I think we dramatically underestimate how powerful appreciation is.

Sometimes the time you spend with people is meaningful to them in ways that you never

foresee and would never know if they didn't follow up.

How meaningful was it when somebody told you in a genuine way what they appreciate about you?

And, you know, isn't that an experience you want to create for someone else?

I'm Jocelyn K. Gly, and this is Hurry Slowly, a podcast about pacing yourself, where I explore

how you can be more productive, creative, and resilient through the simple act of slowing down.

My guest today is Adam Grant, a talented teacher, researcher, and writer who has been examining how people find meaning at work for the

past 15 years. And it turns out that the secret is simple. If you want to feel like the work you do is meaningful,

it's all about taking time to show people that they matter to you,

whether that's a sincere expression of appreciation

or taking a break from your busy schedule to offer someone advice.

In this conversation, Adam and I go deep on generosity.

We explore how small expressions of thanks can have an outsized impact,

and why asking for help can actually make you look more competent.

We also talk about the dark side of helping,

something Adam calls generosity burnout, and investigate why being generous doesn't necessarily mean always making yourself available.

But before we dive in, a few quick notes on some changes to the show this season. Last season, I released a show a week to create a 30-episode season.

And while the pace was invigorating, it was, quite frankly, not sustainable.

This is the catch when you're making stuff for the first time, right?

You don't know how long anything will take because you've never done it before.

But now that I know what to expect, I'm dialing into a pace that feels right for me and right for the ethos of the show.

...