Joy at Work – Julia’s 43-Year Journey to Finding the Right Workplace
Joy at Work – Julia’s 43-Year Journey to Finding the Right Workplace
After 43 years in the world of work, I can finally say: I’ve found joy at work. It wasn’t always this way. My career started under a dictatorship-style manager, in a culture where wellbeing and belonging simply weren’t on the agenda. But today, I work for Boo — where people are seen, valued, and happy. Here’s a little reflection on the journey from surviving work to loving it.
A Full-Circle Moment: Why I Was Always Meant for Boo
I think I was always destined to work for Boo.
I’ve been reflecting on my career recently as I was reminded that it’s now 43 years since I started my first job after leaving school. Yes, I’m that old. I’ve always worked in a head office admin support role of some kind. I’ve seen so much more than technological improvements over those years. But I fear management and leadership might still be as bad for some people even now.
Back in the 80s: When Wellbeing and Joy Didn’t Exist
Working in the 80s was very much about working to live. Wellbeing wasn’t a thing. I don’t recall joy at work ever being considered either.
Work was a chore to bear. My first manager ruled in a dictator style. NO we couldn’t be friendly with the shop staff we supported. Heaven forbid anyone rang asking for Julia! It had to be Miss Page – which as a 16 year old, sounded like I was an old spinster. Even more embarrassing when I received a Christmas gift of a bottle of perfume only grannies wore. You even had to prove your pen was worn out before you were given a new one.
Toxic Culture in Disguise: Gratitude and Grit
Those sort of places of work continued – generally being told we should be grateful of having our admin office jobs. To be thankful to those salespeople for keeping us employed! There were no cuts in those commissions for us, despite often being left to rectify hastily written contracts resulting from the race to close the deal quickly. And deciphering eligible handwriting.
Keeping My Head Down — Until I Burned Out
I was a quiet mouse though, keeping my head down, but often dreading that Monday morning. Until I completely crashed and burned trying to provide a good customer service in a call centre where call time log statistics were the president over actual care. I walked away from that job feeling like a failure. There was no support for burnout and stress.
Little Acts of Leadership That Made a Big Difference
I don’t really have many joyous memories of those first 20 years of employment, but those occasions when the boss (in one of my employments) would return from lunch with boxes full of fresh cakes… That really meant something. Just a little thing, but one that was sincere, from a leader who did care.
A Glimpse of a Better Way
Those little glimmers crept in slowly over the years. At the start of the millennium, I landed my first team leader role in a council setting. We were located away from the official council buildings, so I was able to lead my team without the scrutiny of council ways. A team that had flexibility to manage their own workload, we worked together happily supporting each other.
Our manager and all the consultants we supported showed their appreciation knowing that we were there for their benefit. I loved that job. We were doing important work developing children’s education. It gave me joy to go to work every day, until… council rules got in the way. The official management styles that were so outdated, didn’t make sense to me or the way our department operated. Stress and illness reared its head again, so I jumped at the chance of voluntary redundancy during a huge restructuring exercise.
Starting Over — On My Own Terms
In 2011, I set myself up in business to offer business admin support – and did it my way!
Finding Boo: The Breath of Fresh Air I Didn’t Know I Needed
I was lucky Becci contacted me for some help a couple of years ago. Discovering Boo’s values and mission was a breath of fresh air! I’ve gradually moved away from operating my own business to being a fully-fledged member of TeamBoo.
Maybe I appreciate Boo’s values more because I’ve experienced the other side, but that shouldn’t be the case. We need to earn a living, but that shouldn’t be to the detriment of our lives.
⭐️ Top Tips from 43 Years of Working Life
1. Kindness Isn’t a Perk — It’s Powerful Leadership
A box of cakes. A thank you. A genuine check-in. Small acts of sincerity go a long way and can change how people feel about work.
2. Don’t Confuse Control with Good Leadership
Dictator-style leadership belongs in the past. Trust, flexibility, and human connection build stronger, happier teams.
3. Stats Shouldn’t Trump Care
When metrics matter more than people, burnout follows. Build systems that support wellbeing — not just performance.
4. Speak Up… Even if You Start as a ‘Quiet Mouse’
It’s easy to shrink in toxic workplaces. But your experience, perspective, and values matter. You deserve better.
5. Outdated Cultures Create Outdated Outcomes
If your organisation still leads like it’s the 1980s, it’s time for a rethink. Modern teams thrive with compassion, not control.
6. It’s Never Too Late to Start Over
Burnout, redundancy, change — they’re not the end. Sometimes they’re the beginning of something far better.
7. Work Shouldn’t Cost You Your Life
You deserve a job that supports your life, not one that drains the joy from it. Values-led workplaces do exist — keep looking.
Here’s to joy at work. And here’s to finding it – whether it takes 3 years or 43.
Julia – AKA Mission Control
Creating happy and healthy workplaces, every day.
Want to know how we support organisations to build cultures like this? Explore our leadership development and coaching programmes.
