Upward Broadband’s Post

Happy Monday! 👋 I'm sharing this shower thought I had last week after a Friday softball game. Ever notice how your work relationships and career are a lot like sports? The success in your career really relies on practice, teamwork, and communication. A bit of a story coming, so bear with me! Long before my time at FreshBooks, the company had a recreational softball team called the Flying Squirrels. After COVID - like many things - socials and extra curricular activities didn't really continue as they once were. Fast forward to early this year. A few of us thought it would be great to get something like a softball team back together. After gauging interest, assembling a team, getting some much needed practice in (a bunch of players were new to the sport!), we're just wrapping up regular season games. After completing our 2nd last game last Friday, I will say that it's been incredible to see how much progress we've had in our game play and individual skills levels. It's exciting to see the progress! I've seen on-field communication improve dramatically. Player positions (skillsets) are more defined. We're hitting and fielding better than before. And most importantly, every week, even despite some tough losses, everyone is smiling. Optimism and positive attitude go a long way! As with anyone's career development and delivering great work, your team, coaches and bench strength are invaluable. Invest your time wisely. I'm grateful we have this cross-functional representation every week, and I'm hopeful we can keep something like this going next season! Keep swinging for the fences! *dad joke quota achieved* Pic is missing a bunch of folks! Don't @ me. 😅

Have you been stuck in the runner-up hump at work, unable to land that #promotion or #raise? You're not alone, a lot of people are struggling to move ahead right now. This piece by Rachel Feintzeig for the The Wall Street Journal has great advice on what to do, with tips from Brad Stulberg (including re-thinking your position as "right where I need to be, competing against the best people"). I weigh in with some advice on how to get the right social comparison data from your boss, so you can look for patterns in what you missed. And not just resumes of the people who got the promotion, those who were always in the top pile. When we do this, we can start to see trends in what we're missing, like a role you didn't take on, a few roles back, that others did. Great, hands-on advice in this one! https://lnkd.in/etfwbG3Q

Hello, LinkedIn! It’s been a minute… This past year, the “most chronically online” person you know stepped away from the digital world—and what a year it’s been! I had the honor of serving as Miss Rodeo USA, representing the IRPA Rodeo, North America’s second-largest rodeo association. My role took me across 16 states and over 50,000 miles, promoting the sport I love and connecting with countless people along the way. While social media thrives on consistency, I put my personal platforms on pause to focus fully on my responsibilities. For some in Corporate America, taking a year off to serve as a rodeo queen—especially with a B.S., an M.S., and professional experience already under my belt—might seem unconventional, even “foolish.” But let me assure you, this year was anything but a “gap” on my resume. It was a year of personal growth, leadership, public speaking, and learning to navigate challenges in real-time. This experience reinforced a powerful truth: when you love what you do, it never feels like work. Here’s to carrying these lessons forward into the next chapter! 🐎✨ #personalgrowth #inspirational #rodeo #western #innvation #personalbranding #creative

Happy opening day of “The Masters.”🏌️♂️ ⛳️ what does excellence look like in your craft, leadership role or you career? Over a long period? This is perhaps one of my favorite days of the year for golf fans. Though much like the pristine nature of Augusta greens, the hardwork is masked by the Azaleas.🌺 What I love about golfers is the dedication to their craft. The work ethic, the precision, the speed, the power, and the ability to remain calm under the most intense situations. As a sports fan, I grew up reading about Magic Johnson. He spoke about how his work etchic was foundational to his succes including dribbling a basketball to snow. 🤯 It makes me wonder, what does excellence look like in my craft? Am I committed to excellent for myself and customers? Interesting to me, for all the hypes around a Magic or a Steph, there are 560 players who are also masterful in their craft of basketball. Plainly, we can be impactful beyond our measure, provide for family and customers, without needing to be the one person. There is so much room for 1000s of individuals to build fulfilled lives in the intersection of public sector and technology. Each person having their own super power and not needing to be cookie cutter to a mold, just like golf swings (Jim Furyk anyone? ifykyk 🤣) Be different, pursue excellence and most importantly do it with empathy. A lot of stress and ugliness in the world today — help it shine brighter. Lastly Enjoy “The Masters” today. I know I will.

Can you imagine leading a sports team to 318 wins and only 10 losses? That's what Larry Gelwix did. He certainly cares about winning, but he cares far more about the people on the team. I've heard it said that people join companies and leave bosses. If you ever get to meet or work with a Larry-esque figure, learn all you can. Pass on those learnings to the people you get to lead. It will change the trajectory of someone's life.

I made a dumb decision in 2nd grade. And it led to a 20-year friendship. We were at Pop Warner football practice one day. Like always, I wasn’t paying attention. Coach starts explaining the next drill. I should be listening... but instead, I notice something. ...my teammate’s shoelaces are untied. I think: What if I tie them to his other cleat? So I do. My soon-to-be best friend is watching the whole thing. Coach finishes talking. Everyone stands up. Our teammate trips and faceplants. We both get sent to run laps, cracking up the whole way. And that’s how it all started. Since then, we've been through it all— • State championships • Graduations • Military bases • Weddings • And now, kids Sports teach you a lot: • How to work as a team • How to stay disciplined • How to handle failure and success But the biggest lesson? The friendships. The people who have your back—on and off the field. This is why putting your kids in sports isn’t just about the game. It’s about preparing them for life. P.S. What’s something sports taught you that stuck with you? P.P.S. - don’t worry, we also became close friends with the kid whose cleats got tied together.

start the season off in the right positions.

🎯 Congratulations to Luke Littler on his incredible darts victory! 🏆 I’ll admit, I’ve followed his journey (mostly because my 18-year-old son is a fan!)—but I think Luke is absolutely brilliant. He’s done something amazing by inspiring young people to pick up the game again and showing them what focus and determination can achieve. At just 17, Luke displayed calmness, composure, and professionalism beyond his years—it was truly impressive to watch! His resilience, focus, and ability to thrive under pressure are qualities we can all admire. In HR, fostering those same traits—resilience, professionalism, and a growth mindset—can transform teams and drive success. And it’s a reminder to look at the talents within your business. Do you have the next darts, cycling, or Olympic champion among your employees? If so, mentor them, give them freedom, and encourage their success—it benefits everyone! 👏 Well done, Luke! Here’s to a bright future ahead! 🚀 But of course, a few burning questions remain: 🤔 Will he return to school on Monday? 🤔 Can he actually deposit a cheque that size in a student account? 🤔 And did he really start throwing darts at 18 months old? (If so, I need to up my game!) 👏👏👏👏

"History is not just written by the winners, it's written about them." - Steve Rushin Winning is important in sports, but it's also important at a new job. Getting 'early wins' can be the difference between keeping your job and getting fired in 6-12 months. So, it's important to know how to get them. Here's 4 tips I recommend keeping in mind. Follow me for more tips to help you through your first 90 days on the job.