What Happened to the Fun Parts of Work?
Last week's Wall Street Journal Careers and Leadership newsletter claimed, “A broad malaise is sweeping office life." (Malaise!) Wow, what a word. A perfect summation of the impact environments create when they engineer out the very things that make people want to rise to it.
“What happened to the fun parts of work?”
That (seemingly simple) question was the centerpiece of the article. It caught my eye, as joy is a cornerstone of our work at CTP Visibility Advisors. In client conversations, that word always creates a pause. It nods to this pervasive tension; the one where organizations are asking people to upskill, adapt, and become AI-ready in an environment where many of them are running on empty. We insist on talking about joy in the context of our work because, increasingly, it defines who stands out. (And our work is all about making our clients stand out.)
The “framework” isn’t exactly fun...or human
In February 2026, the Department of Labor released an AI literacy framework that defines it as a foundational capability for today's workforce. (This means “AI literacy” is on its way into RFPs, hiring criteria, and procurement language.) If your team isn't building fluency with how generative AI tools work, and specifically how AI platforms represent your brand, that window is narrowing faster than most organizations realize. Does that sound like “fun”? Nope.
And Then There Was Sunday Night
On the heels of “malaise” and government policy coverage, we saw two dominate teams compete for the women’s NCAA basketball championship. It was a tough loss for South Carolina. Afterward, coach Dawn Staley said, "Although we didn't win, I can swallow it. Because we lost to a really good human being and a good team that represents women's basketball well."
Now, say what you will about whether she was trolling another coach about a previous incident. I was struck by the fact that she centered who she had just faced: a human. The character of the person across from her. She did that to stand up for her own “humans,” the young women on her team and her staff. What an incredible way to drive out malaise and to find joy (however difficult it may be in those moments). She named it, publicly.
Where This All Connects
And now I’m ready to name some things publicly…I wrote a book! And it’s about humans and work and what we’re all up against!
It's called Super Human: 8 "Small" Ways to Be Super at What You Do and Human While You Do It, and it publishes in two weeks on April 21st.
I've spent 25 years watching people treat humanity and strategy as opposites. They are not. And the workplaces that have figured that out are outperforming the ones that haven't. The one that are interested in the “how” of it all will read the book.
Wanna come to the launch party?
The day before the book drops, I'm hosting a webinar with my friend Nancy from Clew Strategy. We're going to get into the full effort and I’ll spill all the beans. I hope you can make it.
As always: if you have questions about what any of this means for your brand, your communications strategy, or how generative AI platforms are representing your organization, reach out. More Here in Dear Abby Episode 5.
Abby Lovett is the Founder and AI Visibility Advisor at CTP Visibility Advisors (ctpvisibility.com), a brand reputation and AI visibility consultancy based in Chicago. Her work centers on generative engine optimization (GEO), share of model, and helping brands ensure AI platforms accurately represent them. She is the author of Super Human: 8 "Small" Ways to Be Super at What You Do and Human While You Do It, publishing April 21, 2026.
