint.
Today, we'll focus on Step 1.
Because lasting change isn't built on quick hacks. It's built one brick at a time. 🧱
Step 1: Foundation
Grab a notebook and reflect:
1. What does happiness at work look like for me?
List 5 must-haves. These will be your foundation bricks. 🧱
2. What trade-offs am I willing to accept?
List 5 compromises you're prepared to make. (No "perfect job" exists. This helps your "house" stand strong even when it's windy.)
Why this first step is critical?
It helps you separate must-haves from nice-to-haves.
It narrows the gap between expectations and reality.
It reminds you that perfection isn't the goal - clarity is.
After this exercise, my client said, "Everything that's beautiful in life is imperfect."
Happiness doesn't come from fixing everything. It comes from knowing what matters most, and letting go of the rest.
the result
When you complete this first step, you'll;
Have realistic expectations for your work environment.
Stop wasting energy on what doesn't matter.
Leave the office earlier, while others stay late, complaining about the culture.
Kate Sotsenko is a thought leader and corporate productivity and leadership coach. If you want to find out more check out her website - TheGoodBusy.com
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