Your Complete Checklist to Writing a Résumé From Scratch

Photo: ColorJoy Stock by Christina Jones Photography

Writing a résumé is hard, and it’s often something that’s not taught in school, so consider this your crash course in how to write a résumé that will land you the job.

Now, first things first. Before you start listing your qualifications, it’s important to know what you want to gain from your résumé. What are you going to use it for? Will you be applying to higher education programs, internships, or jobs? If you’re already in the workforce, do you want to stay on the same career path or do you want to transition into something different?

Your résumé will differ greatly depending on your answers to these questions, so it’s crucial to go through this exercise before getting started. Next, you’ll want to gather your information. So let’s get started.

Contact Information

When you’re figuring out what information to include on a résumé, start with the basics. You should always create a header with your contact information. Make sure you include the following:

• Phone number

• Email address

• Location (Just include your city and state; no need to write down your exact address.)

• Website if applicable (Note this is NOT your LinkedIn profile. If you’re using LinkedIn correctly, you will be easily searchable, so there’s no need to include the direct link on your résumé.)

Headlining Statement

A headlining statement is a crucial part of a résumé. It takes the place of what once was an “objective” but is much more effective. Think of a headlining statement as a snapshot of your career. It’s a quick two to three sentence maximum statement about who you are, what you do, and what value you bring as a candidate.

Skills Matrix

Putting your skills toward the top of the document immediately increases the effectiveness of your résumé. Recruiters look at a résumé for approximately six seconds. That means you have mere moments to show that you are qualified and demonstrate what you bring to the table. When you put your skills matrix towards the top, this shows the reader exactly what you have to offer and highlights that you are qualified for the position right off the bat.

The faster you can grab someone’s attention and persuade them you’re the right candidate for the position, the more likely you’ll be to get past the initial influx of applicants.

Employment Information

Depending on what stage you’re at in your career, you might not have traditional employment information. If you do have traditional work experience, gather your dates of employment, (month and year) job description, projects you worked on, and any additional information you can include like how many people you managed.

If you are in school or are just starting out in your career, you’ll want to include volunteer work and/or internship information. If you need to add even more relevant industry experience, include information about relevant school projects you worked on. This will help highlight your ability to work on a given project under constraints and will help highlight your relevant industry knowledge.

If you are listing class projects on your résumé, use the school name in place of the company name, and include something along the lines of “[Class Title] Project Manager,” “Student Project Manager,” or “[Class Title] Student” in place of a job title.

Specific Metrics and Achievements for Each Role

The key to a great résumé is highlighting exactly what you’ve achieved and what you can bring to a new role. This is not the place to include a general job description that can be used for anyone with that job title. Include specific information about what you did, how many people you worked with or managed, projects you worked on, and project results to ensure that your résumé immediately reflects your achievements and what you can bring to the table.

Anyone can say that they’re great at their job, but very few people can actually show it. When you’re noting your achievements, think about how you can quantify what you’ve done.

Education Information

Unless it is your highest level of education or you are in your first year of college, do not include information about your high school diploma. Similarly, there is no need to include GPA unless you’re currently in school and have a very high GPA (3.8 or above).

When it comes to listing education, start with the highest level of education at the top and list backward from there. For example:

PhD information
Master’s information
Bachelor’s information
High School information

Unless you are currently in school or are in a profession where your degree is a key factor, (i.e. medicine, law, etc.) your education should be listed at the bottom of your résumé. If you are in school or in one of the professions where your education is very important, your education will go towards the top under your skills list.

Certifications and Specialized Training

Including certifications and specialized training on your résumé make a huge difference in how impactful your document is. Even if you don’t have specific certifications but you’ve had internal training, taken an online course, or even just an online tutorial, include that on your résumé.

About the Author: Michele Lando is a certified professional résumé writer, personal branding expert, and founder of Write Styles. She has a passion for helping others present the best version of themselves both on paper and in person and works to polish individuals' application package and personal style. Aiming to help create a perfect personal branding package, Write Styles provides resources to enhance your résumé, professional appearance, and boost your confidence. Michele strives to help others gain the confidence to put their best foot forward in a personal and professional light.

This story was originally published on January 6, 2020, and has since been updated.

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3 Major Salary Negotiation Mistakes to Avoid (and What to Do Instead)

Photo: Smith House Photo

Negotiating, much like networking, is something we need to know how to do, yet it’s not a skill we are ever taught in school. But unlike networking, making a big mistake during a salary negotiation won’t just cost you a relationship, it may result in thousands of dollars being left on the table. So what exactly do you need to know when it comes to making the big ask? Here are the top three things to avoid doing in your next negotiation.

1. Getting Defensive

Let’s say you have taken on more responsibilities and put in way more overtime than your peers this past year. However, during your performance review, your boss informs you that you will only be getting the standard 3% raise due to budget constraints.  

In the heat of the moment, your heart rate will naturally jump through the roof in frustration.

What to do instead:

Instead of snapping back with how unfair this is, take a nice deep breath and allow for silence. Slowing the conversation down rather than jumping into a response will create space for you to be thoughtful in your answer rather than reactive.

2. Giving In Too Quickly

Now that you’ve given yourself a moment to breathe, you can start to prepare your response. While it’s natural to worry about what will happen if you ask for more, don’t let the fear of rejection keep you from getting what you deserve.

I’m here to tell you that negotiation is a normal and expected part of working. While your boss may secretly be hoping you don’t push back, they won’t become offended when you do (and if they do, it may be an important red flag to take note of).

What to do instead:

Instead of quickly giving in, restate your value and get their buy-in. For example, “I understand that constraints in the budget must be difficult. However, the amount of hours and effort I have been putting in for the company goes well beyond the standard expectations and performance, wouldn’t you say?”

3. Not Aiming High Enough

Lastly, when discussing pay, it’s natural to worry that if you go too high you will either offend the other party, lose the position, or come across as greedy.

However, you shouldn’t lower your expectations in order to come across as more agreeable.  By starting with a “safer” sounding number you are doing the work for them, and negotiating against yourself before the conversation has even begun.

What to do instead:

Focus on the facts and then aim high.

Do your research and get clear on a salary range that is both fair and reasonable. Next, instead of lowering your standards in order to come across as more agreeable, start at the top of the range.  

For the example above, if a 3 to 8% raise is reasonable, don’t lower your expectations to a safer sounding 5%. Instead, anchor high and say, “I was really hoping that given the results I’ve produced in the past year, that I would get at least an 8 percent increase. Do you think that’s something we could work toward?”

Interestingly enough, by anchoring higher, you actually give your boss the psychological feeling that they just got a “deal.” Let them feel the sweet pleasure of a deal, while you allow yourself the sweet reward of a higher paycheck!

So, in conclusion…

Negotiating doesn’t have to be scary or hard. No one will advocate for you in the same way you can advocate for yourself. You are in control of your financial well-being, and you know the value that you create. Now, share it with the world! And most importantly, share it with your boss when you ask for that next raise. This awkward and uncomfortable situation will only last a few minutes, and it may result in thousands of more dollars in your bank account.

“You shouldn’t lower your expectations in order to come across as more agreeable.”

—Kathlyn Hart, Financial Empowerment Coach

About the author: Kathlyn Hart is a financial empowerment coach and a motivational speaker who supports ambitious women earn more. Her salary negotiation boot camp “Be Brave Get Paid,” which teaches women how to confidently own their worth and ask for more, has helped women increase their income by an average of $15,000.  In addition, she is the host of The Kathlyn Hart Show, where she interviews entrepreneurial women about their journey from dreaming to doing.

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This post was originally published on March 26, 2019, and has since been updated.

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Projector is the Collaborative Graphic Design Tool We’ve Been Searching For

The power of visuals in modern communication is undeniable. In the world of social media, 63% of content is made up of images, and according to Quicksprout, content with quality visuals receive 94% more views and engagement than those without. Strong visuals play an important role in all facets of business, helping you connect with an audience faster, and with more emotion, than words alone.

If you own or operate a business, you’re in the business of visual communication. From Instagram and TikTok to pitch decks, presentations and print materials, visual language filters into all channels and mediums of your business. The right designs can help bring your brand to life–and thankfully, tools like Projector make it easy for teams to create professional-looking visual content, regardless of whether you have a design background or not.

With a robust selection of templates, tools and features, Projector is the collaborative graphic design tool we’ve been searching for. It’s an entirely browser-based platform that helps teams work efficiently and in real-time. (Think: Google Docs for graphic design). From launching a social channel from scratch, to crafting a deck for your next campaign, in Projector, it's fast (and fun!) for anyone to create multimedia stories for any channel or medium. Keep reading to learn more about Projector, our favorite new design tool, and discover all the ways it can help you build and scale your business.

What is Projector? 

Projector is an entirely-browser based, collaborative tool for designing visual content. It’s powerful enough to support advanced multimedia layout and editing, but accessible and approachable for someone who’s never used professional design software before.

Who is it for?

Anyone who creates content for work. In Projector, people from all different kinds of skill sets–– writers, brand strategists, community managers, executives, marketers, creatives and designers –– can work together in one space that feels approachable and powerful for each of them.

What can you make with it?

Presentations, social posts and stories, email banners, zines, zoom backgrounds, digital flyers, pdfs, videos, and GIFs to name a few... Start from scratch, or get inspiration from a curated library of modern templates that can easily be customized in any way you want. Whether you’re running an Instagram channel for a brand, trying to launch a creative-side hustle, crafting a proposal deck or looking to spruce up your own portfolio and feed, Projector gives you one space to create everything.

How does it work?

Browse a curated library of professionally-designed templates (i.e. Instagram templates for highlighting your product or community, presentations for planning your editorial calendar, etc)

Stylize text and add movement with special media effects. Fill letters with videos, images, or GIFs, and add gradients, shadows, or outlines to create your own unique text styles.

Discover imagery, icons and more with the best content integrations via Unsplash, Shutterstock, Giphy, and Noun Project (for free!)

Share your story with a link to comment, collaborate, and present in real-time.

Why should you try it?

If you're looking for a more efficient and collaborative way to create visual content, Projector can help. They're making it easier for more people to connect with their audience through modern, multimedia design — and we all know good design is good business, after all.

Sign up here for free to give Projector a try.

This Is How Hustle Culture Can Destroy Your Business

Photo: ColorJoy Stock by Christina Jones Photography

There’s a scam out there that I’ve fallen for, and I’m not the only one. It has cost people their marriages and their businesses, it has cost them financially, emotionally, and mentally. It's brutal. And it may surprise you to hear that this scam? It’s the hustle culture.

As an entrepreneur, I know what it means to hit that mental fatigue point. When it happened to me, I didn’t want to ask for help. I didn’t think that’s what successful entrepreneurs do, and I didn’t want to appear weak. Unfortunately, it landed me in the hospital. You can say it won’t happen to you, but you need to know what to look out for and keep yourself in check because if it does happen, it can be incredibly hard to recover. 

If you want to avoid falling victim to hustle culture, here are a few things worth remembering.

1. Be Intentional About the Content You Post

As humans, when we are exhausted, we look for external stimulation. The use of social media has made it incredibly easy to find validation, but—unfortunately—It’s dangerous. We get this hit of dopamine when people are liking and commenting on our posts, and that leads to us wanting more. As a result, it creates this noise effect online where everybody is basically shouting to get space because they need to feel validated. If you do that for long enough, you just tend to burn yourself out because it's not humanly possible to create high-quality content every single day. 

You don't have to be posting every day on social media to be relevant, impactful, and helpful. Instead, focus on being intentional about the content you create—not just contributing to the noise in order to generate leads and customers. Ultimately, it’s about the quality of your followers, not the quantity. Just because you have a million followers doesn't mean you have a million buyers, and there are tons of broke influencers out there to prove it. 

2. Don’t Compete With Influencers Who Have a Huge Team Behind Them

There’s a good chance that if you come across someone who is constantly posting content, they’re not flying solo. In fact, they probably have a huge team of 30+ people behind them. There is absolutely no way for a solopreneur or even someone with a small team to ever start to compete with that much creative energy. 

Remember the influencers I mentioned before? You know the ones that have the followers, but nothing else to show for it? The real reason they're constantly creating content and building their audience is that they really aren't sure how to monetize it, or they are promoting products that really aren’t very good. Just focus on creating profitable content that has purpose and intention and you’ll end up on top. 

3. Be Mindful of the Law of Diminishing Returns

We are not built to work all the time, and we're not built to push all the time. It’s not healthy for us. When you hit a certain point where you want to just power through a task because in your mind, being busy means you’re worthy, you need to take a break. 

You see, the law of diminishing returns is that if you're constantly pushing, you’ll build momentum and see results at first. But when you peak? The quality of what you are putting out decreases. Eventually, you get to a certain point where your brain just shuts off and you start to actually do yourself a disservice and do yourself harm. When you’re tired—and when you hit that point of diminishing returns—you’re very vulnerable to making bad decisions. You’re likely to do things reactively and make short-term decisions for something that you're trying to build into a long-term business. 

A metaphor I like to use is that you can’t go to the gym and lift weights for 24 hours straight. You are going to injure yourself—but this is how people are approaching business and entrepreneurship. They're trying to keep going no matter how irrational it is to stay at the highest level of energy and capacity. It’s just not normal. And it's not humanly possible. Instead, think about the long game. Try to be less reactive, and focus on understanding why you're doing what you're doing.

4. Figure Out How to Make Your Business Model Easier

The moment when I figured out how to simplify my business and do less was when my business started to grow. When I was hustling my face off, didn't have a team, and ultimately landed in the hospital with burnout, my business wasn’t even benefitting from my hard work. I was trying to do everything myself, and I didn’t even stop long enough to even wonder, why am I doing this? Did I want my version of success to be in a hospital bed, tired all the time, feeling like I'm sacrificing my sanity, my relationships, and my health? 

After my burnout, I became obsessed with the most successful entrepreneurs, and I realized that the ones I admire most didn’t work all the time. They are laser-focused with their priorities and time. They stay in their genius zone, they stay in their lane, and they focus on the basics. Make a great product, innovate, constantly test it, and become customer-obsessed. They embrace failure and they embrace joy. They define their worth by their contribution to the world, their quality of life, and the relationships that they build. Because—if you want to be successful—you need to build your business to work for you, not against you. 

"If you want to be successful, you need to build your business to work for you, not against you."

—Sunny Lenarduzzi, Social Media Consultant and Business Growth Coach

About the author: Sunny Lenarduzzi is a social media consultant and business growth coach who has earned eight figures in the past four years teaching people how to elevate their brands using video marketing, Sunny’s YouTube channel has amassed over 27 million views and her expertise has been featured in outlets including Entrepreneur, Forbes, Fast Company and Inc—and she's incredibly passionate about sharing her message around entrepreneurship, generosity, and success with the world. She has enrolled over 8,000 clients from around the world into her online programs, YouTube for Bosses and The Authority Accelerator. Connect with her on Instagram @sunnylenarduzzi.

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17 Successful Women Share the Insightful Books That Supercharged Their Careers

In this age of information, we have everything we need to start a new business, create a website, or set up a budget right at our fingertips—Google is a powerful tool. But sometimes you need a deep dive into the topic to truly understand the scope of what’s required from every angle—that’s when we turn to books. In our series, Turning a Page, we ask successful people to share their go-to tomes that helped transform their business, career, or money mindset. Whether you listen to them or need to physically flip the pages (and write notes or underline the text like us!), there is so much power in self-educating. Ready to turn a page in your career? These books will help take you there.

Photo: ColorJoy Stock by Christina Jones Photography

Our career roadmaps are typically anything but linear. In fact, there are often many different paths to find success, which can make navigating the process that much more difficult. Fortunately, an abundance of trailblazing leaders have paved the way to show us that anything is possible, and many of their journeys have been documented in powerful books that are readily available to us.

To narrow down the seemingly endless options out there, we tapped 17 incredible women to uncover the books that have supercharged their careers, helped them land promotions, lead companies, and, ultimately, shaped the ways they’re positively impacting the world around them. Their recommendations—like their backgrounds—are eclectic. They include titles from a corporate lens, an entrepreneurial perspective, and even the viewpoint of a symphony orchestra player turned consultant. 

Emily Chen

Founder of Emcstudioco

The Book: “You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life” by Jen Sincerio

The Key Takeaway: As creatives and entrepreneurs, we so often fall into the mindset of scarcity. This book helped me shift my mindset when I was starting my creative studio and first entrepreneurial venture. It made me realize we are all born with innate gifts and that fulfilling our purpose allows others around us to step into theirs.

Samantha Patil

Co-Founder and CEO of Well Traveled

The Book: “Everything Is Figureoutable” by Marie Forleo

The Key Takeaway: A couple of years ago I made the decision to walk away from my stable and successful career that I'd put 10 years of work into building. I dove into the path of entrepreneurship and I couldn't be happier that I did. Entrepreneurship is scary, exciting, frustrating, exhausting, and thrilling all the time and I wouldn't have it any other way. I read Forleo's book not long after taking the plunge into running my own business and now have the words "everything is figureoutable" in a frame on my desk. The minute I start to think, "What am I doing? I don't know how to do this!" I look at those words and I get back to work. I've realized I'm stronger, more capable, and more resilient than I ever imagined, and Forleo's book and these words often help me give myself the pep talk I need whenever I'm feeling overwhelmed.

Yewande Faloyin

Founder and CEO of OTITỌ Leadership Coaching & Consulting

The Book: “Lost Connections: Why You’re Depressed and How to Find Hope” by Johann Hari 

The Key Takeaway: After two years of exhaustion and burnout, “Lost Connections” reminded me that I am so much more than what I do. It emphasized the significance of connecting to more than just my work for success, fulfillment, and satisfaction. This book would benefit anyone seeking to find true, lasting success in all areas of their life, recognizing that when we thrive in one area, it elevates the others! Understanding how depression can result from one being disconnected from different yet equally important areas in one's life helped me to confidently quit my consulting job at McKinsey and build a business that I love in a way that connects with, supports, and amplifies all other areas of my life.

Olivia Bowser

Founder and CEO of Liberate

The Book: “The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment” by Eckhart Tolle

The Key Takeaway: Each page opened my eyes to what life could feel like when living fully embodied in the here and now. I realized that I had so often been consumed by obsessing about the past or ruminating over the future that I was missing what was right in front of me. By living for the now, I can create positive change, be a better leader, and be the best version of myself.

Sophia Sunwoo

Founder and Principal of Ascent Strategy

The Book: “Profit First: Transform Your Business from a Cash-Eating Monster to a Money-Making” Machine by Mike Michalowicz

The Key Takeaway: I have never met an entrepreneur who has read this book and hasn’t raved about how drastically it has changed how they manage their money and helped them turn a profit in their business. There really isn’t anyone who wouldn’t benefit from this book—it’s simply genius and sets you up to always have cash on hand for payroll and to self-fund any desired investments for your business. If you want to boost your financial literacy and wield your money to your desires, read this book.

Sam Ogborn

Founder and CEO of Once + More

The Book: “Everybody Lies: Big Data, New Data, and What the Internet Can Tell Us About Who We Really Are” by Seth Stephens-Davidowitz

The Key Takeaway: This book helped me understand the socially acceptable conversations we all have versus our personal, inner thoughts, and feelings. This book has been invaluable for my career as it's helped me understand true human nature and the importance of reading between the lines.

Mariya Leona Illarionova

Founder and Creative Director of Wild Side Studio

The Book: “Start Something That Matters” by Blake Mycoskie 

The Key Takeaway: This book changed my perspective on business and pivoted my career. At the time, I was working in a laboratory at Brookfield Zoo. The book inspired me to quit the lab, dive into the startup world, and eventually start my own business. Mycoskie taught me that we can use capitalism as a tool to redistribute wealth and better our planet. I recommend this book to anyone who feels let down by society and the professional world. Reading it gave me the momentum to follow my heart and to be the change I wish to see in the world.

Lori Abichandani

Founder and Brand Strategist at A Big Idea

The Book: “Setting the Table: The Transforming Power of Hospitality in Business” by Danny Meyer

The Key Takeaway: I love this book—so much of my philosophy on life and business has been shaped by it. It emphasizes the importance of self-awareness, cultivating strong culture, leading with generosity, and building to last instead of building for trends. It's truly a timeless read. While set in the hospitality industry, there are lessons to be found for anyone building a company from the ground up. I highly recommend it to entrepreneurs or aspiring entrepreneurs of all kinds.

Alex Cooley

Founder of AC Electric

The Book: “The Path of Least Resistance: Learning to Become the Creative Force in Your Own Life” by Robert Fritz

The Key Takeaway: This is not a business book. Robert Fritz is a symphony orchestra player turned consultant of all things. The book's main idea is that addressing life, business, and societal concerns is not just about tackling its problems but about envisioning an altogether new, idealized vision. This implementation with structural change is a powerful perspective on how to solve nearly any situation. It's the first book I have my clients read and is so great for anyone who wants to own a vision and make a big impact in their industry and society.

Maiko Sakai

Founder and Lead Strategist at Airtight Concepts

The Book: “Radical Candor (Be a Kick-Ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity)” by Kim Scott

The Key Takeaway: The revised version is key because the newly added parts clarify Scott’s true intention for the framework as well as her definition of radical candor, which was misunderstood and meme’d when the first edition was released. This is one of those books that makes me say, “I wish I’d written it!” with the utmost respect. Scott’s decision to work on the revised version and how sincere and transparent she was with the process left me thinking about how to revamp my work and my business for days. I was deeply inspired by her candid ways to continuously improve the framework she created and truly walk the walk as a boss and as an entrepreneur. I highly recommend this book to all entrepreneurs who aspire to create their own intellectual property but have doubts creeping up and/or are planning on building and nurturing a kick-ass team for their businesses.

Kim Kaupe

Founder of Bright Ideas Only

The Book: “Hearts, Smarts, Guts and Luck: What It Takes to Be an Entrepreneur and Build a Great Business” by Anthony Tjan, Richard Harrington, and Tsun-Yan Hsieh

The Key Takeaway: This was the first book to help me understand what my entrepreneurial mapping was thanks to their first-ever Entrepreneurial Aptitude Test. I could see where my strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities were when it came to building my business and expanding my dreams. I recommend it to anyone who wants to start a company or lead change.

Melinda Wang

Founder of MW Projects

The Book: “Surely You’re Joking, Mr. Feynman! Adventures of a Curious Character” by Richard P. Feynman

The Key Takeaway: I came across this book by Nobel Prize-winning physicist Richard Feynman when I was in middle school and only recently did I realize how much it impacted my life, both professionally and personally. This semi-autobiographical book is a collection of anecdotes of Feynman’s adventures in theoretical physics, Brazilian samba, academia, visual art, safe-cracking, and more. Words of wisdom about authentic knowledge, intellectual idealism, and the importance of following through on curiosities flow throughout the stories. Meeting this self-professed curious character inspired me to not only follow my passions across art, law, and entrepreneurship but to go deep and always challenge myself to learn more.

Lauren Rosenthal

Founder and Chief Chick of Birdie

The Book: “The Paradox of Choice: Why Less Is More” by Barry Schwartz

The Key Takeaway: This book finally gave me a term to explain what I'm addressing with my app, Birdie! So many people are familiar with the book that as soon as I bring up "The Paradox of Choice" everyone understands the issue and how important it is to solve. I believe everyone can benefit from this book. We are all so inundated with options on a daily basis, so better understanding how the paradox of choice impacts us can help change our mindset and reduce unnecessary stress and anxiety.

Lori Sussle Bonanni

Founder and Communications Consultant at Elssus, LLC

The Book: “Vagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travel” by Rolf Potts

The Key Takeaway: I read this for the first time while traveling solo during my career break in South America nearly a decade ago. Travel is a real-life choose-your-own-adventure novel, especially if you travel without being tethered to an itinerary like me. Ultimately, the benefits of travel—curiosity, creativity, flexibility, and an increased tolerance for uncertainty—make me a stronger entrepreneur.

Dina Kaplan

Founder and CEO of The Path

The Book: “The Surrender Experiment: My Journey into Life's Perfection” by Michael A. Singer

The Key Takeaway: Singer shows how much we can change our lives, and our careers, by making new choices about how we want to live. He also shows that it is possible to lead a company while being kind and ethical. I think about the decisions he made constantly as I remind myself that I can change my life—and the lives of others—by always choosing to act ethically, and that I can lead my team by being strong but also caring. This book will benefit people leading companies or teams or really anyone open to believing they have the power within themselves to be happy and to control their destiny.

Wadeeha Jackson

Director of Compliance and Ops at HXRO Game Ltd

The Book: “Expect to Win: 10 Proven Strategies for Thriving in the Workplace” by Carla Harris 

The Key Takeaway: “Expect to Win” was a game-changer for me during the earlier part of my career in the finance industry. For me, the key takeaway was the importance of having a sponsor. As a young professional, you usually seek seasoned professionals for mentorship. Throughout the book, Harris points out that a sponsor provides influence and expresses a willingness to advocate on your behalf. Unlike mentorship, sponsors serve as a direct pipeline toward unique opportunities to push your career forward.

Trish Boes

Leadership and Life Coach at Soul Leadership Solutions, LLC

The Book: “The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You're Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are” by Brené Brown

The Key Takeaway: This book totally rocked my world and is one of the reasons why I chose to become a leadership coach years ago. It introduced me to the concept of perfectionism, which, eight years ago, I didn't know was a thing. I realized that I was a perfectionist and that a lot of the things I was doing in my career were based around people-pleasing and avoiding feelings of shame, which eventually led to my burnout. I still read this book regularly because it reminds me to lean into vulnerability and prioritize wholehearted living, which means engaging in our own lives from a place of courage and worthiness. This is a must-read for anyone who wants to reconnect with their own brilliance and to let go of feelings of burnout, imposter syndrome, or constant self-judgment.

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“Don’t Take the First Offer” and More Negotiating Advice to Close the Gender Pay Gap From Jennifer Justice

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Here’s a startling statistic: 20% of women never negotiate. To put that into context, a woman who doesn’t negotiate her starting salary upon graduating from college will lose between $650,000 and $1 million over the course of a 45-year career, according to Harvard Business Review. In order to close the gender pay gap, we need to narrow the gender negotiation gap. However, we know that’s easier said than done.

For tips on how to negotiate, we turned to none other than Jennifer Justice, a former music attorney who has orchestrated major deals for artists like Beyoncé and Rihanna. Justice (and yes, that’s her real name) has spent much of her career working to close the gender pay gap and even founded The Justice Dept., a management, strategy, and legal firm that works almost exclusively with women, in order to help more women succeed in business and get paid what they’re worth.

Ahead, Justice reveals how she’s navigated negotiations as a woman in a traditionally male-dominated industry and shares her top three tips for getting what you want once you’re at the negotiating table.

CREATE & CULTIVATE: You’ve worked with some of the hardest-working women in the music industry, including Beyoncé. What have you learned from negotiating deals for some of the most successful women in the business? 

JENNIFER JUSTICE: I have learned that women do much better having female advocates. We think differently, we assess risk differently, we go through different life changes, so we need our advocates to understand how we think. We aren’t brought up with business vernacular, and female advocates understand this. We need to embrace our changes and find the advocates who understand this about us.  

Can you tell us about the first major deal you negotiated for a female professional in the music industry? What went right and what went wrong? When did you first notice the glaring gender pay gap in the industry?

I was representing women and men in the industry. I did a deal with a major publishing company for an entry-level director executive who was male—he was offered off the bat $130k. He hadn’t signed anyone yet (ie. brought in any revenue) and they were paying him for potential.

I then did a deal for the senior director for the same department—female—and her first offer was $90k. I was outraged. Why was this okay? Not only with the company, but in general? I fought for her and fought for her and they raised it to $100k but said she didn’t have enough experience yet.

So moral of the story was: men get hired on potential and women for experience. This is still true to this day and there is a ton of research to back it up.  

“Try to do business with as many women as you can. Build each other up so we have our own table instead of asking for a seat at a table you don’t even really want to be at.”

— Jennifer Justice, CEO & Founder, The Justice Dept.

How have you navigated negotiations as a woman in a traditionally male-dominated industry? Have you found that men in the room treat you differently? How have you overcome that and earned the respect you have today? What advice can you share?

As a woman, I had to repeat myself all the time and be relentless to get what I wanted. Men definitely treated me differently, from flirting, to calling me “kiddo,” “sweetie,” and “honey,” to total sexual harassment, offering me the deal if I gave them what they wanted. 

But I didn’t let it stop me. I just kept going and getting the best deals I could. I was relentless and probably got my way mostly because not only was I right, they couldn’t get me to stop.I nagged them to death. After a while, I was experienced enough with enough years and reputation behind me that I didn’t have to use those tactics, but I shouldn’t have had to in the first place.

My advice: be relentless and call it out if you see the same misogynistic behavior. Try to do business with as many women as you can. Build each other up so we have our own table instead of asking for a seat at a table you don’t even really want to be at.

Negotiating—especially for money—takes confidence. Is this something that comes naturally to you or did you have to work on it? How did you develop that skill set? What advice can you share on cultivating confidence? 

It’s always easy negotiating for money for someone else. It’s not easy doing it for yourself—even for me. There is a saying, any lawyer that represents themselves has a fool for a client.  Same applies to you—try to have someone else negotiate. If you can’t or can’t afford it, you need to practice, you need to pretend you are negotiating for your kids—because that is who you represent, ultimately—not your job, but your family or whatever else you really love. Do it for them and it will make it so much easier!

How do you determine your worth so you can fight for what you deserve as well as for what your clients deserve in a negotiation? What tips can you share for others trying to determine their worth before walking into a negotiation?

My worth is my experience. What takes me 15 minutes could take others hours. I should get paid more for that and I do. I look at the market rates, my experience, my expertise, and I ask others how they charge. I do the same for my clients. Women do a lot of “free” work and give a lot of “free” advice. We need to charge for it—all of it—and really embrace that we are worth it. So you can have an hour of my time, after that, I deserve to get paid for my advice.  

“More money in women’s hands means more money in the economy—we control 80% of the purchasing power. Pay us and we will make the world a better place.  ”

— Jennifer Justice, CEO & Founder, The Justice Dept.

You’ve spent much of your career working to close the gender pay gap. What still needs to change in order for us to level the playing field?  

We all need to acknowledge that it exists, first of all.  Don’t say, “Oh, we have a lot of women at our company—over 50%.” Having women at the company isn’t the issue. It’s having women on the board (more than two), having women in the C-suite (more than two of them) in decision making and revenue-generating roles where their decisions are heard and implemented because they are running the companies. Then we all need to make it happen and keep it that way.

To me, there is an urgency. We should fight for it because we are 50% of the population. Equal pay is necessary on a human level, but also on a financial level. Companies do better when they have women on their boards, women in the exec decision-making roles, and more money in women’s hands means more money in the economy—we control 80% of the purchasing power. Pay us and we will make the world a better place.   

We can only imagine that you’ve negotiated hundreds of deals at this point, so we’d love to know: What are your top three negotiation tips? How do you enter a negotiation with confidence and secure the deal?

The first tip is to actually negotiate. Don’t take the first offer. Second, do your homework. Ask to see what the market is for what you are negotiating, ask people, be prepared.  Third, understand your goals and what you want. Know what you will give and what you absolutely must have so if you don’t get it, you can walk away.

This story was originally published on March 31, 2020, and has since been updated.

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#WFAnywhere With Style Blogger Jessica Ricks of Hapa Time

“Find a place that will give you the revitalization you crave and need.”

—Jessica Ricks, Style Blogger

With so many of us working from home in 2021, your office may look different—and that’s probably a good thing. According to a recent poll conducted by The New York Times and Morning Consult, 86% of remote workers say that they’re satisfied working from home and only one in five want to return to the office. As an increasing number of employers adopt flexible remote-work policies to keep employee satisfaction high and keep up with the changing times, we’re launching our #WFAnywhere series in partnership with Alaska Airlines to spotlight how remote workers balance work and play while working from anywhere (#WFAnywhere). Ahead, Jessica Ricks, the style blogger behind Hapa Time, shares her in-flight essentials for a safe and comfortable trip, her #1 tip for avoiding distractions while working in a new environment, and more tips on how to #WFAnywhere.

Where are you traveling? Why did you choose this location to work remotely?

Cabo! Because I love Mexican food and warm weather.

What are you most excited about your destination and why?

I’m most excited to relax by the pool and beach while enjoying great weather.

Why is it important to change up your scenery after being in quarantine?

While I love being at home, changing up the scenery really helps me feel refreshed and inspired.

What precautions are you taking before you leave to ensure a safe trip both while you’re traveling and once you arrive? What tips can you share? 

I always research a place before I go there, and I feel like it makes me feel safer to know what to expect. Also, when you go to Mexico, always have cash! And don’t throw away your import paper that you get when you arrive, because you need it when you leave!

What are your in-flight must-haves for ensuring your flight is as safe and comfortable as possible?

During COVID times, an N95 mask makes me feel safest, but otherwise, I just have to make sure I have water, snacks, and hand sanitizer. 

Are you a work-from-the-air kind of person, or do you use this time to disconnect?

It depends, but I usually like to disconnect while flying. A good movie helps the time pass faster.

What’s in your carry-on? What are some things you plan on taking with you to ensure you’re prepared to work and stay safe while you’re traveling during COVID? 

Whenever I travel by plane, I always put my valuables in my carry-on(s), so I always have a travel tote in addition to a carry-on suitcase. My tote includes my reusable water bottle, AirPods, ID, credit card, cash, snacks, pen, an external battery and cable, and a thin scarf that doubles as a blanket. My carry-on suitcase includes all my work tools such as my camera, lenses, laptop, mousepad, and mouse. I mostly work on my computer so it’s nice I can work anywhere. If outside noise is distracting me, I just pop in my AirPods Pro and choose the noise cancellation option.

While being away from home as a remote worker is fun, it can also be challenging if you don’t plan. Can you share three tips for working remotely while traveling that set you up for success?

First, make sure WiFi is accessible wherever you’re am planning to go. Second, always be prepared with food—whether that means bringing your own snacks or researching whether or not you can buy some at your destination. And third, I make sure to not get carried away enjoying myself because having a successful work-from-home trip, to me, is really about having a good balance of fun and work.

Do you set up a “virtual office” in your hotel? How do you set yourself up for success to avoid or minimize distractions?  

I don’t set up a virtual office exactly… a desk is ideal, but I can work anywhere where I can be in the shade at the very least (but inside is the best environment for color editing). Sometimes I need a place (like a desk)  to set up my mouse next to my computer.  And I try to only travel with someone who understands I need to work or can agree on a time to get work done. 

What are some of the activities you enjoyed at your destination during your WFAnywhere trip? 

We took a private water taxi to view the famous arch and then to visit a semi-remote beach. We also got to do a little horse-back riding along the beach. 

Any additional advice or info you can share on working from anywhere as a remote employee or independent contractor? 

Find a place that will give you the revitalization you crave and need.

Note: During COVID-19, travel restrictions are prone to change. Always check before departure and follow local guidance. Alaska Airlines is committed to your health and safety, learn more about Next-Level Care.

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#WFAnywhere With Content Creator and Influencer Aysha Harun

"As much as I love working from home and having a flexible schedule, it’s so important to get outside and soak in some vitamin D, fresh air, and experience something new."

—Aysha Harun, Content Creator and Influencer

With so many of us working from home in 2021, your office may look different—and that’s probably a good thing. According to a recent poll conducted by The Times and Morning Consult, 86% of remote workers say that they’re satisfied working from home and only one in five want to return to the office. As an increasing number of employers adopt flexible remote-work policies to keep employee satisfaction high and keep up with the changing times, we’re launching our #WFAnywhere series in partnership with Alaska Airlines to spotlight how remote workers balance work and play while working from anywhere (#WFAnywhere). Ahead, content creator and influencer Aysha Harun, shares the destination she’d love to travel to right now to #WFAnywhere, her #1 tip for avoiding distractions while working in a new environment, and more tips on how to #WFAnywhere.

Where would you love to travel to right now to #WFAnywhere?

I’d love to book a trip to Hawaii! Who wouldn’t want to work beside a breezy window by day and take a leisurely stroll along a postcard-perfect beach by sunset? I’m also conscious that Hawaii has set high standards for COVID safety and is closely following CDC guidance for keeping visitors as well as locals healthy and safe, which is very important to me. I’m of the mindset that it’s important to travel safely and thoughtfully at all times, not just during a pandemic, which is something I think we’ll see more of in 2021 and beyond.

Why is it important to change up your scenery after being in quarantine?

Staying home during quarantine really took a toll on my mental health. I think as humans we naturally feel the need to be social, and personally speaking as an extrovert, I REALLY missed being around people. As much as I love working from home and having a flexible schedule, it’s so important to get outside and soak in some vitamin D, fresh air, and experience something new. Especially if you work in a creative field, it can be difficult to feel inspired when you’re always in the same environment. Switching up your scenery is good for your mental, physical, and emotional well-being and even a quick and safe weekend trip might give you all the inspiration you were craving while locked inside!

Where are you currently based while working remotely?

I’m currently based in sunny Los Angeles! Thankfully, I’m used to the work-from-home life as I’ve been a full-time content creator and influencer for nearly four years now. However, with the pandemic, things have definitely changed a lot and I’ve spent more time than usual at home due to in-person events and conferences being canceled.

What do you love about working remotely from Los Angeles? 

I used to live in Toronto, Canada so there is definitely a huge benefit to now working in Los Angeles. The fact that it is sunny and warm most days is the biggest bonus because my mood is directly impacted by the weather. I used to experience major seasonal-depression when living in Toronto during the long winter months because the sun was barely out and it was always too cold to leave the house. Here in L.A. the sun shines brightly into my home every morning and leaves me so inspired to create content. I also love that I can take my work to go and find a cute outdoor workspace all year round, whether that’s planning a fun photoshoot for Instagram or plowing through emails at an outdoor patio. The weather alone makes this a great city to work remotely, but having access to so many different activities on top of that takes it to the next level!

What are some of your favorite spots to work from or visit safely when you take a break from work?

There are so many places I love to visit on the weekly here in L.A. My favorite spot for a caffeine boost is Alfred’s on Melrose Place. I am a matcha-addict and they make THE best-iced matcha latte. I love grabbing my laptop and working out there for a change of scenery, and when I’m done, I love to hit up all the cute shops and boutiques along that road. 

My go-to for lunch is Taco’s Tu Madre in West Hollywood. The amount of times I’ve ordered from there during quarantine is a little embarrassing, but now that they’ve opened for dining, I love heading there with a friend and enjoying some tacos and mocktails on their gorgeous patio. They also have AMAZING vegan options so there is literally something for everyone. Highly recommend their crispy shrimp bowl, squash blossom taco, mango margarita, and the street corn, but everything I’ve tried there is 10/10!

Living in L.A. means having constant access to the gorgeous beaches so I love heading down to Will Rogers State Beach and getting some fresh air and steps in at least once a week. It’s a bit quieter than the other beaches and the paved boardwalk is so perfect for walking, running, or biking along the coast. I always keep a blanket in the back of my car, and anytime I need some relaxation, I love finding a quiet spot in the sand and watching the sunset. It’s been one of the main things keeping me sane this past year and allows me to reconnect with myself while enjoying the peaceful sounds of the ocean.

"Switching up your scenery is good for your mental, physical, and emotional well-being. Even a quick and safe weekend trip might give you all the inspiration you were craving while locked inside!"

—Aysha Harun, Content Creator and Influencer

What precautions should people take before they leave to ensure a safe trip both while they’re traveling and once they arrive? What tips can you share? 

I think it’s important to read up on the CDC guidelines for wherever you’ll be traveling to for the best and most accurate safety tips. Also, taking a COVID-test and monitoring your health before leaving on a trip is safe both for yourself and for others. I’d recommend getting tested as close as possible to your trip and having anyone that will be accompanying you do the same. If possible, avoid super crowded trips and instead opt for something more secluded like a weekend in nature, or a COVID-safe beach trip. Once you arrive, find activities that allow you to social distance from others like renting a boat or hiking, and ensure you’re still taking those cute-AF masks everywhere you go! 

When you travel for work, what are your in-flight must-haves for ensuring your flight is as safe and comfortable as possible? What recommendations can you share?

My in-flight must-haves include double-masking—usually a disposable mask underneath a cute reusable mask is my go-to. I also love to carry both liquid hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes to disinfect the area I’m sitting in and anything I’d potentially touch like the seat belt, TV-monitor, remote, window, armrests, etc. I prefer to have a meal before getting on the flight so I’m not removing my mask throughout, and I like to bring my own bottle of water with a straw to quickly hydrate when needed without having to use the in-flight food service. 

Are you a work-from-the-air kind of person, or do you use this time to disconnect?

I personally love disconnecting from everything while up in the air. Instead, I take that time to tap into my faith, meditate, sleep, listen to music, or simply look out the window and snap pics of the dreamy clouds!

What are some things you take with you to ensure you’re prepared to work (ie. can set up a virtual office when you arrive)? 

I always travel with my MacBook, charger, and Air Pods so I can set up shop anywhere. I also always take my external hard-drive because, as a YouTuber, I always need the extra storage space. Given that I’m always creating content regardless of where I am, I also travel with my Canon M50 camera which is much lighter than my DSLR that I use for more professional videos and photos but still delivers amazing quality. I always carry an extra battery for an easy switch-out and also a mini tripod for both my iPhone and camera. If I’m feeling fancy, I also have a small portable ring-light tripod that can easily fit in my carry-on. It may seem like a lot, but I can usually fit all of this into a small section of my carry-on and I always ensure I have room for it because the content doesn’t stop for anything!

While being away from home as a remote worker is fun, it can also be challenging if you don’t plan. Can you share your top three tips for working remotely while traveling that set you up for success?

My top three tips for working remotely while traveling are:

1. Communicate with someone on your team that you’ll be working remotely. Even if you think it might not be important to let them know because you’ll “still be working,” anything can happen and it’s better if someone knows why you’re not answering those emails or calls right away like you usually do! 

2. Make note of any timezone changes. Even if it’s just one hour, that hour can really throw off your entire day. Plan ahead and make sure your calendar accounts for the timezone change so you don’t end up accidentally showing up to (or missing) a Zoom-call an hour after it starts!

3. Designate a certain number of hours for work and try to get as much done within that timeframe so that you can still enjoy your travel. There’s no point in working remotely if you’re just going to stay indoors all day and not experience the environment you’re in. Go beast-mode for a couple of hours and then go out and have some fun outdoors!

Do you set up a “virtual office” in your hotel? How do you set yourself up for success to avoid/minimize distractions?  

I personally don’t set up a virtual office due to the type of work I do. I’ll usually answer emails in bed or at the hotel/Airbnb desk and get outdoors to create content. I also try to utilize different parts of my hotel room or temporary-home for fun travel content. For example, the bathroom for fun “get ready with me” videos or travel skincare routines. I also do a lot of my work on my phone so technically the world is my office (as long as I have a charger!!).

"Designate a certain number of hours for work and try to get as much done within that timeframe so that you can still enjoy your travel."

—Aysha Harun, Content Creator and Influencer

What are some of the activities people can enjoy when visiting your destination during a WFAnywhere trip?

• Beach day - Head to one of the many beaches in L.A. and enjoy the view! My favorite thing is driving down Pacific Coast Highway and taking in the gorgeous ocean view as you head down to Malibu. One of my favorite beaches down there is Point Dune. Grab a friend and plan a fun photo-shoot or just sit by the ocean and enjoy the sunset! I also really love Will Rogers State Beach and Manhattan Beach (great restaurants nearby).

• Hiking - So many amazing trails in L.A. for some outdoor workouts! The go-to for me is Runyon Canyon as I’m not quite an experienced hiker yet. I love the paved road and the view at the top makes it all worth it. For an ocean-view hike, I’d recommend Los Liones Trailhead. Be sure to take a mask with you as they still require them to be worn! For anyone wanting the classic Hollywood Sign pictures, talk a walk through Lake Hollywood Park and the surrounding areas for an unobstructed view of the iconic sign!

• Melrose Trading Post - One of my all-time fave Sunday activities is heading to the Melrose Trading Post in Fairfax District. It’s an outdoor market filled with small businesses and you can find really dope vintage tees, jackets, denim, furniture, jewelry—you name it! They also have some really great food trucks and stands inside—my fave is the Poke and Lemonade stand! I’ve found some really unique pieces there and it’s great to support small businesses at times like these.

• Shopping - Of course there are some amazing shopping destinations in the city and who doesn’t love a little retail-therapy after work? Hit up Rodeo Drive for a more bougie, upscale experience in Beverly Hills. Melrose for a more street-style and vintage vibe, La Brea for all your Hype-Bae aesthetic needs, and Third Street Promenade right by Santamonica Beach for more main street stores.

• FOOD!! - If you’re a foodie, L.A. is the place to be. There are so many amazing restaurants in the city whether you’re in West Hollywood, DTLA, Koreatown, Hollywood, or Santa Monica. My suggestion is to head to Yelp and look at what is in your area, but definitely try and experience Mexican food in the city because Cali does it best! Some of my faves include:

  • Tacos Tu Madre

  • Dave’s Hot Chicken

  • Elephante

  • Sugar Taco

  • HiHo Burger

  • Sugarfish

  • C&O’s Trattoria 

  • Leo’s Tacos Truck

  • Jeni’s Ice Cream

  • Malibu Seafood 

  • Jon & Vinny’s

Any additional advice or info you can share on working from anywhere as a remote employee or independent contractor? 

Work hard, and play harder! Life is too short!

Note: During COVID-19, travel restrictions are prone to change. Always check before departure and follow local guidance. Alaska Airlines is committed to your health and safety, learn more about Next-Level Care.

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#WFAnywhere With Content Creator and Digital Marketer Coco Bassey

"It can be tempting to work long hours when you’re not commuting to and from work every day, but it’s so important to remember that you have a life outside of work too."

—Coco Bassey, Content Creator and Digital Marketer

With so many of us working from home in 2021, your office may look different—and that’s probably a good thing. According to a recent poll conducted by The New York Times and Morning Consult, 86% of remote workers say that they’re satisfied working from home and only one in five want to return to the office. As an increasing number of employers adopt flexible remote-work policies to keep employee satisfaction high and keep up with the changing times, we’re launching our #WFAnywhere series in partnership with Alaska Airlines to spotlight how remote workers balance work and play while working from anywhere (#WFAnywhere). Ahead, content creator and digital marketer Coco Bassey shares the destination she’d love to travel to right now to #WFAnywhere, her #1 tip for avoiding distractions while working in a new environment, and more tips on how to #WFAnywhere.

Where would you love to travel to right now to #WFAnywhere?

I’m currently manifesting a work trip to Hawaii. After enduring a New York City winter while working from home, I’m dreaming about warm, sandy beaches and a carefree uniform of high-waisted shorts and crop tops. I’m also mindful that Hawaii has put safe COVID regulations in place to encourage travelers to be respectful of both the islands as well as their communities, which is crucial not only during this period in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic but year-round, too.

Why is it important to change up your scenery after being in quarantine?

Before COVID, I was always on the go and traveled for work at least once a month! As much as I welcomed the change of pace during quarantine, I think I can speak for everyone who lives in a small N.Y.C. apartment: we’re ready for a change in scenery as soon as it’s safe to venture out and do so! If you’re someone who loves exploring new places, travel can feel therapeutic. It’s one of the few times I truly feel motivated to put down my screen and just experience a new place for what it is.

Where are you currently based while working remotely?

I’m currently in New York City and working from home in my apartment. As scary and unsure as everything was last year when COVID kicked off, there honestly is no other place I would rather be during this time. I moved to New York from Atlanta at the beginning of 2020, right before quarantine became an everyday part of our lives—and I really love that I have so many more options to stay physically active in N.Y.C. since I’m no longer tied to my car or stuck in a not-so-pedestrian-friendly city.

What are some of your favorite spots to work from or visit safely when you take a break from work?

I’ve really enjoyed exploring my neighborhood on foot over the past several months—whether it’s walking or biking down the West Side Highway, trying new restaurants 

What precautions should people take before they leave to ensure a safe trip both while they’re traveling and once they arrive? What tips can you share? 

It’s super important to research your destination: what hotels, travel methods, and activities are safe for visitors, especially if you don’t speak the language. Understand that as a tourist, you’re a visitor, so approach every situation with respect for the country or city’s cultural norms without attempting to impose your expectations on others.

And also, for the love of God, NEVER accept a ride at the airport from pesky solicitors that come up to you and harass you with price-saving offers! They’re not official taxi or Uber drivers, and you are putting yourself at risk by getting into a car with a complete stranger.

When you travel for work, what are your in-flight must-haves for ensuring your flight is as safe and comfortable as possible? What recommendations can you share?

First and foremost, I always make sure I have my noise-canceling headphones and charger closeby. If it’s a long-haul flight, I also have healthy snacks and a mini skincare kit to remove my makeup and apply a nighttime moisturizer before I fall asleep. Airplane air can be super drying, so it’s more important to keep my skin happy! And of course, especially now, a pack of disinfectant wipes is an absolute must so you can give your seat the Naomi Campbell wipe-down treatment before settling in!

Are you a work-from-the-air kind of person, or do you use this time to disconnect?

I’m 100% for disconnecting while traveling. Of course, that’s not always an option—but working on the plane isn’t always my favorite, so when I have to, I make sure I’m prepared!

What are some things you take with you to ensure you’re prepared to work? 

The #1 thing I always do when I’m traveling overseas is make sure my phone and credit cards are set up for international travel. You never want to come home to crazy surcharges from overseas usage! It’s also important to look up what kind of electric adapter I need to travel with so that I can use my personal items (laptop, charger, etc.) in another country.

I also have a mini tripod that I travel with so that I can set up my smartphone for Zoom calls when I’m on the go!

"If you’re traveling to a different timezone, make sure you account for that when scheduling meetings so that you’re not running late, caught unawares while out and about, or logging into your meeting at the wrong time!"

—Coco Bassey, Content Creator and Digital Marketer

While being away from home as a remote worker is fun, it can also be challenging if you don’t plan. Can you share your top three tips for working remotely while traveling that set you up for success?

1. Make sure you set up your workstation in your hotel/Airbnb—and make sure that place is NOT your bed! Working in bed can become such a bad habit, and it's a great way to lose track of time. Suddenly it’s 5 PM, and you’re still in last night’s PJs. No bueno!

2. If you’re traveling to a different timezone, make sure you account for that when scheduling meetings so that you’re not running late, caught unawares while out and about, or logging into your meeting at the wrong time!

3. Having a work-life balance is still important. Sometimes working remotely puts me in the bad habit of working literally all day into the night, since I’m not physically commuting to and from work. I always make sure have a start and stop time, so that I can remember to log off and take care of myself too.

Do you set up a “virtual office” in your hotel? How do you set yourself up for success to avoid/minimize distractions?  

Yes, I do! If I have a lot of calls during the day, I always make sure to hang the “Do Not Disturb” sign on the door so that I don't get interrupted during my meetings. And I also make sure to set up my virtual office at an actual desk, as opposed to working from a couch or bed. It’s so important to keep your work and personal selves separate!

What are some of the activities people can enjoy when visiting your destination during a WFAnywhere trip?

Exploring any city on foot has always been one of my favorite activities, even before COVID, so luckily, it’s still an option now! Outdoor activities are great too, so I always make sure to check those out as well. And of course, if the weather allows, outdoor dining is always an option!

Any additional advice or info you can share on working from anywhere as a remote employee or independent contractor? 

Enjoy the flexibility. It’s one of the best things about working remotely! I love that I can run personal errands, or even grab coffee with a friend, in the middle of my workday if I need a break from my computer screen. It can be tempting to work long hours when you’re not commuting to and from work every day, but it’s so important to remember that you have a life outside of work too and you need to prioritize it for your mental health!

Note: During COVID-19, travel restrictions are prone to change. Always check before departure and follow local guidance. Alaska Airlines is committed to your health and safety, learn more about Next-Level Care.

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#WFAnywhere With Lifestyle Blogger Jennifer Henry-Novich

“2020 was hard on all of us, and it’s been a balance of finding a new normal and doing things safely.”

—Jennifer Henry-Novich, Lifestyle Blogger

With so many of us working from home in 2021, your office may look different—and that’s probably a good thing. According to a recent poll conducted by The New York Times and Morning Consult, 86% of remote workers say that they’re satisfied working from home and only one in five want to return to the office. As an increasing number of employers adopt flexible remote-work policies to keep employee satisfaction high and keep up with the changing times, we’re launching our #WFAnywhere series in partnership with Alaska Airlines to spotlight how remote workers balance work and play while working from anywhere (#WFAnywhere). Ahead, lifestyle blogger Jennifer Henry-Novich, shares her in-flight essentials for a safe and comfortable trip, her #1 tip for avoiding distractions while working in a new environment, and more tips on how to #WFAnywhere.

Where are you traveling? Why did you choose this location to work remotely?

We had a work trip that required us to be in Palm Springs and we’d been putting it off all of 2020, but it finally came time to escape from quarantine and get it done! 

What are you most excited about your destination and why?

Palm Springs has been a long-time favorite of mine for girls’ trips and Coachella. I love enjoying the pool days and warm evenings! But now that we are in different times, it’s nice to be able to get a change of scenery from working from home and be able to take care of our real estate project work under the palm trees and blue skies. 

We were most looking forward to spending time in our beautiful Airbnb and lounging in the pool and hot tub, ordering takeout at some of the best recommended Palm Springs restaurants, and taking a drive out to Joshua Tree for some socially distanced hiking in nature. 

Why is it important to change up your scenery after being in quarantine? What precautions are you taking before you leave to ensure a safe trip both while you’re traveling and once you arrive? What tips can you share? 

2020 was hard on all of us, and it’s been a balance of finding a new normal and doing things safely. Prior to traveling, we self quarantined and tested to ensure we wouldn’t be exposing anyone on our flight, as well as self quarantining and testing following our return. I was really impressed at Alaska Airline’s commitment to safety and sanitation (i.e. HEPA air filters, passenger spacing, cleaning, etc.) and that’s ultimately why we felt comfortable traveling at this time. To maintain safety, we don’t mess around with masking up! We even doubled up on them as I’ve heard there is added protection from doing so! Once inside the airport, we avoided busy areas and didn’t eat or drink to keep our masks on. 

What are your in-flight must-haves for ensuring your flight is as safe and comfortable as possible?

It’s funny to see what my in-flight must-haves would have been in 2019 versus now—but here we are! A comfortable mask (I prefer the surgical masks over cloth), hand sanitizer, sanitizing wipes, blue light glasses since I’m spending time reading on my phone, and noise-canceling headphones to reduce aircraft ambient noise.

Are you a work-from-the-air kind of person, or do you use this time to disconnect?

Given our flight to Palm Springs was approximately one hour, it’s hard to get set up and get too much work done. I’m more of a disconnect and enjoy the view out the window type of traveler. 

Being in an airplane is one of the few times when my phone notifications are not going off so it’s actually a nice break. If I’m not window gazing, I like to read books on my phone (currently reading “Atomic Habits” by James Clear) or use the time to look through my photos on my phone.

What’s in your carry-on? What are some things you plan on taking with you to ensure you’re prepared to work (ie. can set up a virtual office when you arrive) and stay safe while you’re traveling during COVID? 

I’ve become a very good travel packer from my previous consulting days (working at Deloitte and Ernst and Young) and always bring a rolling carry-on to avoid an extra trip to baggage claim (unless I’m traveling for a longer trip and need to bring more). 

My carry-on includes my work-from-anywhere office:

• My work binder, which includes all important papers I need for in-progress projects, mail to handle, notes—basically anything I need to do work that doesn’t live inside my laptop or phone. I’ve learned the hard way how important it is to be organized with papers so I always keep this binder up to date with things I need to handle.

• My planner, which serves as my to-do list, weekly agenda, and notebook all in one

• Laptop and charger

• Phone and charger

• Apple Watch and charger

Since that’s all I need to work from anywhere, we’re able to hunker down in our Airbnb and keep our projects moving while keeping safe.

“If I know that I want to enjoy the pool at our Airbnb house but the sun is gone by 4 pm, I’ll plan my meetings and workday accordingly.”

—Jennifer Henry-Novich, Lifestyle Blogger

While being away from home as a remote worker is fun, it can also be challenging if you don’t plan. Can you share three tips for working remotely while traveling that set you up for success?

1. Make a plan for each of your days the day before. At the end of each of my days, I’m planning out what I’m doing tomorrow. I’m checking what calls/Zoom meetings I have the next day and at what time, I’m adding must-do items to my to-do list and slotting them in time blocks

2. Block your time for work versus personal. If I know that I want to enjoy the pool at our Airbnb house but the sun is gone by 4 pm, I’ll plan my meetings and workday accordingly. Maybe it’s blocking 12-2 pm for fun in the sun and 5-7 pm is focused work time with no distractions, before dinner!

3. Be realistic about what you can achieve while traveling. I’m notorious for making a to-do list 20 items long and in reality, I just can’t get it all done with the things that pop up in the day. If you’re working away from home, factor travel-related fun into your schedule. When I’m home, it’s no big deal to reheat leftovers for dinner—but in Palm Springs, I want to shut down my laptop, pick up amazing take out from a local restaurant, and enjoy the beautiful home I’ve rented. 

Do you set up a “virtual office” in your hotel? How do you set yourself up for success to avoid/minimize distractions?  

100% yes. I’m not a person that can effectively work from bed or the couch so it’s important to me to set up a dedicated workspace. I like to spread out on a desk or dining table and have my laptop, projects binder, notebook, and phone to get in the zone. I love to play music in the background to keep me focused.

What are some of the activities you enjoyed at your destination during your WFAnywhere trip? 

• Enjoyed local restaurant takeout in our beautiful backyard

  • This is the house we rented.

  • Amazing brunch food from Grand Central Palm Springs.

  • Sandfish Sushi for a unique twist on traditional sushi.

  • La Bonita’s for authentic Mexican tacos.

• Outdoor hiking at Joshua Tree; we did the Ryan Mountain Trail hike and Barker Dam Nature Trail

• Morning coffee runs at Ernest Coffee - we loved trying their pistachio rose latte!

Note: During COVID-19, travel restrictions are prone to change. Always check before departure and follow local guidance. Alaska Airlines is committed to your health and safety, learn more about Next-Level Care.

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Meet the Woman Whose Job Affects the Way 2.5 Billion People Communicate on a Daily Basis

How many times have you peered voyeuristically into the lives of people you admire via social media and wondered what it must be like to do their job? We’ve all been down that research rabbit hole on our quest to create and cultivate the career of our dreams, but often we’re still left pondering the realities of their day-to-day—so, what is it really like? In our editorial series I Want Your Job, we uncover the truth by getting into the nitty-gritty details about what it’s actually like to work in your quote-unquote “dream job” and if the reality stacks up to the expectation. 

Photo: Courtesy of Jennifer Daniel

To say Jennifer Daniel’s work affects a lot of people is an understatement. As the creative director for Android and Google emoji, she designs the emoji anyone who uses an Android device can choose from to express themselves—which is over 2.5 billion people. (Yes, that’s billion with a “b.”) And she doesn’t take that influencer lightly. “I see my responsibility working on emoji to have a lot of parallels with how dictionaries operate,” says Daniel. “Like lexicographers, we’re not looking to invent or create new concepts. Instead, we look at the world—both forward and backward and observe how people communicate,” she explains. “Language is fluid, but if we see patterns or trends that aren’t transient and seem to have stuck, we formally recognize it by emojifying it.”

Recently, Create & Cultivate caught up with Daniel to talk about her impressive career, including what a typical workday looks like for the creative director, which (spoiler alert) doesn’t exist. (“Before this chat, I just got off the phone with a doctor in Cambridge to vet the heart and lung emoji to make sure they’re anatomically correct,” she tells us.) And though her days may not be “typical,” Daniel wouldn’t have it any other way. “I need a job that keeps me on my toes,” she says. “If I’ve gotten to the point where I'm not learning new things, it might be time to find a new job.” Ahead, she also fills us in on getting her start, working her way up from entry-level designer to graphics editor at The New York Times, and why her peers are her greatest professional influences.

How did you get your foot in the door in the tech industry and land where you are today as the creative director for Google's emoji program?

In high school, I was torn between going to a big university to become a lawyer and going to art school. In the end, I ended up at Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) which was basically four years of summer camp. It was there that I learned that graphic design was something other than adding lens flares to compositions in Photoshop. After graduation, I spent ten years on and off at The New York Times, originally starting as a designer and working my way up to a graphics editor. I never ever thought I would leave New York but when my partner got a job offer on the West Coast, I suddenly found myself in ‘Frisco. After a rant about the design scene in San Francisco went viral, I heard from Google. 

What did you study in school? How has that prepared you for your job now? 

I ended up studying graphic design, which was something I wasn’t familiar with before MICA. In middle school, they pass out these occupational surveys, I’m not sure how common they are now, but when I turned it in, the recommendation was to become a parole officer. It wasn’t until I was in college that I was introduced to the notion of specialties beyond what is described in Busy Town. My sophomore year at MICA I met Nicholas Blechman (the current creative director of The New Yorker, and previously an art director at The New York Times) who was a guest teacher. He taught a class called “Polemic Image” and lectured about the history of political art and illustration and I was like, “Ohhhhhhh, you can do graphic design and illustration at the same time?" And, you could make it newsy? That’s a job?” At our midterm review, he looked at my portfolio and took out a poster, and asked if he could have it. And I sassily replied something like he could have it if I could follow him to New York and be his intern. One of the best summers of my life living in my grandmother’s attic in Flushing and commuting to Chinatown every day.

Did you intern before landing your first “real” job? If so, where, and how did that prepare you? Would you recommend it to others coming up behind you?

I interned with Christoph Nieman and Nicholas Blechman for a number of years. After I graduated, Nicholas took a job at The New York Times and asked if I would join him as his assistant. This ultimately turned into my career as I know it. 

"In the industries I work in, there’s a lack of women in what my friends and I call the 'just-ahead-of-me group.' So, I’d say my peers are the strongest influences in my life."

—Jennifer Daniel, Creative Director for Android and Google Emoji

What does your day-to-day look like as the creative director for Google's emoji program? Does the reality of the job stack up to your expectations?

The process of creating emoji—from idea to when they land on your phone—takes a couple of years so there’s no day-to-day routine. My days change depending on where we are in the process. Are we in the strategy phase? The proposal reviews? The design? The research? I guess one thing every day has in common is how I am routinely surprised. This is something really important to me. Perhaps because I worked in a newsroom and every day was truly different, but I need a job that keeps me on my toes. I hope everyone has some equivalent of learning something new in their occupation. If I’ve gotten to the point where I'm not learning new things, it might be time to find a new job. 

When I first started working on emoji, I thought, “Are any of these adding anything of value to how we communicate digitally?” And as I got more involved in the emoji sub-committee and started reading proposals, I realized that each proposal is coming from someone who looked at their keyboard and couldn’t find a way to articulate something that normally comes naturally to them. That is deeply primal—the desire to be seen and heard and recognized and understood—and that has changed my perspective. The more I learn how people use emoji has also changed what I prioritize and how I look at things. 

You have what many would consider a dream job. What are some of the common misconceptions people get wrong about your role? Why?

People may assume Google gets to choose the emoji that are encoded, but in truth, that’s up to an independent non-profit standards body called the Unicode Consortium. As a member, I’m on the sub-committee that is responsible for emoji. It’s truly collaborative. Another part of my job that surprises most folks is how much time I spend talking to experts to make sure that the emoji are authentic. Before this chat, I just got off the phone with a doctor in Cambridge to vet the heart and lung emoji to make sure it’s anatomically correct. 

Your job affects the way people on over 2.5 billion devices communicate on a daily basis. That’s a staggering number—How do you view the responsibility that comes with Google’s wide reach? What initiative/project within Google’s emoji program are you most proud of?

I see my responsibility working on emoji to have a lot of parallels with how dictionaries operate. Like lexicographers, we’re not looking to invent or create new concepts. Instead, we look at the world—both forward and backward and observe how people communicate. Language is fluid, but if we see patterns or trends that aren’t transient and seem to have stuck, we formally recognize it by emojifying it.

What advice would you give to young professionals trying to break into your industry? How hard is it? What key traits and characteristics does it take to work in your industry?

Just be you. As women, we’re told over and over again to lean in, but that frequently puts us in positions that are structurally unsuited and hostile. This touches on every part of the job, even seemingly trivial things like tone in emails. Research has shown that women don’t use emoji professionally or aren’t friendly in emails, because they’re taken less seriously if they do. I understand and also reject it. Our humanity is essential to effective communication. Don't use enough emoji and you're seen as hostile. Use too many and you're seen as unprofessional. It's a lose-lose. So, forget it. Just be yourself.

Photo: Courtesy of Jennifer Daniel

Can you share one woman who paved the way for you to be where you are today? How are you paying it forward and helping other women who are coming up behind you? 

In the industries I work in, there’s a lack of women in what my friends and I call the “just-ahead-of-me group.” So, I’d say my peers are the strongest influences in my life. The artists, writers, and designers I’ve met along the way are incredibly motivating and inspiring. And, for those moments where things feel highly discouraging, well, I hope everyone has friends who pump them up like mine do because it rules.

What’s the hardest decision you’ve ever had to make? And how did you turn it into an opportunity?

For me, that was moving to San Francisco. I thought that I was going to stay in New York and I still miss it. I left a place I truly never thought I would leave. But, I guess that’s the point. Just when I think I know the answer to something, I probably don’t. Trying new things isn’t scary to me. Nothing is permanent. And, if ‘Frisco doesn’t work out I can always move back. 

What books do you recommend people read to get a foot in the door in your industry?

Throw out all your UX books. For me, I gravitated towards linguistics and science and social sciences. Those are the sections of bookstores that I go to. If you really want one book recommendation, go pick up “Because Internet” by Gretchen McCulloch is a must-read if you are interested in internet linguistics. 

What podcasts do you recommend people listen to?

I listen to about a hundred podcasts. I am the kind of person who listens and absorbs as much as possible. A few of my favorites: “Infinite Monkey Cage,” “Getting Curious,” and “The Daily.” 

What’s one thing you wish you’d known when you were first starting out? 

That I know nothing. I am a completely different person than I was ten years ago, and ten years before that. We are constantly reinventing ourselves and learning.

What is your best work hack or productivity tip? How do you get it all done?

I create clear boundaries. When I go home, I don’t open my computer unless I’m watching a movie. I do think about work. I might listen to a podcast as I go to sleep and think about how that applies to what I’m working on. But generally, I don’t work at home. I wake up very early, around 5 am, walk the dog, and ok I admit I do respond to emails but I’m a morning person so I like to get a lot done in the morning. Setting boundaries between my work and personal life helps me be my best self in both places and is something I would recommend trying. 

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This Social Entrepreneur's Career Pivot Is Proof That Pursuing Your Passion Can Be Life-Changing

“Most people thought I was crazy to leave my job for a career they deemed uncertain.”

—Jamila Trimuel, Mentor, Social Entrepreneur, and Philanthropist

Going to work every day should feel like waking up on a Saturday morning. In fact, It should barely feel like work at all. Most people go to work dreading the tasks ahead of them, and I understand because I was the same way. It wasn't until I decided that I wanted a career with more flexibility that I knew I needed to make a change. I remembered when one of my college professors said, "Choose your career based on what you would do for free." At first, it sounded crazy—little did I know he was onto something.

I had a promising career working for one of the country's top hospitals, managing the cancer service line's strategic planning process.  While working for the hospital, I made sure I designated my free time to mentor young Black girls growing up in the Southside of Chicago. I knew that I had a different advantage than other children because I did not lose my father to gun violence or have a mother on drugs. Girls that grew up in these conditions are often overlooked and deemed capable of raising themselves when that is an outrageous task to put on any child, let alone our Black children. 

One Saturday, one of my mentees brought me her résumé and explained she was having a hard time finding a job. After reviewing her resume, I became extremely frustrated because one of her bullet points listed, "Looking for a job." No one thought to tell her this was inappropriate, and I was so overwhelmed because I knew so many other girls were overlooked and made simple mistakes just like this. I realized I needed to change, and my calling wasn't in healthcare. It was in education. 

My passion became my purpose. I started Ladies of Virtue in 2011 to assist young girls who were neglected and passed up because of the ridiculous stereotype that they need less nurturing or support than other children. 

Most people thought I was crazy to leave my job in healthcare for a career they deemed uncertain. Mostly because I applied to a program that only accepted 2% of their applicants. Clearly, it was not their purpose to see because six months later, I received an offer in the two-year residency program. 

Staying in my purpose was not easy in the slightest bit. In what was supposed to be the most extraordinary part of my life, I experienced some of the most devastating losses bringing me to the lowest points of my life. In a chain reaction of events, I lost my mother-in-law to cancer. A few months later, I found out I was pregnant, but I lost the baby to a rare condition after five months. Due to all of the stress, I turned to eating and gained weight at an exponential rate, putting my health at risk once again. 

Everything in me wanted to quit, and I had good reason too, but I knew that it isn't what happens to you in life; it's how you respond to it that matters. Living my purpose meant I had to take care of more than just the girls I was mentoring. My mental and physical health needed to be a priority, as well. If I didn't change my lifestyle, I wouldn't be a healthy vessel for the girls in Ladies of Virtue. Ultimately, bettering my health directly reflected in the girls that I mentored. If  I was good, so were they. 

Throughout my journey of living my purpose, it became more than just mentoring. Ladies of Virtue became a small role in a master plan to better the lives of so many children. There are so many alumni of Ladies of Virtue that would have never ended up in a Ph.D. program like Deidra. Seeing these girls succeed gives me joy, the joy that you feel when you wake up on a Saturday morning. I no longer have the feeling of anticipation that comes with wondering about the future because I love exactly where I am now, living in my purpose. 

About the author: As a mentor, social entrepreneur, and philanthropist, Jamila Trimuel has over ten years of experience in strategic planning and community engagement for nonprofit organizations. Jamila is a Broad Residency alum, a highly competitive leadership program that places participants in high-level managerial positions to help transform our public school systems. Jamila was recognized as Northwestern Memorial Hospital’s Humanitarian Award winner in 2012. She was also recognized as a Change Agent and invited to the United State of Women Summit hosted by the White House in 2016. In 2017, she was recognized by Chicago Scholars for their 35 under 35 Award and received Rush University’s Hidden Figures Award. 

Jamila was one of the 100 community leaders from Chicago (500 in total around the world) invited to attend the inaugural Obama Foundation Summit in 2017. She also won the Coaches Award at the 2018 Social Venture Partners (SVP) Fast Pitch competition for Chicagoland nonprofits. Jamila also presented her Tedx Talk in 2018 entitled, "Make Today Your Saturday. Live a Fulfilled Life of Purpose." Furthermore, in 2018, Jamila was honored alongside Jesse Jackson Sr. with the "Giving a Hand Out to Give a Hand Up" Mentoring Award by the Calahan Foundation. In 2019, Jamila was honored with the Leading Lady Community Award by the Daisie Foundation.

Jamila has a bachelor of science in community health from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a Master of Science in Health Systems Management from Rush University. She also holds a Masters of Education in Educational Leadership from The Broad Center for Management of School Systems. In addition to the Broad Residency, Jamila graduated from several prestigious leadership programs including the Schweitzer Fellowship and the IMPACT Leadership Development Program founded by the Chicago Urban League and University of Chicago. She is also a Kellogg Executive Scholar from Northwestern University. In addition, she is a Licensed Minister at New Life Covenant – Southeast under the leadership of Pastor John F. Hannah. Jamila resides in the South Loop community with her husband, Damien.

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16 Perspective-Shifting Books a Diversity and Inclusion Strategist Wants You to Read in 2021

Photo: cottonbro from Pexels

I’ve always loved to read and live for a good reading list from someone who likes the type of titles I’m drawn to. As we make our way through Black History Month in 2021, the year following a racial reckoning that much of the globe is still reeling from, I felt compelled to put together a collection of books that I’ve read or want to read using some thoughtful criteria.   

First, I wanted to honor Black History Month by uplifting Black authors from all walks of life. While everyone on this list is a Black person, they are vastly different humans and have rich differences that come to life in each of their works, uniquely. Second, I wanted to choose books that haven’t necessarily had the visibility they deserve. Sometimes when searching for books, I see the same recommendations in several places; similarly to how many people celebrate Black History Month by reviewing the same handful of Black History figures year after year. I wanted to diversify my list of Black authors to maybe introduce you to someone you didn’t know.  

Lastly, as an inclusion strategist, I work daily with organizations that are working to create more inclusive workplace cultures. So, I like books that give me stories to reference when I am teaching. Each of these books has a few threads that connect to inclusion and how it comes to life in real life. Some inclusion throughlines are easy to identify just in the titles, others are brought to life as you read.

This collection of books will shift your perspective, enhance your knowledge, make you laugh and cry, as well as shock you. This Black History Month, and perhaps even in the months following, pick one of these titles to dig into to support your journey to being more inclusive in your own life.

This Is Not a Test: A New Narrative on Race, Class, and Education

By José Luis Vilson

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I love this book because it offers a window into education policy, which is often informed by race, through the author’s personal story. Part memoir, part nudge for policy reform, my friend José shows, through a collection of essays, how classrooms are informed by the communities from which their kids and their teachers come. José, a Black-Latino educator who taught middle school in Washington Heights, Manhattan brings the reader to contemplation about class, both from a learning perspective and as it relates to economic status.

Building for Everyone: Expand Your Market with Design Practices from Google’s Product Inclusion Team

By Annie Jean Baptiste

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As an inclusion strategist, I’m fascinated by how other professionals in my industry are tackling the work. This book gives a behind-the-scenes look into how tech Giant Google creates award-winning and inclusive products.

Not Light But Fire: How to Lead Meaningful Race Conversations in the Classroom

By Mathew R. Kay

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One of the most powerful periods in any person’s life is their high school years which, for many, serve as a season of awakening to new ideas and perspectives. With conversations on race becoming normalized in America, this book gives a framework for how to make difficult classroom conversations productive. The title is a nod to one of my favorite quotes by Frederick Douglas as he called abolitionists to action, “it is not light that is needed, but fire.” An educator’s must-have.

Caste: The Origin of our Discontents

By Isabel Wilkerson

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Isabel Wilkerson peels back the layers of the power systems that silently define how we organize ourselves to move about the world. If you have ever struggled with understanding the idea of systemic oppression or wanted some historical context for how injustice not just happens but is engineered, take a dive into this text.

The Memo: What Women of Color Need to Know to Secure a Seat at the Table

By Minda Harts

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The corporate journey is more difficult for women than it is for men, but add in being a woman of color and the challenges multiply. Infused with her engaging personal story, Minda breaks down how women of color can advocate for themselves in the workplace and how white allies can support. 

I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness

By Austin Channing Brown

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For anyone who still doesn’t understand the inherent advantages of white privilege, this book details the relentless nature of racism in this country.

More Than Enough: Claiming Space for Who You Are (No Matter What They Say)

By Elaine Welteroth

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I live for an intimate memoir, and this book is rare in that the author is still fairly young yet has achieved more professionally than most people twice her age. That level of achievement didn’t come without cost, though, and in the book, the author shares vulnerably about her career journey and what was going on behind the scenes of her many headline-making career moves.

I Don’t Want to Die Poor

By Michael Arceneaux

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In his second collection of essays, the author captures the Xennial experience, especially how being saddled with student loan debt impacts that experience, masterfully. Witty and honest, he shares his perspective with a vulnerability we don’t often see.

Lead From Outside: How to Build Your Future and Make Real Change  

By Stacey Abrams

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Stacey Abrams captured so many of our hearts and minds in the last few years as we’ve watched her bid for the Georgia governor’s seat and witnessed her galvanize Georgians during the 2020 presidential election. What we get from her book is more on her personal background along with her strategic long-term thinking mindset. For people who feel disempowered, this book will show you how to win with what you have.

Begin Again: James Baldwin’s America and Its Urgent Lessons for Our Own

By Eddie Glaude Jr.

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If you fancy yourself a James Baldwin fan (and even if you don’t, you should familiarize yourself with his work), this book gives the Civil Rights era writer’s work new life. Sadly, many of the same political themes Baldwin covered in books like The Fire Next Time are just as timely today as they were fifty years ago. This book connects the two eras and offers some learnings on how not to repeat history.

The Color of Money: Black Banks and the Racial Wealth Gap

By Mehrsa Baradaran

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Despite the title, this isn’t a book just about banking. Instead, it gives a detailed background on racialized economic policies in this country, much of which you won’t believe until you read it. Chock full of historical context as support, the author offers insight into Black folks' relationship with money and challenges the idea that Black people could build wealth in a segregated economy. If you have ever contemplated the wealth disparity in the U.S., this book explains it and offers ideas about how to solve for it without segregation.

Black Detroit: A People’s History of Self-Determination

By Herb Boyd

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There’s something special about the city of Detroit, and I’m not just saying that because it’s my hometown. But I found this a fitting read for the month because it’s a history of one of our country’s great cities. Detroit has many tales to share about being Black and helping to shape America. If you think you already know Detroit, or even if you love the place as much as I do, this is the history of Detroit you may have missed but must revisit.

A Taste of Power: A Black Woman’s Story

By Elaine Brown

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While many are familiar with the men who defined The Black Panthers in the sixties, Elaine Brown is not a household name. Yet she took the helm of the organization at a time when it was well-known for its misogynoir. A fascinating memoir and perspective you’re not likely to come across often.

Glory: Magical Visions of Black Vision  

By Kahran Bethencourt

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This is my one coffee table book recommendation because it is truly a work of art. It’s by a photography team who photographed Black children highlighting their natural beauty, natural hair, and personal stories. It’s both a book of photos and a collection of essays that reimagine young people.

Resilient: How to Overcome Anything and Build a Million Dollar Business With or Without Capital

By Sevetri Wilson

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This book isn’t out yet, but I’m excited about its release. In this book, my friend Sevetri shares candidly how she bootstrapped a multimillion-dollar company and went on to raise millions in venture capital. For anyone with an entrepreneurial spirit, big ambitions, and who wants to make their start-up dream a reality, I am betting this is the book for you. I’ve already pre-ordered this book and can’t wait to read it.

Allies and Advocates: Creating an Inclusive and Equitable Culture

By Amber Cabral 

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Last but not least, my book, Allies and Advocates, was released in November. I share a framework for creating more inclusive work and home environments for those who are ready and willing to do the work. I cover making space for allyship, share a historical overview of “how we got here” from a race relations perspective, and offer concrete ways to use one’s privilege (we all have it) to be more inclusive of others. If you’re looking for a place to start or want to know what you can actively do to be an ally or an advocate, this is a great place to start.

“This collection of books will shift your perspective, enhance your knowledge, make you laugh and cry, as well as shock you.”

—Amber Cabral, Author and Diversity & Inclusion Strategist

About the Author: Amber Cabral is the author of Allies and Advocates: Creating an Inclusive and Equitable Culture. She works as a diversity, equity, and inclusion strategist for major retailers and the Fortune 500 through her company CabralCo.

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Want to Land Your Dream Job? 3 Tips to Get You Closer to Your Career Sweet Spot

Photo: Color Joy Stock

I’ve been helping students, peers, and friends figure out their education and career journeys for nearly fifteen years. I don’t have all the answers, but I’ve learned a great deal about how to craft my own destiny since entering the workforce, despite what at times has felt like I’ve strayed from my course.

Throughout my career journey, I figured out what skills I needed to develop and found a way to pursue my passions, even when my full-time role wasn't exactly my dream job. By taking on different responsibilities and learning opportunities, and by shifting to a different mindset, I continued to set myself apart and diversify my skill set. I’ve relied on some simple career tenets in the companies and roles I’ve had for over a decade—even if they were subconscious at the time—and it’s not surprising that we’re teaching students some of these things through my work at HIVE DIVERSITY.

Regardless of where you are in your own career journey—whether you’re just starting out, thinking about a pivot, or just aren’t exactly at your end goal quite yet—here’s my advice for ensuring you always grow closer to your career sweet spot.

1. It’s okay to accept a role that’s not the job.

This advice may seem obvious since there are many people who aren’t in their dream jobs. However, I’m not guiding you to open the floodgates to start considering anything and everything. If you can envision a path to the role you want from the role you’re considering, it might be worth a shot rather than waiting for the perfect job, especially in a challenging market. I graduated from college during a financial downturn, so I’ve experienced what it’s like to start or pivot a career during a period of uncertainty. I wasn’t in a position financially where I could go too long without a job, so I eventually accepted a role that wasn’t related as closely to my major and to what I wanted to do, but where I could see a path to getting there.

Fast forward to today, and I’m the chief operating officer at HIVE DIVERSITY, a career development and recruiting platform which brings together one unique community of students and recent graduates with employers who value diversity. Our students learn about career development from five levels of gamified content, videos, and resources, which take them from college major and career planning through interview prep. As part of our guidance on selecting a post-grad role, we advise students “as long as the job is not just ‘anything’ it doesn’t have to be everything… just a step in the right direction.” Of course, if you get your dream job, that works, too!

2. Adopt a “yes, and” mentality.

A big part of my work and life approach is informed by design thinking, a human-centered approach to solving problems. To aid in idea-generation, design thinkers will often call upon the mindset of “yes, and” (also used in the world of improv), which involves accepting and building on new ideas, rather than saying no to them. In my experience “Yes, and…” has meant finding something worth accepting in anything that comes my way, and then adding my own spin on it.

When it comes to your career and helping to get closer to what you want and value, “yes, and” can be a great way to ensure you’re not closing doors too quickly that might lead to something useful. A few years ago, I was in a fast-paced customer-facing operations role with a lot to manage and little time to do it. When I was asked to add a new daily task to my to-do list, my initial instinct was to say “No, but…” which I pivoted to a “yes, and.” Yes, I took on the ongoing task, and I amended the ask so that I improved the process itself. I recognized that adding my own twist of process improvement would be a résumé-builder in itself. Not only did this new task eventually take a lot less time to do, but I was able to find value in the initial idea that was sent my way.

3. Proactively seek or create opportunities to work on things you’re interested in.

As you’re on your journey to career nirvana, look for ways to work or volunteer in the areas you’re most interested in if it’s not exactly what you’re doing full-time. You might be in a company you love but not in your dream department or functional area. Or, you might be considering an individual contributor role, and you know that you want to build leadership experience to get the job you’ve always wanted. If you have the capacity to take on additional projects or learning opportunities, don’t be afraid to seek them out!

As part of a rotational training program at a company I was excited to work at, I’d learned that there was a department specifically focused on technical project management—something I’d been exposed to and wanted to build on. Through demonstrating interest and an informational meeting with the department head, I ultimately was able to rotate to that department. I love leading teams, so when I took on a subsequent role where I could expand on technical skills without being a people manager, I sought opportunities to lead. Given my interest in diversity and inclusion, I volunteered to be on the leadership team of two employee resource groups: another vital “extra” role that clinched my experience in both D&I and leadership at once!

Ultimately, I’d built up a portfolio of experiences that caught the eye of my partner and HIVE founder, Byron Slosar. Building on my work across operations, career services, process improvement, diversity and inclusion, leading teams, and more, I wound up being the perfect fit for HIVE DIVERSITY and vice versa.

If you’ve spent time learning what you want, it turns out you already have the tools to get there. Take chances, be proactive, and work with what you have. The rest will follow.

“When it comes to your career and helping to get closer to what you want and value, “yes, and” can be a great way to ensure you’re not closing doors too quickly that might lead to something useful.”

—Dakotah Eddy, Chief Operating Officer, HIVE DIVERSITY

About the Author: Dakotah Eddy is the chief operating officer of HIVE DIVERSITY, a digital recruiting platform that connects employers with a unique community of graduates that represents what diversity in the workforce is supposed to be. Prior to joining HIVE DIVERSITY, Dakotah was an operations leader for Victoria's Secret Beauty, where she served on the leadership team for the women's and Black associates' diversity and inclusion groups and completed the Inclusive Leadership Development Program. Dakotah received her MBA from Cornell University's Johnson Graduate School of Management with a focus on Strategy, Marketing, and Technology.

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4 Ways to Adapt to a Chaotic Work-From-Home Environment and Still Get Things Done

Photo: Ketut Subiyanto from Pexels

So you’ve gone from working out of your Pinterest-worthy office to a corner of the spare bedroom hoping the kids don’t barge in? While we’re all still learning to navigate this weird Groundhog Day-esque situation, we’re also figuring out how to adjust to the new way of working the pandemic has pushed us into. 

Right now, working from home is the rule—not the exception—which means the line between home and work has never been thinner. However, there are a few things you can do to help you navigate this new way of working and maintain your sanity! As someone who has been working remotely for years (and mom of a newborn!) here are my top tips for adapting to your work-from-home environment while maintaining productivity.

1. Create a daily routine that establishes work hours and family/life hours.

Sure, no one would technically know if you lived in pajama pants all day and maybe even finished working at 11 pm… but is that what you actually want? Not only can it hinder your productivity, but it can also make it harder to relax when you’re not on the clock. Working from your bed, for example, can hinder sleep when the time comes to wind it all down. 

Because of the current lack of external structure like a commute or office culture and community to separate work and home life, it’s important that we create a working structure for ourselves. The first big thing you can do to create structure when working from home is to set work hours and stick to them. Pick the times of day that you’ll dedicate to your work, and focus on work during that time. And when those hours are over, focus on your life beyond work! 

2. Use apps and tools that let you save ideas verbally. 

When you’re working from home, there may be distractions you didn’t experience in the office. For example, many of us are navigating work-from-home with kids at home. It’s easy to lose your train of thought or forget what you’re supposed to be working on when you have to keep one eye on your children and one eye on your work—but it’s possible to find balance and stay on track! 

Try using apps and tools that allow you to take verbal notes. Apps like Voxer allow you to record voice memos for yourself and other members of your team to secure your thoughts quickly in the moment. You can also use voice-to-text on Slack to take notes for yourself or others, or voice memos on your phone to record important memos for yourself. 

3. Set a priority list at the beginning of the week. 

Starting the week with a list of goals can help you stay on track. Set aside an hour or two on a Sunday night or Monday morning to map out the week’s priorities and tasks. When distractions pop-up during the week—which is inevitable—you’ll know how to bring yourself back. This also allows you to check work items off of your list and visually see your work moving through the week so that you’ll know exactly what you’ve done and what you still need to do. 

You can keep your list organized in a project management tool like Asana or ClickUp, in a personal planner or notebook, or even on an old fashioned whiteboard. All of these methods allow you to easily see your work in front of you and know exactly where you’re at, regardless of distractions. 

4. Build a feel-good practice into the end of each day.

Navigating working from home can feel isolating, frustrating, chaotic, and boring all at the same time. Making time to fill your cup will ultimately help you to feel better, work better, and get more done. At the end of your workday, make some time to do something that relaxes you, brings you joy, and takes you out of “work mode.” 

You could go for a walk, drink some tea on your porch, practice some yoga, read a good book, or even play a game. The possibilities are endless, but whatever you do, make it something that recharges your battery and allows you to unwind from your day. Your work—and your physical, mental, and emotional health—will be better for it. 

Remember, even though working from home can be overwhelming, it’s all about finding the right routine that brings some semblance of balance into your life. Your routine might be different from the next person’s, and that’s okay! It’s all about finding something that helps you work through the struggles and distractions that working from home—or living at work—can bring. 

“Navigating working from home can feel isolating, frustrating, chaotic, and boring all at the same time. Making time to fill your cup will ultimately help you to feel better, work better, and get more done.”

—Cait Scudder, Entrepreneur

About the Author: Cait Scudder is a former high school teacher-turned-entrepreneur whose work has been featured in Forbes, Fast Company, Business Insider, and more. An internationally-recognized online business expert, Cait is a TEDx speaker, host of the “Born to Rise Podcast,” and CEO of a seven-figure company—and she’s on a mission to reach and empower ten million driven, bold-hearted women so they can uncover their zone of genius and use it to create profitable, purpose-driven businesses that change the world. You can follow her on Instagram @caitscudder.

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6 Tips to WFH More Efficiently (and Save Yourself Hours)

Photo: Color Joy Stock

In the wake of COVID, we’ve all had to rethink how we operate this year, pivot the way we work, and reconsider how our businesses function. One of the areas we’ve all had to be most adaptable in, of course, is right in our own homes. We work here, we live here, we do almost everything here now. Not to mention, we’ve been challenged with new distractions and can’t rely on our usual coping methods due to the fact that we’re, well, at home.  

While it all feels quite gloomy—and rightfully so—there is good news here: humans are remarkably resilient and adaptable. 

That means there are answers to help us solve at least one of the most pervasive new cultural problems related to being at home: the challenge of overcoming the fatigue that comes with the daily grind. Now that we’ve replaced commutes with endless Zoom calls, Slack messages, and TikTok marathons, you’re likely already familiar with the problem.  

Fortunately, with a little innovation in your relationship to work, you have hope of achieving a healthier balance.

As a co-founder of CAVEDAY, a solution that offers focus as a service, I’ve studied and created new methods to help people improve their relationship to work and master the art of working from home so it feels a lot less like a major exhaustion-driving burden and a lot more energizing. Keep scrolling to find out how it’s done.

Batch & Block

Batch your work as much as you can, especially when it comes to meetings. 

Try to only take meetings during set times, such as only two days a week or only in the afternoons. Meeting culture is not a new problem, and, for many organizations, has only grown more pervasive during the pandemic (hello again, Zoom!). So while it’s not always possible to have ownership over your own calendar, find windows of time to block off for your most important work. 

Once you have your meeting days/times set, during your working days be sure to only check your email once in the morning and once in the afternoon. Start with your most important and the hardest task first. This will make a massive difference in your energy level as you won’t constantly be flipping from meetings to emails to task lists.

Define

Before starting your workday, take a moment to write down exactly what you’re working on. Be as specific as you can. For example, if you have a day of writing ahead of you, putting “write blog post” on your task list isn’t quite clear. 

Ask yourself: What part of the project are you tackling? What does “finished” look like? Is this the brainstorming phase, outlining, or actual writing? How far do you want to get? 750 words? A chapter? Clearly defining your work, in a set amount of time, helps combat overwhelm, and allows you to more simply focus on one task at a time. 

Scope

How long does it take you to finish a certain task such as drafting a proposal or creating a presentation? Over and under-scoping how long individual tasks take is a surefire way to always be “on” and to quickly overtire. 

Knowing how long projects take gives you a better understanding of how to plan your day. To figure out how long things take, start with something you do often. No need to rush, but focus on just that one task and time yourself. 

Then, in the future, you’ll know exactly what kind of time blocks to set to get the job done. 

Take Breaks

Research shows that the brain can’t focus on a task for more than 52 minutes at a time. Mindful and intentional breaks actually help maintain your energy. Just pushing through to the finish line quickly ends in fatigue. 

But, be sure to take breaks wisely. The difference between absent-minded and intentional breaks is that you are making the choice when to stop and how to spend your time. Getting caught in an endless scroll is not a mindful break. Walking away from your desk, stretching your body, or calling a friend is an excellent way to press pause before returning to your work. 

Remove Distractions

Simple in theory, difficult in practice. Removing distractions (like turning off notifications, closing the door, and—dealing with the biggest distraction of all—putting your phone away) is one of the smallest steps we can take in order to avoid fatigue. We are constantly bombarded with interruptions (every 11 minutes on average), so the more agency we have on controlling external distractions, the better equipped we are to stay focused. 

Establish Rituals

One of the biggest and most overlooked changes we’ve faced this year is the loss of transition. Remember that good old commute?

The loss of that time that signifies the beginning and end of our workday, such as driving to the office, riding the crowded subway, or meeting friends after work held a ton of significance in our lives (maybe even more than we once gave credit). 

Whatever that transition was and whether or not you looked forward to it, it was part of your day and routine. We’ve lost that for now, but that transition time is precious and must be preserved. It’s baked-in time to prepare for and reflect on your day. Without it, we forget to take moments to pause and we wind up being “on” for much longer than intended. 

While it may seem trivial, establish a new ritual to start and end your day. A walk around the block, your morning coffee with no work, shut down or close your computer at the same time every day, read a non-work related article before leaving your workstation. Doesn’t matter what it is and it can be small, but this will give your brain and body a cue for when you’re working and when you’re not.

Our culture promotes shallow work and we’ve gotten really good at being “busy”. But busy doesn’t mean productive. Fatigue does not have to be a way of life. Instead, mindfully approaching your work and time allows for more spaciousness in other areas of your life. It’s not easy to put these tips into practice, so CAVEDAY memberships intentionally make it easier for people to practice these tips, as it’s all baked right into the service. Trust us, it’s worth the effort to master this new way of life. You might even be astonished by the quantity and quality of your output. 

“Busy doesn’t mean productive.”

—Molly Sonsteng, Co-Founder of CAVEDAY

About the Author: Molly Sonsteng is a producer, experience designer, and entrepreneur dedicated to time well spent and deepening human connections. She’s created countless projects that encourage people to live creative and meaningful lives. A classically trained singer, her professional history includes working for Carnegie Hall, Manhattan School of Music, and Daybreaker. She ran a summer camp and a political campaign office, developed a music curriculum, taught preschool, and was the Director of Admissions at a music conservatory. In addition to Caveday, Molly is a cofounder of Madcap Factory, an amusingly eccentric production house helping brands engage their communities.

Use the code CULTIVATE to redeem a free three-hour Caveday session at www.caveday.org/schedule.

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How Years of Working as an Assistant Trained Me to Think Like an Executive

“You always have to hope for the best and plan for the worst.”

—Morgan McLachlan, Co-Founder, Chief Product Officer, and Master Distiller, AMASS

After working in the film industry as a camera assistant for nearly a decade, in 2012 I co-founded The Spirit Guild, one of LA’s first craft distilleries that specializes in making a variety of spirits from California’s diverse flora. From there, in 2018 I went on to co-found AMASS, a Los Angeles-based botanics brand that utilizes the power of plants to transform the social and self-care rituals of modern life. 

In my role as chief product officer and master distiller at AMASS, I oversee product development across categories, from spirits to hand sanitizer to candles and work to finetune the flavor and scent profiles using natural botanicals for all of our products. While my experience as an assistant in the entertainment industry may seem like an unlikely match for a career in spirits and self-care products, I’ve found that the two have more in common than they do differently. 

Here’s what I’ve learned from years of working as an assistant, and how I’ve channeled those experiences into becoming a successful executive. 

Always be proactive in anticipating your boss’ needs. 

I think a lot of people get into an assistant position and think their job is just to take orders. While that could certainly be true, the fact of the matter is, planning, managing people, and delegating is a lot of work for executives, so a truly good assistant will see what is coming down the pipe, and step up to help before they are asked. They’re always three steps ahead of their boss. 

When I was 19 and just getting started in my career, I was surprised to find that my bosses liked me being proactive. It seems obvious now, but at the time I was far more passive and nervous to overstep boundaries. By the end of my career as an assistant, however, I was giving insight and instruction to the executives that I was assisting. In short, I was often telling them what to do, not the other way around. Of course, they had to trust me, but decision fatigue is a very real thing. By taking care of the tasks that I thought were appropriate for me to handle and make decisions on, I was taking a lot off their plate. 

In my experience, the most important thing you can do is gain situational awareness, and begin to anticipate your boss’ needs before they are even aware they have those needs. There doesn’t need to be a lot of fanfare or pageantry; simply taking care of them is enough. Fundamentally, by stepping into a proactive mindset, and anticipating both planned undertakings, and elements that could be potential obstacles, I developed my strategic and derivative thinking skills. 

Photo: Courtesy of AMASS

Develop fail-safes. 

I worked in the entertainment industry, which is challenging in that the hours are long and there are a lot of personalities. Things are changing constantly; it’s not like you’re working at a big corporation where you clock in at 9 am and out at 5 pm every day. There is a lot of interdepartmental communication that has to happen constantly, and the stakes are very high.

Since a lot of my assistant work was in the camera department, we’d get the production schedule of the movie or the episode of television and only have four hours to shoot at one particular location. If I didn’t have every single piece of equipment and the right personnel, my little oversight could cost the production tens of thousands of dollars. Developing fail-safe confirmation systems was imperative. 

Take the job seriously. 

Today, I see a lot of people in junior and assistant positions who don’t necessarily value the job, see assistant work as below them, and are focused on getting experience in the industry and networking for their own career advancement. Assistant roles are often seen as stepping stones to bigger and better offers, but by committing to doing an exceptional job as an assistant, I believe that these roles offer the opportunity to develop the mental discipline and strategic thinking that is necessary to navigate larger or entrepreneurial entities in an executive capacity. 

When I really committed to being a great assistant—switching into a proactive mindset, anticipating my boss’ needs on every level, and developing fail-safes—I think that’s when things unlocked for me. 

In my role as AMASS’ chief product officer and master distiller, I always look at everything I do from a 360 perspective. Usually, in my mind, there’s a production schedule detailing what the next steps are. In managing a company and continuous product development and production, there is a lot of operational planning required to bring a product to market. You never want to do things last minute, since there’s an 85% chance that it won’t happen since things never show up on time. For me, I think that’s the most important lesson learned; to always have a long term strategy and attempt to anticipate everything that can go wrong. 

At AMASS, we’ve seen that play out through the pandemic. In March, we were one of the first brands that transitioned from producing spirits to hand sanitizer. Foreseeing this need in the market before other brands were even considering developing sanitizing products was crucial for us as a business. While we’ve encountered hiccups along the way, developing systems to succeed and staying three steps ahead—just as I did as an assistant—has been a large part of our success. You always have to hope for the best and plan for the worst.

Photo: Courtesy of AMASS

About the Author: Morgan McLachlan grew up in the Canadian Pacific Northwest, where she spent many afternoons exploring the forest, forging what would become a lifelong fascination with nature and botany. After a decade-long career in the entertainment industry working as a camera operator on motion pictures, Morgan shifted her creative and technical abilities to a new craft: distilled spirits.

Morgan has now been distilling for over ten years, and is known for her experimental methods and focus on botanical-based spirits and fruit distillates, having distilled everything from cantaloupes into eau-de-vie, to terroir-driven gins. Her passion for plants extends to personal care, where she combines her expertise in botanicals and spirits to formulate hand sanitizer and other natural body care products, from soaps to hand lotions.

This unique culmination of professional experiences coupled with Morgan’s sincere interest in plants led her to build AMASS into a line of modern, botanically-driven products that defy category.

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10 Empowering Books By Women to Enhance Your Career (and Life)

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Achieving your career goals, trying to be a successful adult, and keeping your personal life in check can sometimes feel impossible. (If you’re juggling a million tasks and still trying to find time to watch The Bachelor with the girls, trust us, we know the struggle). But no matter how often you may feel overwhelmed, it’s important to know that you can find the balance you’re looking for—it may just take a new way of thinking and organizing your everyday life. 

Luckily, there are resources and mentors with proven methods and insights that will help you find the balance between living your best life and getting to work on time. No one ever said achieving work-life balance would be easy, but with these 10 insightful new books, you will be well on your way to reaching both your professional and personal goals in no time. Written by 10 fierce females who know a thing or two about running their own businesses and carving out time for themselves, you’ll find true wisdom and hope in the pages of these self-help and business-focused books. 

From the creator of one of the biggest natural hygiene companies to Netflix sensation Marie Kondo to a single mother from the Middle East who rose to the top of the tech industry, these books will leave you with anecdotes that will help you find the work-life balance you’ve been craving. If you want to find the perfect work-life balance, add these insightful books to your to-read pile ASAP.

Supermaker: Crafting Business On Your Own Terms

by Jaime Schmidt

Once upon a time, Jaime Schmidt was pregnant and making natural deodorant products in her kitchen in Portland, Oregon. In just seven years, Schmidt had made a name for herself and sold the company to Unilever for nine figures. In her inspiring and insightful book, Supermaker, Schmidt reveals how aspiring entrepreneurs can start their own businesses on their own terms. With tips on marketing, product development and other useful tools, this book gives readers the inside look at what it takes to be successful as a founder and as a woman.

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The Upside of Being Down: How Mental Health Struggles Led to My Greatest Successes In Work and Life

by Jen Gotch

Jen Gotch is the CCO and creator of multimillion-dollar brand, Ban.do, but what many people don’t know is that Gotch didn’t always have the easiest time finding success. Struggling with her mental health from a young age, she was determined to understand how her diagnosis could help boost her creative process. In The Upside of Being Down, Gotch shares candid stories about her failures and successes and how to embrace the parts of life you can’t control.

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Slay Like a Mother: How to Destroy What’s Holding You Back So You Can Live the Life You Want b

y Katherine Wintsch

Katherine Wintsch is no stranger to the difficulties of wearing multiple hats in both her professional and personal life. In her debut self-help book, Wintsch uncovers what it takes to be a mother, wife, friend, and successful CEO. Slay Like a Mother teaches readers how to get past the “just fine” mask women often wear, set realistic goals that you can actually achieve and realize the difference between struggling and suffering. If you’re a fan of Rachel Hollis, you’ll love this new release.

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It’s About Damn Time: How to Turn Being Underestimated into Your Greatest Advantage

by Arlan Hamilton and Rachel L. Nelson

Despite being homeless and underestimated, Arlan Hamilton always dreamed of success. Without any contacts, a college degree or a background in finance, Hamilton used her determination and strength to become a highly-respected investor in Silicon Valley, investing in businesses founded by underrepresented women like herself. In It’s About Damn Time, Hamilton teaches women the importance of believing in yourself, how to create a life you love and the skills you need to make it big when it feels like no one else has faith in your dreams.

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Four Faces of Femininity: Heroic Women Throughout History

by Barbara McNally

If you’re in need of a little inspiration from the women who have come before, you’ll love Four Faces of Femininity. Divided into four sections, McNally’s new book celebrates all kinds of successful women and shows readers how important it is to spotlight women from different backgrounds. From Anne Frank to Michelle Obama, this book aims to help women become well-rounded and happy in all areas of their lives. Four Faces of Femininity also includes exercises that will help readers unlock their power and invest in their goals.

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Buy Yourself the F*cking Lilies: And Other Rituals to Fix Your Life, From Someone Who’s Been There

by Tara Schuster

As a twenty-something-year-old, Tara Schuster found herself at the top of her career as the vice president at Comedy Central. But what nobody knew was that Tara was struggling to keep the rest of her life together. Finally, one drunken night, Tara called her therapist, desperate for help, making her realize that she needed to make immediate changes to her life. Buy Yourself the F*cking Lilies follows Tara’s journey to transforming her entire being and re-evaluating her priorities. This new self-help book strives to help others create a successful life they truly love.

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Success from the Inside Out: Power to Rise from the Past to a Fulfilling Future

by Nona Jones

Finding success in her career at only 23, Nona Jones was convinced that she had everything all figured out. But soon, trauma from her past came back to haunt her and it wasn’t long before she realized that she was using her work to cover up her pain and suffering. Using anecdotes from her own journey, Jones aims to help other career women take back their lives by embracing their fears, banishing their tragic pasts and finding their own fulfilling success in Success from the Inside Out.

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You Can Have It All, Just Not at the Same Damn Time

by Romi Neustadt

Romi Neustadt is a big believer in being able to do it all. The author, speaker, entrepreneur and life coach has had plenty of experience over the years tending to her career and her family, and in You Can Have It All, Just Not at the Same Damn Time, she teaches readers how they can achieve the same success. With lessons on focusing on the things that matter, recognizing your worth, and creating healthy habits, this book will have you nailing work-life balance like a pro.

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Joy at Work: Organizing Your Professional Life

by Marie Kondo and Scott Sonenshein

Marie Kondo is the queen of cutting out the clutter and making room for further success and happiness and in her new book, Joy at Work, she applies her innovative tips and tricks to the workplace. Work can be draining but there are simple ways to make the days better and focus your energy on the things that matter. Teaming up with Rice University business professor Scott Sonenshein, Kondo teaches readers how to declutter their work space, be better organized and make every second count so you can feel more accomplished and happy by the time you head home.

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Girl Decoded: A Scientist’s Quest to Reclaim Our Humanity by Bringing Emotional Intelligence to Technology

by Rana el Kaliouby

Growing up in a traditional family in the Middle East, Rana el Kaliouby never expected to find the success she now has. Moving away from her home country, she earned her PhD and moved to America as a single mother of two girls. Aiming to humanize technology, her intelligence, and ability to juggle her responsibilities made her a leading figure in an industry mostly made up of white males. In Girl Decoded, Rana tells her inspiring story and encourages women to go after their wildest dreams and forget about the labels and expectations forced upon them by others.

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Written by Ashley Johnson, content editor, She Reads.

About the Author:

Ashley Johnson is the content editor at She Reads, an online media outlet that specializes in promoting books and authors with a female-centric approach. In addition to editorial roundups, exclusive author content and thought pieces, She Reads is committed to building a community of readers who love nothing more than getting lost in a good book.

Up next: Gwyneth Paltrow, Marie Kondo, Tyra Banks, and More on the #1 Book They Always Recommend

This story was originally published on March 13, 2019, and has since been updated.

Why I Deleted "Sorry" From My Vocabulary

“Your message becomes direct, clear, and representative of your self-worth.”

-Kate Davis, Founder of Knockout

As business owners, we all want to project confidence through our interactions with vendors, contractors, clients, customers, and other business owners. I started my company at 25 years old with no business experience. In these past five years, I’ve worked with manufacturers, lawyers, consultants, and event organizers. Many of these people didn’t take me seriously because of my age, gender, or lack of industry knowledge. I couldn’t change who I was (nor did I want to), but I could adjust my language to present a stronger, more confident version of myself.  

It’s become increasingly clear to me that language is powerful, and we have the ability to convey self-confidence through our word choices. In our digital world (even more so during a pandemic), our written communications are important opportunities to use purposeful language. Getting rid of the self-defeating “sorry” and “just” make a major difference in the way we are perceived. 

Did you say or write “sorry” today when you didn’t do anything wrong? Look through some emails and texts, and you might be surprised how regularly “sorry”  slips in. Once I started looking for it, I realized that I’d been saying “sorry”  instinctively throughout my whole life. When I posted about this recently on  Instagram, I couldn’t believe how many women said they also say it unnecessarily and often. Why do we do this? 

Many women I talk with compulsively apologize when asking for something or making a reasonable request. To be clear, there are definitely moments when an apology is necessary, and we should say sorry when we make a mistake or hurt someone. We know how to identify when we should say “sorry”, so let’s talk about when we don’t need to say it—and more importantly—what we can say instead. 

“Sorry to bother you, but could you send me that project proposal we talked  about when you get a chance?”  

This “sorry” is not necessary. It might feel aggressive to say “Could you send me that project proposal?”, but that’s what you need, right? If you want to soften it  a bit, you can always add “please.” The point is, it’s not your fault that this person is late, and you have no reason to say sorry. Apologizing diminishes our message and perceived confidence. 

A great substitute for “sorry” is “thank you”, which completely changes the tone of your exchange. The person you’re talking with will feel appreciated and will recognize the positive framing of the situation. 

Let’s go through some examples of how to not say “sorry.”

If you’re asking a busy person for a meeting or if you’re looking for advice, rather than saying “sorry I’m bothering you”, try “thank you for taking the time to meet/talk with me”. 

Your project got delayed because of an urgent assignment that came in, and you’re writing “Sorry this is taking so long” to your boss. They may need some explanation, but you can shift the language to “Thanks for your patience on this. The [time-sensitive assignment] set me back slightly. I’ll have this to you on  Monday.”  

A friend or co-worker listened to you vent during your lunch hour, and you want to text her, “Sorry I was talking so much today!” Try writing “Thank you for listening to me today! I appreciate your advice and patience.” This shows her that you value her time. 

Now, while we’re at it, let’s talk about “just.” 

I’m constantly on the lookout for the word “just.” I didn’t realize how much I used it until a loved one told me I use it all the time. We want to feel confident and be perceived as strong, right? This word does us no favors.  

Listen closely for “just” because it is the death of a powerful statement. “Just”  comes up in my emails constantly, and I try to delete it whenever it pops up. We use “just” so often that the actual meaning slips away.  

“She just found that jacket in the closet” 

“They just cooked the most delicious meal!” 

These examples are correct because “just” indicates that something happened very recently. 

Here’s where we need to delete “just:” 

“I’m just checking in to see if you received my invoice.” 

“I just have a few more questions.” 

“I just thought I’d suggest…” 

In all three examples, “just” makes the statement weaker. Once you start cutting out “just,” you’ll see faster responses to your emails (and responses to the ones that might never get answered). Your message becomes direct, clear, and representative of your self-worth.

Our strength is in our ability to navigate our daily lives with confidence and be unwavering in our sense of self. When we feel that strength, we radiate it, and others take note. Whether it’s our children seeing us as confident adults, co-workers who know we’re direct, vendors who realize we know what we want, or employers who see our strength, the way we’re seen is based on what we project. 

Let’s delete those two undermining words and start sending some confident emails and texts! 

About the author: Kate Davis believes personal safety should feel fun, rather than burdensome. Through her Knockout collection, Davis utilizes her background in Italian art and design to bring together daily wear with personal safety, marrying functionality with fashion and design. The collection is both stylish and sharp, featuring sleek, minimalist designs in both bold and neutral color options. With Knockout women can carry their personal safety as part of their daily style without having to compromise. More than just jewelry, Knockout is a community for women looking for camaraderie, encouragement, safety tips, and financial advice. Through Knockout, Davis wants to help women tap into their own power.

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Want to Feel More Productive While WFH? These Put-Together Outfits Will Inspire You to Tackle Your To-Do List

Photo: Tayla Santos

As we enter yet another month of working from home, it’s certainly no secret that signing online for a virtual Zoom meeting doesn’t exactly require the same sartorial standards as, say, getting ready for a day at the office or dressing up for an important meeting with a potential investor. While it's definitely convenient to wake up, toss your Zoom sweater on over your sweatpants, and open your laptop from the comfort of your couch, if you’re anything like us, you’re starting to feel like your productivity levels are dropping. But there’s a surprisingly easy way to regain your motivation while WFH: getting dressed as if you're going to work. 

Studies have shown that what you wear while working actually matters. Researchers who study "enclothed cognition" say that your clothing choices can affect your productivity, your thinking, and even your negotiating skills. That’s why we’ve partnered with Paige, a lifestyle collection for men and women, and DJ and creative Pamela Tick, style blogger Tayla Santos, and fashion and lifestyle influencer Pau Dictado to share put-together yet comfortable outfits (because comfort is still key) that will inspire you to tackle your to-do list while working from home. Keep scrolling to find out how you can dress for success while working from your living room.

Pamela Tick | DJ & Creative

How would you describe your personal style?

I never entirely know how to answer this question because my style has a strong foundation but is ever-evolving. It is also dependent on daily factors that make my outfits functional! 

It’s fair to say I gravitate towards minimal looks with bold pieces, usually, these pieces are leather or suede, denim, cashmere, etc. On the other hand, I can get playful sometimes too with a simple maxi skirt or long dress to bring out my fun free spirit personality.

How has this time in quarantine influenced your style? 

I have noticed a difference in the days I choose to throw on sweatpants versus the days I create a real outfit to wear. Sweats sometimes feel like an excuse to be lazy. Perfect for Sunday, but come the weekdays, I like to feel inspired and ready to work by getting dressed. The outfit I choose in the morning usually enhances my mood for the rest of the day. There is power in dressing up!

How have you adjusted to this new remote work life and what influences your styling choices each day? Do you dress for comfort or style or somewhere in between?

I fall somewhere in between dressing for comfort and style which is exactly why these Paige jeans speak to me. A happy medium! The vintage fit wears with time and molds to my body the more I wear them. These last few months have been an adjustment for all, which is why it feels important to not forget the little things that make you feel good.

Tayla Santos | Style Blogger

How would you describe your personal style?

I would say I have a neutral and minimal style. I like to keep it simple and casual whenever possible! This means I prefer a good fitting pair of denim and a hoodie paired with sneakers and a cute coat over any outfit featuring louder statement pieces. It’s the timeless and classy looks that never go out of style and you can’t go wrong with! 

How has this time in quarantine influenced your style? 

I’ve been wearing so much more athleisure! I’m all about the matching set lately. Love being comfortable while still super stylish and now it’s almost my mission to incorporate a hoodie,  into any look haha. I like to refer to my “three C’s,” casual, chic, and comfortable! 

I love wearing a WFH outfit that I can easily swap the slippers for some boots or sneakers, add a jacket and be out the door for a quick Starbucks drive-through coffee break!

How have you adjusted to this new remote work life and what influences your styling choices each day? Do you dress for comfort or style or somewhere in between?

It’s actually funny you ask this! My journey as an “influencer” started during this pandemic. On March 6th, I quit my full-time job as a teacher’s aid and told myself I was going to pursue blogging full time. Three days later, on March 9th, we went into lockdown. I was freaking out. Now I had no other option than to make this work! I went into full hustle mode and don’t regret a second of it! I’ve been posting every day since and grew my audience by over 20,000 followers in eight months! This has been a great journey and I can confidently say I love what I do.

As for how it’s affected my style, I would say the pandemic and lockdown has played a major role in shaping my style into what it is today. I remember (maybe two to three years ago) I used to try so hard to put together the perfect outfit. Now, knowing I at most will be grabbing a coffee through the Starbucks drive-through, I’ve turned to simpler outfits. I feel so much more confident and myself in casual and simple outfits. I love keeping it minimal, chic, and put together by maintaining a neutral color palette. It’s all about the fit of the outfit. For example, the Paige jeans I’m wearing here hug the body perfectly with luxurious comfort and super stretch fibers. It’s just a plus that it comes in tons of authentic washes to add some texture to my minimal outfits. 

What is your foolproof outfit formula for boosting your productivity and staying comfortable and stylish while working from home?

I am the biggest believer in getting up and getting ready for the day as if you actually had to go into the office. When I’m dressed and ready, I feel more productive and ready to attack that day’s to-do list. There’s a totally different vibe when working at your desk in a comfy pair of denim. I say grab your favorite pair of denim, add some fuzzy socks, your most comfy hoodie and you’re good to go! If it’s a little warmer where you are, swap the hoodie out for a crisp white tee tucked into your denim, layer some cute gold necklaces, and you’re ready to slay the day! 

How does getting dressed for the day in comfortable yet stylish clothing make you feel more motivated and ready to take on your to-do list?

You know when you put together that perfect “all day outfit?” The kind of outfit you’re kind of sad that you have to take off at the end of the day? That’s how you feel when you’re rocking the most comfortable and timeless pair of denim. What’s better than having a pair of denim that you can wear all day working at home, styled comfortably to elevate the look with over the knee boot heels and a long coat for an evening look!

Pau Dictado | Fashion & Lifesytle Influencer

How would you describe your personal style?

Edgy and effortless.

How has this time in quarantine influenced your style?

My priority has shifted to more comfortable wear and investing in high-quality pieces that will be a staple in my closet. Since I rarely go out and I’m mostly working from home, I don’t feel the need to shop as much. But when I do, I want high-quality pieces I can really feel good in!

How have you adjusted to this new remote work life and what influences your styling choices each day? Do you dress for comfort or style or somewhere in between?

I dress for both comfort and style. Comfort has definitely become my top priority, but I believe I don’t have to sacrifice my style while doing so! What I love most about my Paige jeans is that it’s stylish without sacrificing comfort. It has a luxe coating with super gloss pigment that gives the look of leather in a silhouette that you can live in! 

What is your foolproof outfit formula for boosting your productivity and staying comfortable and stylish while working from home?

My foolproof outfit would have to be a button up shirt with jeans. There’s just something about this formula that never goes out of style! Not to mention, it’s both comfortable and flattering, just like these jeans. I just love how it hugs my body in all the right areas!

How does getting dressed for the day in comfortable yet stylish clothing make you feel more motivated and ready to take on your to-do list?

When I look good, I feel good. And when I feel good, I feel like I can take on the world! Dressing up has definitely helped boost my confidence and productivity, and wearing a good pair of jeans can make a world of a difference. The WFH life can be mundane at times, so I always seek out ways to change things up and add some fun elements into my routine.

Shop the looks at Paige.com.

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