What Are Your Non-Negotiables?

Is there an equation for a bad job? A friend of mine thinks so.

In a team meeting last week, he said:

“Dream job + sh*tty teammates = bad job.”

On the other hand, he said, you could have a not-so-great job with really great teammates, and you’d end up with a very good job.

What do you think?

This week I led a team retreat for 9 social impact tech leaders in Los Angeles. It’s a new organization, and they wanted to carve out time to gel as a team and start to build an intentional culture.

They have really ambitious goals, and there’s a lot riding on their success.

There’s also a lot they don’t yet know!

Even so, as I looked around the boardroom table – watching them lean in with enthusiasm and strategize on tough problems – I thought to myself, “These are great people.”

Let’s be honest: no job is perfect. And in today’s job market, most of us have to make tradeoffs when selecting our next role.

Am I willing to earn less money if the role is interesting?

Am I open to moving laterally for the right work schedule?

Am I ok with traveling if the salary is good?

I’ve been thinking a lot about tradeoffs lately – both at work and in my personal life. 

What are my non-negotiables? And where am I willing to be flexible?

What about you?

Try This Out 

Today, your homework is to reflect on this question:

What are my non-negotiables?

If you’re in a job search, what are your must-haves?

If you’re parenting or caring for a family member, what’s absolutely necessary?

If you’re getting active in your community, what are you taking a stand for?

If you want to go a step further, take each item on your list of non-negotiables and consider: What’s important about that?

Finally, ask yourself: Where am I willing to be flexible?

They might seem like easy questions on the surface, but I promise: most people don’t ever stop to actually name their answers (let alone put them into practice).

Grab a piece of paper and a pen, set a timer for 5 minutes, and see what answers come to you. I’m betting you’ll surprise yourself.

What To Do Next

As we move into the holiday season, this notion of tradeoffs is going to hit home across many dimensions of our lives – from work and family, to deciding which dishes end up on our Thanksgiving tables.

And as more and more people struggle to feed their families, pay for healthcare, or feel safe in our neighborhoods, my request is that you consider what your non-negotiables are when it comes to serving your community.

And then put that into action:

Donate to a local organization you trust.

Set up a meal train or food pantry.

Volunteer at a local nonprofit.

Tip generously to service workers.

One thing that I know is non-negotiable: We are stronger together.

I’m grateful for you.

Onward,