The Elusive Nature of Success in Operations
As an operations executive, you are the backbone of your organization. It’s remarkable how you keep everything running smoothly and manage crises day after day.
But always being prepared for what’s next can be draining. Perpetually chasing success leaves little room for rest or satisfaction.
I had a college professor who called this way of being the “I’ll be happy when…” game. It’s a game that has no winners and creates endless pressure.
It’s time to break free from this future-focused hustle and start enjoying the success that you’ve already achieved. Great leadership isn’t just about getting results. It’s about finding fulfillment and well-being, too.
In this episode, I’ll explain how to shift from this chasing mindset to a more balanced, fulfilling leadership style. The time to start living is now.
The “I’ll Be Happy When…” Game and Its Impact
Remember that one professor who made a lasting impact in your life? For me, it was Dr. Bill Nickels.
Dr. Nickels taught marketing at the University of Maryland. But he also gave a famous lecture on what he called ‘The Happiness Game’ once a semester. Even if you weren’t in his class, you could attend. I listened in as many times as I could.
The crux of his lecture was this: We have all been conditioned to keep striving for the next level. From the time you’re young, it’s:
- “I’ll be happy when I get that toy.”
- “I’ll be happy when I can cross the street by myself.”
- “I’ll be happy when I can get to the next grade level.”
- “I’ll be happy when it’s summer!”
- “I’ll be happy when I graduate.”
- “I’ll be happy when I get a job.”
- “I’ll be happy when I get married.”
And it goes on and on. This mindset drives success but left unchecked it also leads to constant dissatisfaction and burnout. For operations execs, it might look like:
- “I’ll be happy when the new team is in place.”
- “I’ll be happy when the processes are mapped out.”
- “I’ll be happy when we meet our quarterly KPIs.”
- “I’ll be happy when we reduce our operational costs by 15%.”
- “I’ll be happy when our employee turnover rate drops below 5%.”
- “I’ll be happy when our customer satisfaction scores hit an all-time high.”
- “I’ll be happy when I can start planning for retirement.”
Shifting the Mindset: Finding Joy in the Present
This never-ending mindset takes a psychological and emotional toll. Many high-achieving operations executives that I’ve worked with struggle with confidence and self-trust, and it’s at least somewhat linked to this.
The fix is deceptively simple: Find joy and fulfillment in the present moment. Dr. Nickels emphasized appreciating what you have now and enjoying the journey. It helps to balance out focusing on future goals.
How often do you take a moment to pause and appreciate all you’ve already done and how far you’ve come? Microdoses of mindfulness, like brief meditation sessions, journaling, or taking mindful walks during lunch breaks help you create pockets of peace and clarity amidst the chaos.
Cultivating a Culture of Achievement and Appreciation
Consider also how often you and your team fall into the “I’ll be happy when…” trap. How does this mindset affect your team culture and productivity?
By celebrating small wins, encouraging mindfulness, and maintaining your own balance, you create a culture that values achievement and appreciation from the top down.
True leadership also means cultivating a culture that promotes responsibility and empowerment. So rather than saying, “I’ll be happy when our quarterly results improve,” you could say, “We can improve our quarterly results by implementing strategic changes now.”
This simple shift in perspective and language embraces responsibility and empowers your team.
By transforming “I’ll be happy when…” into “We can achieve this by…”, you create a culture of ownership and possibility that leads to greater personal satisfaction and, ultimately, greater success.
Conclusion: Prioritizing Well-Being in Ops Leadership
I hope you stop torturing yourself and take some notes from Dr. Nickels’ advice. Watch your urge to always be chasing. Help your team find fulfillment now.
I’m so grateful for Dr. Nickels and his teachings. They left a lasting imprint on my life that actually, ultimately, were part of what led me to become a coach 25 years later. You never know how your words might resonate and inspire others.
Today I’ll leave you with this question: What if the true measure of success is the peace you cultivate within?
While celebrating wins is important, managing daily stress is just as crucial. Episode 27 “The Panic Habit Detox for Operations Executives” details how to move from being reactive to proactive, especially under heavy workloads. To learn how to control your stress, find it at yourfuturerealized.com/27.
You can’t stop the chaos, but you can change the game.
