We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Elle Benson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Elle, appreciate you joining us today. One of our favorite things to hear about is stories around the nicest thing someone has done for someone else – what’s the nicest thing someone has ever done for you?

When my family relocated to Nashville in 2021 for my husband’s job, it was one of the most challenging times of our lives. We had a newborn baby, no family nearby, and were navigating the isolation of new parenthood, transitioning our kindergarten into a new school, all without the support system we had always relied on. To make matters worse, we were right in the middle of the formula shortage, and my baby boy had a dairy allergy that severely limited what formula he could consume. Grocery stores were rationing, only allowing the purchase of two bottles of formula at a time. Each bottle only lasted a day, and that left me constantly scrambling to make sure my child had what he needed.

In my desperation, I reached out to my new neighborhood’s Facebook group—just hoping that someone might let me know if they saw the formula on a shelf so I could run and get it. What I didn’t expect was for an absolute angel to step up and change everything. This woman—someone I didn’t even know—saw my post and didn’t just scroll past it. She called store after store, made connections with managers, found out when shipments were arriving, and she did what I could never have done alone: she secured several months’ worth of formula for my baby boy.

I didn’t know her before this, but I’ll never forget her incredible generosity. She didn’t have to help. She didn’t have to go out of her way. But she did, and her kindness brought me to tears. This wasn’t just a Facebook post to her; it was a chance to show up for another mom in need. And she continues to show up for our neighborhood, time and time again, always lifting others up.

I am forever grateful to her—and to all the women here in Nashville who stand together and support one another. This community feels like home now, and it’s because of people like her who make it that way.

Elle, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

While working to support nonprofit organizations in East Tennessee, I became a passionate advocate for something I believe is critical to their success: supporting the nonprofit workforce. Over time, my focus expanded beyond organizational impact to something much more personal—our well-being as individuals. Positive psychology, and in particular, the science of happiness, has captured my heart and mind. What began as a personal journey has turned into something I feel called to share with others. I’ve spent the last eight years diving deep into the science, understanding how it can help reduce burnout and, in turn, lead to greater community change.

Now, I’m taking this passion a step further through my own research, in partnership with Belmont University, exploring how the power of novelty impacts happiness. My hypothesis is simple but profound: when we reduce expectations and allow ourselves to show up more vulnerably in life’s experiences, we can find shortcuts to happiness. We create more joy, build deeper relationships, and rediscover what it means to truly connect. To test this, I’ve been hosting “happiness labs,” where I invite people to unique, fun events—without telling them the activity or destination. It’s an experiment in letting go and embracing the unknown. And while it hasn’t always been easy—especially in a world where anxiety is high and we’re used to knowing every detail before we commit—the early data is showing something beautiful. People are feeling the shift, and it’s leading to positive outcomes.

I’ve also made a personal commitment as part of this journey: to do at least one novel thing each day. Running a business, raising two young children, and keeping up with life’s demands doesn’t always make it easy. But if I can do it, anyone can. So far, I’ve experienced over 500 unique moments of novelty, and what I’ve learned is this: it’s the small, spontaneous, and unexpected moments that bring the most joy. It’s in those micro-moments where true connection and happiness often live.

As I look toward 2025, I’m excited to write my book on how to create novelty as a daily routine—something I believe we can all benefit from. But you don’t have to wait until then. Start today, even with something as small as ordering a different flavor of latte or taking a new route to work. These tiny changes can make a huge difference in our happiness, and I invite you to join me on this journey of discovery. Let’s create more joy, one small shift at a time.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

Nonprofit Leadership LLC is now three years in, and the lessons I’ve learned along the way have shaped both me and my business in profound ways. In that first year, I found myself saying “yes” to every opportunity that came my way, eager to build something meaningful. But as I’ve grown, I’ve come to understand the importance of being more intentional and strategic with the clients I take on and the missions I choose to align with. You learn a lot from firing a client.

The biggest lesson? It’s all about values. I’ve learned to ensure, right from the start, that there’s a strong match in values and that there’s a cultural and communication fit between my team and the nonprofit before we dive into any meaningful work. It’s about building the right foundation for a partnership that can truly thrive.

Another key realization: you can’t be all things to all people. We’re not Nutella! I’ve come to understand that to be truly effective, you have to focus on your greatest strengths—and no more than three. Offering too much waters down the impact you can have. When I stick to what I do best, that’s where I see the most change.

For me, the most rewarding part of this work is when I am personally connected to the outcome—when I truly care about a nonprofit’s theory of change and I’m invested in the impact they’re working toward. Yes, I have a growth mindset, but it’s not rooted in financial growth. It’s rooted in making a difference. I believe that when we focus on the change we can create, the money will follow. It’s about leading with purpose, and that’s what drives me every single day.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

Another lesson I’m still learning, and one that has been especially challenging, is putting a price on the value of the work I do. Being in the nonprofit sector, I see firsthand how every dollar is stretched to support the most vulnerable in our communities. It’s hard to send an invoice when I know that those funds are going directly toward making a real difference in people’s lives.

If I could do everything pro bono, I absolutely would. But I’ve come to understand that there is immense value in my expertise and experience—and that value comes with a price. It’s not just about the time and effort I put in; it’s about the results that come from truly investing in the change we’re working toward. It’s been a journey of realizing that the work I do is worth something, and that by honoring that worth, I’m not only supporting my own sustainability, but also reinforcing the value of the impact we’re creating together.

It’s about finding that balance between giving and knowing when to ask for what you’ve earned, and it’s a lesson I continue to navigate.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.nonprofit-leadership.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cultivateyourhappiness
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellebenson/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuZ7GInQxn_6x198eZmtGBQWiNwwkbL7L
• Other: https://www.ellebenson.com/

Image Credits

Elle Danielle
Merkat Marketing
Piccolo Solutions
Clara Henk