Did YOU Like How It Went?

My oldest brother Ash is what I’d call a casual sensei. He’ll hit you with a sharp insight in the middle of talking about travel logistics or some interesting observation about city planning. He doesn’t force the wisdom—it just shows up, usually right after a “How’s everyone doing?”

This week, he texted to check in. I gave him the usual family rundown—everyone’s good, things are busy—and mentioned that I gave two talks last week.

One of them was at a high school.

It was… something.

The students were eating pops and staring at me with blank expressions, which is somehow worse than just staring blankly. I think they liked it? But high schoolers don’t offer the polite social cues adults have learned to perform—smiling, nodding, chuckling at your jokes to make you feel better.

The day before, I’d given a talk at my first full-price speaking gig. I was nervous going in, but it ended up going really well. People connected with it—and a few even followed up afterward to say how much it resonated.

Here’s how the text convo went:

Ash: How’d you feel about your talks?

Me: Today was a high school. That was… interesting. I think they liked it, but they were just looking at me with blank expressions most of the time—none of the polite cues adults have learned like smiling and laughing.

Me: The day before was my first full-price gig. I was very nervous about it, and I think they really liked it.

Ash: Wow, very different audiences.

Ash: Did YOU like how it went?

That last line really made me think.

I’m over here trying to help people have more fun at work… and I wasn’t even considering whether I was having fun.

I was focused on how it landed. How it looked. Whether it was “good.” But I hadn’t checked in with myself about how it felt.

And that’s kind of everything.

So here’s Tip 27/100 in the “Work is Fun” series:

👉 Remember to ask yourself: Did you like how it went?

It’s easy to use other people’s reactions as the scoreboard. But joy at work doesn’t come from applause—it comes from attention. Attention to what lights you up. What stretches you. What feels real.

Ash didn’t mean to blow my mind. But that one question shifted the lens.

What about you?

When’s the last time you asked yourself how something really felt?

👇 Drop a comment—I’d love to hear. And if you’re into reflections like this (plus a slow-building countdown to a book launch), head over to stevecarse.com/blog for more.

P.S. The Work is Fun book drops April 1, 2025. That date is no accident. We’re turning 15! - Pre-Order Here.