The power of creative abundance 🌟
When multiple voices mean more, not less
“That was my idea.” “I was here first.” “They're copying my work.” “I can’t believe they didn’t give me credit.”
Sound familiar? I've been catching these thoughts and conversations creeping in lately as workforce wellbeing continues to move from fringe to mainstream. As more voices join the conversation, as more leaders adopt the language, as more organizations build similar frameworks, that scarcity mindset whispers: protect what's yours.
But what if that instinct is exactly what's holding us back?
As we evolve our thinking on what creates more wellbeing-intelligent humans, teams, and organizations, I sometimes catch myself in a scarcity mindset. When you're deeply engaged in emerging ideas about how work could be different, how organizations could truly support human flourishing, it's tempting to hold these insights close.
But recently, I came across a story about chef Grant Achatz that transformed my perspective.
When working at French Laundry, Achatz created an amazing dish that made it onto the menu. When told he could never reuse the recipe because it now belonged to the restaurant, his response was simple and profound: “That's fine, this brain can make more.”
This reminds me of Harry S. Truman's wisdom: “It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.”
Both insights point to the same truth about creative abundance and impact.
How often do we view similar work as competition rather than confirmation? How much energy do we waste trying to “protect” our insights instead of trusting our ability to generate more?
Here's what I'm learning about creative abundance:
When multiple voices emerge around the same ideas, it's often because that idea's time has come. The workplace wellbeing conversation isn't growing because of competition - it's growing because it needs to.
Your unique journey makes your perspective irreplaceable. No one else has lived your exact experience. My path through burnout, through corporate transformation, through creating new roles and frameworks - these shape how I understand and share insights about workplace wellbeing.
Ideas grow stronger through sharing. The conversations, the challenges, the different perspectives - they all enrich our thinking and push us to go deeper.
There's a difference between protecting and hoarding (and of course, stealing). Yes, we should protect our intellectual property when appropriate, but not at the cost of impact. Sometimes the biggest impact comes from letting our ideas flow freely.
This feels especially relevant as we see more voices joining the workplace wellbeing conversation. Instead of asking “Who owns this space?” what if we asked “How can we amplify each other's voices to create bigger change?”
Transformation never happens through one person or one idea. It happens through a chorus of voices, each adding their unique tone to the melody.
This mindset of abundance extends beyond ideas - it's about how we show up as leaders too. Too often, leadership is framed as a solo climb, a race where only a few can reach the top. But just as ideas grow stronger when shared, our impact grows larger when we lift others up.
When we operate from abundance rather than scarcity, whether with our ideas or our support of others, we create environments where everyone can flourish. Where innovation flows freely.
Supporting someone else's success never diminishes our own - it amplifies it.
This connects beautifully to what Dr. Lisa Feldman Barrett shares in our recent episode of The WorkWell Podcast: “What you put into the world with your actions and your words literally shapes the world that you live in. You have to decide what kind of a world you want to live in and what sort of impact you want to have on other people.”
Her wisdom perfectly captures why these choices matter - we're not just deciding whether to share our ideas or support others' success. We're actively creating the world we want to work and live in. When we choose abundance over scarcity, collaboration over competition, we're shaping a future where more is possible for everyone.
This is the heart of systemic transformation - understanding that real change happens not through protection and competition, but through openness and collaboration. Through making more together than we ever could alone.
What ideas could flourish if you embraced abundance? What might happen if you trusted your ability to generate more?
Here's to making more - more ideas, more impact, more change!
If this resonates, I'd love for you to share it. After all, ideas grow stronger when they're shared.
📚 What I am reading:
"Lead Well" by Paula Davis - a research-backed blueprint that understands wellbeing isn't just another leadership skill, it's THE leadership skill that changes everything.
"Why Are We Here?" by Jennifer Moss - in a time when we're all feeling a bit lost about work, Jen shows up with exactly what we need.
So proud to have contributed to both of these game-changing books. Both Paula and Jen are thought leaders who consistently inspire me with their courage to reimagine what work should be.
🎧 What I am listening to: An essential Working on Wellbeing Podcast conversation with Sarah Cunningham from World Wellbeing Movement and Professor Amanda Kirby on neurodiversity and workplace belonging. Whether you're a parent, leader, or someone wanting to better understand your fellow humans - this one will change how you think about creating truly spaces where authenticity thrives.
✨ What I am excited about: My new book "Hope IS the Strategy" is coming in early 2026 with Wiley! It's the raw, honest story of what happens when a high achiever breaks, gets lost in the gray space between burnout and thriving, and discovers that hope isn't naive - it's a skillset we can build. (The timing feels especially right with Gallup's latest report showing HOPE is the primary need of followers worldwide!)
🌟 What boundaries I am setting: Entering book-writing mode has pushed me to get real about my capacity. Being honest about saying "no, not right now" to amazing collaboration opportunities has been challenging (hello, recovering people-pleaser!). But I'm learning that being clear about my limits is the most respectful response I can give. To everyone who's received one of these "not now" messages - your grace and encouragement mean the world. Thank you for understanding that sometimes making more means making space first.