Podcast Summary: Leading Organizations That Matter

Episode 85: It Helps to Love What You Create

Host: Rey Spadoni
Date: September 30, 2025

Episode Overview

In this brief solo episode, Rey Spadoni explores the importance of finding personal connection and love in the things you create—be that art, work, or organizational impact. Drawing on his own evolution as a photographer, Rey connects the creative process to leadership and career choices, ultimately arguing that genuine passion elevates both outcomes and satisfaction. This episode is a reflective meditation on meaning, motivation, and the value of loving your work.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Evolution of Creativity (00:25–03:00)

• Personal Journey in Photography:

  • Rey reflects on his long-standing hobby of photography, admitting that while he enjoyed the process, he didn’t always love the resulting images.
  • Quote (01:12):

    “I loved making images, I’m not sure I always loved the images themselves.”

  • Early work was “incredibly average,” focused on postcard landscapes—which were fun, but unremarkable.

• A Shift in Perspective:

  • Recent self-discovery: The key wasn’t just improving technique or gear, but cultivating a love for the images themselves.
  • He started analyzing which images moved him, focusing on elements like emotion, texture, movement, and irony.
  • This renewed focus led to real improvement in his work.
  • Quote (02:30):

    “I found out that it helps to love what you create.”

Applying to Leadership & Careers (03:01–06:15)

• Process vs. Passion in Professional Life:

  • Rey draws a direct parallel between his artistic growth and organizational leadership/career development.
  • Many professionals, he observes, fixate on external markers: process, promotions, prestige, and money.
  • He cautions that if those are the only motivators, regret and dissatisfaction often follow.
  • Quote (03:58):

    “I’m not going to argue that anyone should totally ignore prestige and money, but when that’s all that matters... that is what’s reflected in the end result—and more often than not, there’s regret expressed in those stories.”

• The Role of Loving the Work:

  • He shares experiences from his leadership coaching, seeing that those who have a deep appreciation, even love, for the work itself are more motivated and happier.
  • References Martin Seligman’s research on happiness and motivation.

Reflective Questions and Advice (06:16–07:40)

• Rey poses guiding questions for listeners:
  • “Do you love what you create?”
  • “Do you love how you spend your time doing it?”
  • “Do you love the people with whom you do the work?” (06:20)
• He acknowledges that this can sound “corny,” but stands by his conclusion: love leads to impact and fulfillment.
• Quote (06:45):

  “Just as artists who love the images they create create better images, I’ve seen that leaders who love the work that they do end up having a more impactful, meaningful and joy-filled career and life.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Creative Improvement:

  “Instead of cameras, software and destinations, I began to look at images I liked and then try to figure out why I liked them... I found out that it helps to love what you create.”
  — Rey Spadoni (02:15–02:30)

• On Career Regret:

  “When prestige and money are all that matter, that’s what’s reflected in the end result... and more often than not, there’s regret expressed in those stories.”
  — Rey Spadoni (03:58–04:08)

• On Motivation and Happiness:

  “Whenever I coach someone who understands the work that’s being done and values that work in and of itself—okay, I’ll say it—actually loves it, then that becomes a critical part of their motivation matrix. It elevates their happiness quotient.”
  — Rey Spadoni (05:05–05:25)

• Summary Reflection:

  “Leaders who love the work that they do end up having a more impactful, meaningful and joy-filled career and life.”
  — Rey Spadoni (06:45–06:55)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:00–00:25 — Introduction of episode and theme
• 00:25–03:00 — Lessons from the host’s photography journey
• 03:01–06:15 — Connecting creative love to career choices and leadership
• 06:16–07:40 — Reflective questions and closing thoughts on loving your work

Overall Tone & Takeaway

The episode is warmly reflective, direct, and gently provocative. Rey encourages listeners to move beyond external measures of success, urging a return to self-examination and love of the work itself. The central message: When you love what you create, you create something truly worth loving—and that’s as true in organizations as it is in art.