Busy Isn’t the Goal - Purpose Is: Rethinking How We Work, One Pearl at A Time

Let’s have a real conversation — especially for those of you working in roles where there’s always something to do. If you’re an office coordinator, a program manager, or anyone juggling a million spinning plates in the nonprofit world (or any world), you know the feeling: busy, behind, and barely breathing.

I’ve been there.
I’ve worked with so many clients who feel like they’re running all day long — yet they end the day wondering, “What did I actually accomplish?”

That’s what inspired me to create the workshop, Beyond Busy.
Because the truth is: being busy isn’t the goal.
Being purposeful is.

The Trap of Busyness

There’s a dangerous badge of honour we wear when we say, “I’ve been so busy.”
It sounds like we’re productive. It sounds like we’re valuable.

But let’s pause for a second. Is all that activity actually progress?
Is it tied to your mission, your goals, your growth?

If we don’t pause to ask these questions, we can spend entire careers reacting instead of leading.

So Let’s Break It Down: Types of Work

In this workshop, we walk through a simple but powerful framework I developed to help people see how they’re spending their time.

Because not all work is created equal.

Let’s use an example: a Program Coordinator at a nonprofit (like my clients in social services). This role is full — full of tasks, emails, people, community connections, deadlines, and demands.

But we can start to organize their time into categories:

🧩 1. Foundational Work – Keep the Lights On

These are the routine, day-to-day tasks that must happen.
They keep the systems running but rarely spark innovation.

Examples:
• Answering emails
• Booking appointments
• Completing intake forms
• Updating spreadsheets

✅ Necessary, but often low-leverage.

🚨 2. Reactive Work – The Firefighting

This is the urgent, unplanned stuff that derails your whole calendar.
It’s emotionally draining and often feels productive, but it’s not always aligned with your true priorities.

Examples:
• Last-minute funder requests
• A client crisis
• Resolving conflict between team members
• Fixing tech issues

❗Important to manage — but not where your magic lives.

🎯 3. Strategic Work – Moving the Needle

This is the work that creates change, aligns with organizational goals, and builds long-term impact.
It often gets neglected because it doesn’t feel urgent — but this is where your true leadership shines.

Examples:
• Reviewing KPIs
• Planning new outreach strategies
• Aligning with cascading goals from leadership
• Reworking your intake process to improve client experience

💡 This is where growth happens.

🛠 4. Project Work – Time-Bound, Cross-Functional

Projects have deadlines and often involve other people. They can be both foundational and strategic — depending on how intentional you are.

Examples:
• Leading a fundraising campaign
• Creating a training guide
• Planning a community workshop

⏳ You can’t do this work well if you’re drowning in reactivity.

🌱 5. Development Work – Learning & Growth

Often the first to fall off the list, but arguably the most important for sustainability.
This is about investing in yourself — your leadership, your skills, your capacity.

Examples:
• Taking a course
• Attending a webinar
• Shadowing another team to learn something new
• Working with a coach or mentor

🌟 This isn’t selfish. It’s strategic.

🌟 6. Legacy Work – Culture, Mentorship, and Vision

This is the invisible work that builds team trust, culture, and innovation.
No one asks for it — but they feel it when it’s missing.

Examples:
• Mentoring a new employee
• Documenting key knowledge
• Creating space for team feedback
• Proposing a new equity-based practice

🧠 It doesn’t show up on your calendar, but it shapes your legacy.

🐚 Enter the “Pearls”

This is where I bring in one of my favourite coaching tools — thanks to my coach Jen Conkey, who first introduced me to the idea of pearls.

Each day, we all have a chance to choose a few intentional actions — actions that truly matter.
Some people call them “rocks,” but I love “pearls.” Pearls aren’t born perfect — they form over time, layer by layer. They require intention, protection, and space.

Your daily pearls might look like:

✔ Checking in with a team member
✔ Reviewing a program strategy
✔ Drafting a new idea
✔ Saying thank you
✔ Making a decision you’ve been avoiding

Pearls are the things that move the needle.
They don’t always shout. You have to listen for them.

Your Invitation

I want to invite you to try something simple — and powerful.

Each morning, ask yourself:

“What are my three (3) pearls today?”

Write them down.
Protect time for them.
Notice how it shifts your energy.

This is what we do in the People First Club and in my coaching practice — we talk about energy management, not just time management. We talk about leading with intention. We talk about showing up in a way that builds culture, clarity, and confidence.

And I’d love for you to try it.

Because your people don’t need you to be busy.
They need you to be present, purposeful, and real.

So — what pearls are calling to you today?