What a Smart Refrigerator Taught Me About Strategy, Boundaries, and Filling Your Cup
- Cathey Wise
- Oct 14
- 2 min read
What a Smart Refrigerator Taught Me About Strategy, Boundaries, and Filling Your Cup
When we renovated our kitchen in 2010 - and again in 2020 - we celebrated the fresh countertops, repurposed space, and shiny new appliances. Fast forward 15 years, and those appliances are retiring one by one.
The first to go? The refrigerator.
We replaced it with a sleek, smart refrigerator equipped with an app that does more than chill food - it offers a quiet lesson in self-care, boundaries, and intentional living.
Strategic Self-Care Starts with System Checks
The app sends real-time updates:
Device Care: Working properly.
It’s a simple prompt, but it mirrors something deeper. Just as we monitor the health of our appliances, we should scan our own systems - mental, physical, emotional - to ensure we’re showing up as our best selves.
It’s the same principle I apply in consulting: check the systems, assess the signals, and recalibrate when needed.
Whether it’s a smart watch nudging you to stand or a colleague needing a quick virtual “pop-in,” small actions reinforce strategic alignment.
Boundaries Are Built, Not Assumed
Smart appliances don’t overextend. They operate within defined parameters - cooling zones, energy modes, and scheduled resets. We should too.
Setting boundaries isn’t just about saying no - it’s about creating space for what matters.
Dinner with family. Focused work time. Rest. Connection.
At Wise Strategies Group, we help organizations do the same: define their strategic zones, protect their energy, and build sustainable rhythms that support long-term impact.
Boundaries aren’t barriers, they’re bridges to clarity and purpose.
Fill Your Cup - Intentionally
This fridge has an internal autofill pitcher that delivers cold, filtered water without the mess. Our old model had an external dispenser that often left puddles and streaks. The upgrade is subtle but meaningful.
Still, the pitcher doesn’t fill itself. We have to place the cup.
It’s a reminder: in life and leadership, we can’t wait for others to fill our cup with purpose, joy, or clarity.
We must position ourselves – intentionally- to be refreshed. That’s true whether you’re launching a new initiative, refining your messaging, or simply carving out time for dinner with people that matter to you.
At Wise Strategies Group, we help purpose-driven organizations do just that: scan their systems, set boundaries, and fill their strategic cup with clarity and impact.
Even a smart refrigerator can offer a lesson worth sharing.
Let’s connect if you’re ready to recalibrate your strategy or refresh your messaging.
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