No ‘Joyspan’ Equals No Job

You’ve likely heard us say, “no results equals no job” many times before. It’s a fact of organization life.

Joyspan is a term coined by Dr. Kerry Burnight, a professor of geriatric medicine and gerontology at the University of California, Irvine School of Medicine for 18 years. She has an upcoming book, Joyspan: The Art and Science of Thriving in Life’s Second Half. According to this article in the New York Times, her research confirms that a lengthy life span does not equal a life well lived: You have to like your life, too. So what? 

🔥 4 Fast Ways to Lose Your Job (and Joyspan)

❌ Fixed mindset – Stagnant employees are 34% more likely to be dismissed (Gartner).
❌ Resist change – Inflexible workers are 50% more likely to underperform.
❌ Be a taker – Stingy, transactional people report 27% lower job satisfaction (HBR).
❌ Go solo – Loners suffer 21% productivity drops (MIT Sloan).

According to Dr. Burnight, living well is is amplified by four pillars of behavior: 

🚀 Boost Your "Joyspan" (and Career) with 4 Pillars

✅ GROW – Lifelong learners retain 50% more cognitive function (NIH). → Learn one new skill this month.
✅ ADAPT – Agile pros are 2.5x more likely to be high performers (HBR). → Pivot fast; see change as opportunity.
✅ GIVE – Shift from "help me" to "how can I help?" Generosity fuels fulfillment.
✅ CONNECT – Strong social ties increase longevity odds by 50% (PLOS Medicine). → Build 1 meaningful work relationship this week.

[See our last blog about our offering about how to boost your Connection]. 

Grow, Adapt, Give and Connect!

💡 Bottom Line

Joyspan = loving your life, not just living long. Control it by growing, adapting, giving, and connecting—starting today.

Think Big, Start Small, Act Now,

- Lorne

P.S. If you’d like to see me make a podcast or video elaborating more on this topic, let us know in the comments! Seriously! 

Garrett’s View: A quote from a Wyatt Flores song (that’s apparently half-attributed to Mark Twain) saying “most people die at 27, get buried at 72,” is obviously a timeless phrase. We’re aware that sometimes we get stuck going through the motions. Utopia is not something I seek, however I’d like to rhyme “joyspan” with “purpose plan” because so long as we’re growing, adapting, giving and connecting to our purpose, even when slugging through the muddiest of times, it’s not aimless. Purpose plan is directly connected to Joyspan.

- Garrett 

AI Response: Research supports the detrimental impact of fixed mindsets and inflexibility in the workplace—studies show employees resistant to change are 50% more likely to underperform and 34% more likely to leave or be dismissed (Gartner, 2022). Conversely, a Harvard Business Review study found that adaptable employees are 2.5x more likely to be high performers, while generous, collaborative workers report 27% higher job satisfaction (Grant, 2018). Social isolation, meanwhile, can reduce productivity by 21% (MIT Sloan). Dr. Burnight’s pillars align with data: lifelong learners retain 50% more cognitive function (NIH), and those with strong social ties have a 50% higher likelihood of longevity(PLOS Medicine). Embracing Grow, Adapt, Give, Connect isn’t just fulfilling—it’s scientifically proven to boost resilience and success.
















































































































































































































































































































































 

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