Dear Change-Maker~
A few years ago, I came across a story that has stayed with me because it reveals something essential about how we work.
A civil engineer in Italy, in the early days of the pandemic, finds himself in a hospital where lives depend on a part he has never made before. There is no roadmap and no certainty. He is facing a situation that calls for something in him. He manages to save lives with a snorkeling mask and ingenuity. He was awarded the title of Knight of Merit of the Republic by President Mattarella in 2021.
What stayed with me is his ability to recognize what within him he could bring forward in that moment. When I interviewed him, we got to the heart of the matter.
In this Shot of Wonder, I connect that story to a pattern I see often with leaders, entrepreneurs, creatives, and teams: a gradual drift away from the strengths that once made their work come alive.
Let’s take a look.
Premium Members - Give us your feedback. We’re also imagining special Premium Member calls such as the new Wonder@Work Monthly Calls trial series.
Reintroduction to new readers: I’m author of Tracking Wonder (Sounds True), a Next Big Idea Club finalist. Fast Company, MindBody Green, Psychology Today, and other leading outlets - I’m grateful to say - have featured my insights.
My job: Help you focus on your best ideas, design meaningful work, and advance what matters most for high return - emotionally and financially - with energy to spare.
Now is a good time for free readers to consider upping your wonder ratio as a premium partner if you haven’t already. You’ll gain access to the full Shot of Wonder Library, our Tracking Wonder Handbook, worksheets, our beta Tracking Wonder Endeavor Canvas, and significant discounts to workshops and cohorts. If you’ve benefited from this work, your premium subscription is one meaningful way to support it.
Think of it this way: Cynicism is a virus. Wonder is an antidote.If you haven’t yet, you can up your wonder ratio here.
Regardless, thanks for being here. More good things to come.
Listen to this episode with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to The Wonder HUB to listen to this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.
