Hold tight to your work joy.

Day 12 of 30: Protecting Your Leadership Joy (Especially on the Hard Days)

In mortgage servicing, we don’t get many “smooth” days. There’s always something—tension in a meeting, a short email from your boss, a decision you weren’t looped into, a fire that lands on your desk at 4:30 pm.

Friction isn’t the exception. It’s the job. The real question is: what do you do with it? Do you let those moments dictate your mindset and leadership presence? Or do you stay grounded enough to lead through them—without losing perspective on your team, your impact, and the bigger picture?

Even experienced leaders get pulled into the spiral. You start replaying the interaction. Questioning intent. Losing focus on what actually matters.

And while there’s no shortage of advice around gratitude practices and mindset resets, most leaders I work with need something more practical in the moment—something that actually helps them reset and show back up effectively.

When you feel your joy slipping, try this:

1. Interrupt the loop: Call a friend, but don’t rehash the issue. Shift the conversation entirely. Give your brain a break from the narrative you’re building. Bonus points if it is someone you haven't spoken to in a while.

2. Change your environment: Step away from your desk. Even 15 minutes outside or in a different setting can reset your perspective faster than trying to “push through.” Get some sunshine or pop into the local library - mix it up.

3. Re-engage in something that demands focus: Whether it’s a quick workout, a game with your family, or anything that requires your attention—this helps clear the mental clutter so you can come back sharper.

This isn’t about avoiding hard moments. It’s about not letting them erode your enthusiasm for your work. Because in this industry, your team doesn’t just need your decisions—they need your steadiness.

And protecting that is part of the job.