Click the image for the punchline ☝️.

😂 See all March 2026 Thirsty Thursday jokes here.

✅ Today’s Checklist:

• The interview question most dread (and exactly what to say)

• The Google Calendar move that puts you back in control

• The “nice” behaviors quietly blocking your next promotion

• The tension point behind your ear you didn’t know existed

QUICK LINKS

✈️ Your next trip could basically pay for itself if you’re using the right travel credit card.

👀 Visible women get penalized and invisible women get overlooked, so what’s the actual move?

🧠 The most socially skilled people are often the loneliest because every connection starts to feel like a performance.

🚩 Nine signs your workplace is toxic and exactly what to do about each one.

INTERVIEW PREP

How to Answer “Why Are You Leaving?” Without Cringing or Oversharing

Takeaways:

• Every answer you give in an interview is being filtered through one question: “Is this person a risk?” Hiring managers are listening for how you talk about past teams, handle change, and whether you’re likely to stick around and actually contribute.

• Frame your answer with appreciation and direction. Instead of “I hate my boss,” try: “There’s been a shift in leadership that’s led me to explore new opportunities. I’ve really enjoyed my team, and it’s pushed me to pursue this role.”

• Position your move as growth, not escape. Instead of “I want more money,” say: “I’m proud of what I’ve built, and I’m excited to take on more ownership and responsibility in a role as a Senior Editor.”

Hear all the scripts on IG.

AI AT WORK

The People Getting the Most Out of AI All Have One Thing in Common

They know how to prompt. HubSpot’s free guide gives you 100+ prompts built for real work situations so you can stop guessing and start getting results that actually save you time.

What’s inside:

• 100+ copy-paste prompts for emails, content, data, support, and more

• 15+ real-world use cases broken down by role, yes, including yours

• 21 productivity tips so you’re prompting with actual intention

• Clear fixes for the most common “why isn’t this working?” moments

Save it, use it, become the most helpful person in the room.

👉 Grab it free here.

TIME BLOCKING

Take Control of Your Calendar

Takeaways:

• Visibility creates control. Color-code your calendar by life categories so you can actually see where your time is going: work, personal, health, creative. It turns your schedule into something you can manage, not just react to.

• Plan your week with intention. In your weekly view, block time for specific tasks and meetings starting with what matters most. Urgent and important go first, everything else fits around it.

• Then, in the remaining open time slots, don’t view those as “free time.” These become “focus time” where real work happens. Treat them as non-negotiable focus sessions so you can actually move things forward.

Watch the tutorial on IG.

CAREER GROWTH

Being “Easy to Work With” Isn’t the Same as Being Promotable

Takeaways:

• Promotions aren’t won on effort alone. Leaders look for signals of ownership, decision-making, and authority. If all they see is “always gets it done,” that reads as reliable. Not ready for the next level.

• Constantly available, always agreeable, friction-free. It signals a lack of boundaries, not a high performer. Strong contributors push back, protect their time, and set clear expectations without over-explaining.

• The shift from dependable to promotable is about making your thinking visible, not just your output. Speak up in meetings, share ideas before they’re fully baked, ask sharp questions, and own outcomes, not just tasks.

Read all 10 “nice behaviors” blocking your promotion.

NEXT CHAPTER

Your Next Move Deserves Better Than a Gut Feeling

Something is shifting. Maybe you got the promotion and it still doesn’t feel right. Maybe you’ve been in the same role long enough to know you’ve outgrown it. Maybe you’re job searching and every opportunity looks fine on paper but nothing feels like a clear yes.

The self-story you’re working from might be years out of date, and making a major career decision from an outdated picture of yourself is how people end up in the wrong next thing.

Pigment is a self-discovery assessment that gives you a current, structured picture of who you actually are professionally so your next move comes from self-knowledge instead of momentum or anxiety.

Here’s what it maps:

• How you actually process information and make decisions under pressure

• Where you naturally create the most value (not just where you’re capable)

• What kind of work sustains your energy versus what quietly drains it over time

Most people change jobs when they needed to change the configuration. Or stay when they should’ve left. Pigment helps you figure out which one you’re actually in.

👉 Take the Pigment assessment here.

P.S. Our whole content team took this assessment, and we’re already using the results to reshape roles going into Q2.

LYMPHATIC DRAINAGE

The Tension Point Behind Your Ear That’s Affecting More Than You Realize

Takeaways:

• The area behind your ear is a key node in your facial lymphatic system. When it’s congested or tight, it shows up as puffiness, reduced jaw definition, tension headaches, and facial asymmetry over time.

• Topical products can only go so far. Lymphatic flow is structural. A serum or gua sha can’t fully address what’s happening deeper in the system.

• A few minutes of targeted massage along this area helps release built-up tension and gets drainage moving again.

Get the tutorial on FB.

STAFF PICKS

Stuff We’re Loving This Week

👉 Get the essential 3-month checklist for new AI leaders at this free event on April 9. Register here

💋 This peptide lip treatment is the only lip product you’ll want to wear all day.

🪒 Switched to this double-edge safety razor and never looked back.

🍫 The heavy-duty baking pan with a lid that you take everywhere (and everyone asks about).

JUST FOR FUN

COMMUNITY

🗓️ Upcoming Events

• On Demand: 2026 Compliance Predictions Companies Can’t Afford to Ignore

* Smart Girl Society is our private community for women who want deeper conversations, accountability, and tools that actually make life easier. Join the waitlist to get in the next round.

💼 Browse our job board here.

SPILL THE TEA

Take Our Poll

🔄 The AI Workflow Automation Identifier
Paste your current workflow and get a clear blueprint for what to automate, what to keep manual, and exactly where to start.

📋 The Too Much On My Plate Prioritizer
Dump your entire task list and get back a clear breakdown of what to focus on, what to hand off, and what to drop this week.

📝 The Delegate This Translator
Turn your brain dump into a crisp, ready-to-send task brief your team can actually run with.

💰 The Paycheck Power Up
Prompts that help you quantify your wins, build your case, and walk into any salary conversation ready.

📅 The AI Meeting Prep Assistant
Paste your meeting agenda and walk in with the right questions, potential risks, and key insights — so you’re never caught off guard.

Have more feedback? 💌 Reply to this email and tell us.

✨ P.S. Want more inspiration and positivity to kick off your week? Sign up for our Motivational Monday texts (U.S. only).

UPDATE YOUR PREFERENCES

Only Get What You Want

Here’s how to update your preferences in just a few quick steps:

1. Click the link below and on the “Update Your Preferences” page, click the “Email me a link” button.

2. Open the email with the subject line “The Assist Subscribers: Update Profile” and click the link inside.

3. Choose the weekly email newsletters you’d like to receive from us (Tues, Wed, Thurs, Sat).

4. Click “Update Preferences” to save your changes—and you’re all set!

👉 Update my subscriber preferences here.

👀 Want to see if your company is a good fit for our 250k+ ambitious readers? Join our Sponsor Waitlist here.

✅ Today’s Checklist:

• Kristel’s Friday habit that makes the whole week easier

• The credibility backpack every woman needs at work

• Recipe of the week: Cha Cha’s White Chicken Chili

🤔 Trivia: The famous cherry blossoms in Washington, D.C. were a gift from which country in 1912? Find out.

👀 See all of the March 2026 Wellness Wednesday Trivias.

QUICK LINKS

🎯 76% of your team is burned out. Your wellness program probably isn’t helping.

💼 The remote management habits that make people actually want to stay.

🧠 A realistic reset for sleep, movement, and stress that fits a packed schedule.

🤝 The relationship resets that make this year feel a little less transactional.

LIFE BALANCE

My Friday-to-Sunday Routine So Mondays Don’t Ruin Me

There’s a very specific kind of peace that hits on Friday afternoon when you know your Monday self is already taken care of.

For me, it starts before I even think about weekend plans. I open our company’s Notion goals template and do two things: log my weekly wins, then set goals for the week ahead. Five minutes. It feels like putting a bow on the week—I get to name what moved, celebrate what mattered, and head into the weekend without carrying unfinished business in my brain.

As a married, work-from-home mom of two, that headspace is basically a luxury.

Friday: close the work week, set up the home week

Win log first. What I finished, what felt hard, what I handled anyway. It’s a quick confidence boost I didn’t know I needed until I started doing it consistently.

Goals for next week, with a reality filter. A few real outcomes that fit in a normal week, each one attached to a next step I can actually put on my calendar.

Meal plan and grocery list. I decide what we’re eating Friday so I’m not standing in the kitchen at 6pm on Tuesday making decisions I don’t have the energy for. A few repeatable dinners, one backup meal, and snacks that make the week feel manageable.

A tiny desk reset. Laptop closed, tabs saved, notes filed. It signals “we’re done here” in a way my nervous system actually understands.

Saturday: groceries, then nothing that feels like work

Saturday morning, I buy the groceries from Friday’s list. That one move makes weekday evenings noticeably calmer.

Then the rest of Saturday belongs to us. Walks, brunch, a movie, backyard time. If my husband and I can swing it, even a low-key date. One planned thing gives the day shape. One open block gives it room to breathe.

Sunday: the cozy launchpad

Sunday is where the week gets its foundation.

Ingredient prep, not full cooking. Chopped veggies, a washed fruit bowl, a sauce, a protein, a grain. Weeknight dinners become assembly instead of effort.

House basics. I’m going for functional, not perfect. Clean clothes, clear counters, a living room that doesn’t make me anxious.

School launchpad. Homework done, backpacks ready, outfits set, lunches prepped in one spot. Monday morning runs on rails or it runs on chaos. I prefer rails.

A few things that make the whole system stick

• Theme nights. Taco Tuesday, sheet pan Thursday. Fewer decisions, same result.

• Two lists instead of one. “This week” and “today.” Your brain relaxes when ideas have somewhere to land.

• One rest ritual you actually protect. A nap, a long shower, a slow walk. Something small that tells your body it matters too.

When the week gets away from you anyway

Pick three priorities instead of a full list. Prep the bottlenecks (mornings, lunch stuff, dinner ingredients) and the rest tends to follow. A good-enough reset still counts.

A weekend with a little structure gives the people you love more of you.

Friday gives me closure. Saturday gets me stocked. Sunday gets me ready.

The weekend still feels like a weekend.

Kristel (TA Marketing)

AI COMPLIANCE

Your Team Is Already Using AI. Does Anyone Have a Plan for That?

Hiring decisions. Performance reviews. Client emails. AI is woven into how work gets done now, and most organizations are still catching up with a policy to match.

The timeline for “figuring it out” just got a lot shorter. Colorado’s AI Act takes effect June 30, 2026. The EU AI Act’s high-risk obligations follow August 2. Enforcement is no longer a hypothetical.

Traliant’s AI in the Workplace training is a 15-minute interactive course built to close the gap. Developed by in-house legal and compliance experts, it walks employees through realistic workplace scenarios—the kind where bias, data misuse, and over-reliance on AI actually show up—and gives them a clear framework for what to do.

What your team walks away with:

• A working understanding of current AI laws and ethical principles

• The 5 key questions to ask before using any AI tool at work

• Practical skills for reviewing AI output for accuracy, quality, and bias

• Confidence that your org can demonstrate good-faith oversight

Fifteen minutes of training now beats a compliance conversation with legal later.

Start your free trial.

CAREER

How to Build Your Credibility Backpack (So You Stop Underselling Yourself)

One of my favorite things I do as a solopreneur is give webinars and talks to women. Last month, I had the privilege of speaking to a women’s association of metalworkers on the topic of building credibility and authority in male-dominated spaces.

And one of the hardest things we struggle with as women? Self-promotion.

In a society where women are conditioned to be nice, modest, and accommodating, we’re not naturally encouraged to showcase our accomplishments and contributions. Meanwhile, men are constantly telling everyone how they contributed, what they did, and how good they were at it without blinking an eye.

Outside of those conditioned gender communication patterns, there’s also a practical issue: we’re so busy doing 100 other things as women (fighting our health insurance for basic reproductive coverage, working the double shift caring for the household, keeping up with 10-step beauty routines and protein intake) that we haven’t spent the time to think about what makes us great in our careers and how to articulate it.

That’s where the credibility backpack comes in.

What is a credibility backpack?

It’s basically a metaphorical tool you can turn to when you need stats, endorsements, and proof, especially in rooms that don’t take you as seriously or where you want to build more authority.

Think of it as a toolbox you can pull from to remind yourself (and others) of your experience, results, competency, and leadership. This translates to more confidence, patience, and wisdom when you need it most.

Why you’re not being taken seriously

First, let’s name what’s actually going on. Because the fix only works if you understand what you’re up against. Here are four reasons women often struggle to be taken seriously.

1. Role confusion

Unclear positioning undermines authority and creates ambiguity about your expertise. If people don’t understand what you do or what you’re good at, they won’t trust you with important work.

2. Soft communication

Over-explaining and excessive apologizing signal uncertainty rather than confidence. When you soften your language (“I just think maybe we could…”), people hear doubt—not expertise.

3. Invisible proof

Your wins aren’t packaged or communicated effectively to build credibility. If you’re doing great work but no one knows about it, it doesn’t help your reputation.

4. The double bind

Navigating the tension between being warm and being direct creates confusion. Women are punished for being “too nice” (not authoritative) and “too direct” (not likeable). It’s exhausting.

What goes in your credibility backpack

Your credibility backpack should include concrete proof of your expertise and impact. Over time, it’ll come from memory and not something you need to reference. The goal is for you to have examples to easily pull from your brain, but it’s okay if at first you need to access it digitally or physically. Here’s what to collect:

3 Metrics

Quantifiable results that demonstrate your impact:

• “Increased revenue by 22% in Q3”

• “Reduced customer churn by 15%”

• “Managed a $2M budget with zero overruns”

3 Wins

Specific achievements you can reference:

• “Led the product launch that brought in 5,000 new users in 60 days”

• “Negotiated a partnership that saved the company $150K annually”

• “Built and scaled a team from 3 to 15 people”

2 Testimonials

Third-party validation of your expertise:

• A LinkedIn recommendation from a former boss

• An email from a client praising your work

• Feedback from a peer about your leadership

Your repeatable line

You also need a simple, memorable way to articulate your value. Here’s the formula:

“I lead [X] so we get [Y outcome]. I’m known for [strength].”

Examples:

• “I lead product strategy so we launch on time and under budget. I’m known for execution.”

• “I lead sales teams so we consistently hit quota. I’m known for coaching top performers.”

• “I lead operations so nothing falls through the cracks. I’m known for systems thinking.”

How to use your credibility backpack

Keep all these in a document, a folder, or even a physical notebook. The point is to have them ready when you need them, and eventually develop a practice of self-advocacy that’s rooted in data and projects credibility… and confidence!

Your credibility backpack can be used in:

• Performance reviews and promotion conversations: Pull out your metrics, wins, and testimonials. Make the case with proof, not hope.

• Networking and introductions: When someone asks what you do, lead with your repeatable line and back it up with a win.

• Moments when you’re dismissed or undermined: Calmly redirect with proof. “Actually, I led the project that increased conversions by 18%. Here’s what we learned.”

• Building confidence internally: On hard days, open your backpack. Remind yourself of what you’ve done and what you’re capable of.

Now take 5 minutes to create it

Don’t let this be another article you just read and move on from. Go open up a Google Doc right now and just start typing. List your three metrics. Your three wins. Your two testimonials. Your repeatable line.

Even if it’s messy, even if you have to dig through old emails to find the numbers. Just start. Because that simple act of writing it down? It’s a subconscious signal to yourself that you DO deserve the credibility and authority in every room you walk into. Your backpack exists now. Use it.

Thania (TA Content Mgr)

TEAM APPRECIATION

The Best Meetings Have Snacks. The Best Teams Do Too.

Nobody has ever opened a box of good snacks and felt nothing.

Simpalo snack boxes are the easiest, most delicious way to show up for your team. Whether you’re welcoming a new hire, celebrating a work anniversary, or just saying “hey, you’re doing great”, there’s a box for that.

Here’s what makes Simpalo Snacks a no-brainer:

• Actual variety: Sweet, savory, healthy, indulgent. Not the sad mixed nuts situation.

• Flexible ordering: Send a one-off box or set up something recurring for the whole team.

• Remote-friendly: A real delivery beats a Slack emoji every time.

• Zero hassle: A few clicks and a delivery address. That’s it.

Your team shows up for you every day. A Simpalo box is a small gesture that lands bigger than you’d expect.

Send your first Simpalo Snacks box today.

STAFF PICKS

Stuff We’re Loving This Week

📆 Become a Head of AI in a day on 4/23. Join for free workshops and hands-on exercises. RSVP Now

💋 Meet the lip stain liner that actually hangs on for 12 hours.

🧊 Five minutes with this jade gua sha and your face actually looks like you slept.

💪 A heavy resistance band set with a door anchor so your hotel room, living room, or garage can become a full gym.

JUST FOR FUN

COMMUNITY

🗓️ Upcoming Events

• On Demand: 2026 Compliance Predictions Companies Can’t Afford to Ignore

* Smart Girl Society is our private community for women who want deeper conversations, accountability, and tools that actually make life easier. Join the waitlist to get in the next round.

👩‍🍳 Recipe of the Week: Cha Cha’s White Chicken Chili

Thanks to one of our readers, Vivian, for submitting!

😋 Have a recipe you love? Share it here.

💼 Browse our job board here.

SPILL THE TEA

Take Our Poll

Have more feedback? 💌 Reply to this email and tell us.

✨ P.S. Want more inspiration and positivity to kick off your week? Sign up for our Motivational Monday texts (U.S. only).

UPDATE YOUR PREFERENCES

Only Get What You Want

Here’s how to update your preferences in just a few quick steps:

1. Click the link below and on the “Update Your Preferences” page, click the “Email me a link” button.

2. Open the email with the subject line “The Assist Subscribers: Update Profile” and click the link inside.

3. Choose the weekly email newsletters you’d like to receive from us (Tues, Wed, Thurs, Sat).

4. Click “Update Preferences” to save your changes—and you’re all set!

👉 Update my subscriber preferences here.

👀 Want to see if your company is a good fit for our 250k+ ambitious readers? Join our Sponsor Waitlist here.

✅ Today’s Checklist:

• The inbox reset your workday has been waiting for

• The tasks you keep avoiding (and how to actually do them)

• A reminder to ask more questions

🤔 Riddle me this: I’m the month when showers fall, flowers rise, and jokes are played on the first day. (Find the answer on the bottom).

QUICK LINKS

🏢 DEI in 2026 will require reinvention to survive.

🎧 10 podcast episodes that will completely change how you approach dating.

💰 Paid off $60K of debt before turning 30. Here’s exactly how she did it.

✨ Branded swag people will actually use (and not immediately regift).

PRODUCTIVITY

Your Inbox Is Running Your Day. Here’s How to Take It Back.

If you’ve already tried the whole “check email 3x a day” advice and it lasted about four hours, same. The basics aren’t the problem. These are the moves that actually stick for people with complex jobs and full calendars.

Your sent folder is creating more incoming email than you think

Long emails get long replies. Vague emails get clarifying questions. Every unnecessary CC you send trains people to CC you back. Auditing your sent folder is one of the fastest ways to diagnose why your inbox won’t calm down. Look for patterns: are you over-explaining? Looping in people who don’t need to be there? Asking multi-part questions in one email? Each of those is generating a response you’ll have to manage later.

The shorter and cleaner your outgoing emails, the quieter your inbox gets over time.

Set an internal email SLA and tell people about it

Most inbox anxiety comes from the unspoken pressure to respond immediately. Fix it by making your response window explicit. Something like: “I check email at 9am, 12pm, and 4pm. For anything urgent, Slack me.” Put it in your email signature, say it in team meetings, normalize it. You’re not being unavailable. You’re being predictable, which is actually more useful to your team.

Use filters to do the sorting before you even open your inbox

Most people create folders manually. The move is to set up rules that file emails automatically the moment they arrive—newsletters to Read Later, CC’d threads to a separate folder, vendor updates out of your main view entirely. In Gmail, go to Settings > Filters and Blocked Addresses. In Outlook, it’s Rules under the Home tab. Spend 20 minutes building these once, and your inbox self-organizes every day without you touching it.

The “email debt forgiveness” reset

If your inbox has 4,000 unread emails, no system is getting you out of that hole one message at a time. Declare bankruptcy on anything older than 30 days: create a folder called “Pre-[Month] Archive,” drop everything in it, and start fresh. If something in there was actually important, someone will follow up. This sounds dramatic, but it works.

Use the “if I don’t hear back by X” close

Instead of sending a follow-up email to check in on a decision, end your original email with: “If I don’t hear back by Thursday, I’ll move forward with option A.” It transfers the burden of response to them, cuts follow-up threads in half, and keeps projects moving without the ping-pong.

Stop writing emails that require a reply

Before you hit send, ask: does this actually need a response? A lot of emails that end with “let me know your thoughts” or “does that work for you?” can be rewritten as statements instead of questions. Fewer open loops in people’s inboxes means fewer in yours.

Tools worth actually using (beyond the obvious):

• SaneBox: learns what you engage with and quietly files the rest; genuinely gets smarter over time

• Boomerang: set emails to resurface only when you need them, and schedule sends so you’re not training your team to expect 11pm replies

• Superhuman: $30/month, worth it if your job lives in your inbox; the split inbox and keyboard shortcuts alone will change how fast you move

• Leave Me Alone: visual mass-unsubscribe tool; do this once and watch your daily volume drop

Unsubscribe without guilt

If you haven’t opened something in 3 months, it goes. No exceptions. You can always re-subscribe (you likely won’t). Need a full digital declutter while you’re at it? We covered that too.

The weekly 15-minute reset

Same day, same time, every week:

• Archive everything that’s resolved

• Follow up on anything in your “Waiting On” folder

• Delete or read everything in “Read Later”

• Review your filters and adjust anything that misfiled

Over time, opening your inbox stops feeling like a threat.

DATA INSIGHTS

Time to Rescue Your Lost Feedback Data?

You ran the survey. You collected the responses. And then it sat in someone’s inbox, got forwarded to a spreadsheet, and then…got ignored.

Most organizations are sitting on more feedback than they know what to do with. The problem is that it’s scattered—customer data in one corner, employee pulse results in another, leadership making decisions based on whichever dataset landed in their lap last.

SurveyMonkey Enterprise pulls all of it into one shared space so insights can actually move through your organization instead of collecting dust in a silo.

No more data gatekeepers. The right people get access without compromising security.

Automatic integrations. Push results directly to Slack or your dashboards, no separate “data meeting” required.

One source of truth. Every team, same data. No more conflicting reports on a Monday morning.

👉 Watch the demo here.

BIGGEST CHALLENGE

The To-Do List You Keep Pretending Doesn’t Exist

“My biggest challenge is getting the motivation to complete tasks I find really undesirable: 401k reconciliation files, compliance testing, basically tedious things!” — Marley

We all have that list. Not the one in your to-do app. The one living rent-free in the back of your brain while you reorganize your desktop for the third time this week. The compliance report. The reconciliation file. The follow-up email that requires just enough thought to make you pick up your phone instead.

Your brain is wired to avoid tasks that feel repetitive, low-reward, and mentally draining. Once you understand that, you can stop fighting yourself and start designing around it.

First: rule out ADHD

If this is a chronic pattern (not just occasional avoidance, but a consistent inability to initiate boring or repetitive tasks) it’s worth getting screened. People with ADHD face real executive function challenges that make starting undesirable tasks significantly harder than it is for neurotypical brains. Talking to a doctor could be genuinely life-changing. Everything below still applies either way.

Eat the frog first

Brian Tracy’s classic principle: do the most dreaded task before email, before Slack, before anything else. Willpower is highest early in the day, and once the worst thing is done, everything else feels manageable by comparison. Name your frog the night before. Do it first thing.

Make it slightly less miserable

Tedious tasks don’t have to be done in total suffering. A few dopamine hacks that actually work:

• Pair it with something you enjoy. Reserve a specific podcast or playlist exclusively for admin work. Your brain gets a reward; the spreadsheet gets done.

• Gamify it. Set a 25-minute timer and race yourself. Urgency, even artificial urgency, gets you moving.

• Body double. Work alongside a colleague on Zoom, cameras optional. The quiet presence of another person working is surprisingly effective.

Turn it into a recurring block

The more you rely on willpower to start these tasks, the harder they’ll always feel. Routine removes the decision entirely. Block a recurring time on your calendar—same day, same time—specifically for your most dreaded admin work. “401k files, Friday at 2pm” is harder to skip than “get to that eventually.”

Batch similar tasks together too. Your brain settles into admin mode and the friction drops.

Break it down until it’s almost embarrassingly small

“Do the 401k reconciliation” is a project disguised as a task. Try this instead: open the document and write one number. That’s the only job. Starting is almost always the hardest part; momentum takes over from there.

• Identify the very first micro-step (open the file, pull the report, send one email)

• Put only that on your to-do list

• Time box it: 25 minutes, timer on, nothing else open

Build in a reward worth showing up for

Tedious tasks don’t come with a natural dopamine hit, which is exactly why they’re so hard to start. So create your own. Finish the compliance testing? Favorite coffee. Clear the reconciliation file? Ten-minute walk, no guilt. The reward doesn’t need to be big. It just needs to feel good and happen right after.

The boring stuff still has to get done. You might as well make it suck a little less.

💬 What’s your go-to strategy for getting through the tasks you dread most? Drop your advice in the comments.

👉 Join the conversation on LinkedIn.

SMARTER SWAG

The Gifting Tab You Never Want to Open Again

Nobody put “figure out employee gifting” on your job description. And yet here you are, three tabs deep, wondering if Alex is a medium or a large, and whether the storage closet can fit another box of branded tote bags.

Employee gifting should take twenty minutes. Somehow it always takes twenty days.

Swag.com was made for exactly the person who just sighed reading that. Order, store, and send branded gifts from one platform; build your kit once, then send as needed without starting from scratch every time.

It’s built for:

• Onboarding kits that make new hires feel like they landed somewhere good

• Milestones and promotions that deserve more than a Slack emoji

• Event swag without your office becoming a fulfillment center

• Client and manager gifts that actually feel intentional

One great item beats five forgettable ones. A default kit you can send without rebuilding the whole thing every time? Even better.

Explore Swag.com here.

STAFF PICKS

Stuff We’re Loving This Week

📆 Join an afternoon of hands-on workshops to lead your company’s AI transformation on 4/23. RSVP Free

☀️ Clean ingredients and SPF 60+ means this mineral sunscreen is the easiest yes in your routine.

🌿 This castor oil tube makes it ridiculously easy to swipe on and grow stronger, fuller hair.

🥛 Commodity Milk is the kind of scent people ask about (warm, subtle, and somehow always right).

JUST FOR FUN

COMMUNITY

🗓️ Upcoming Events

• On Demand: 2026 Compliance Predictions Companies Can’t Afford to Ignore

* Smart Girl Society is our private community for women who want deeper conversations, accountability, and tools that actually make life easier. Join the waitlist to get in the next round.

👑 Work Wisdom of the Week: “Ask questions, and learn how to ask the question not for yourself but for someone else. Asking questions is a good thing. It makes you learn more about how another person thinks and shows you’re inquisitive and interested.” — Jamila R.

⭐️ Share your best work wisdom here.

💼 Browse our job board here.

SPILL THE TEA

Take Our Poll

Have more feedback? 💌 Reply to this email and tell us.

✨ P.S. Want more inspiration and positivity to kick off your week? Sign up for our Motivational Monday texts (U.S. only).

UPDATE YOUR PREFERENCES

Only Get What You Want

Here’s how to update your preferences in just a few quick steps:

1. Click the link below and on the “Update Your Preferences” page, click the “Email me a link” button.

2. Open the email with the subject line “The Assist Subscribers: Update Profile” and click the link inside.

3. Choose the weekly email newsletters you’d like to receive from us (Tues, Wed, Thurs, Sat).

4. Click “Update Preferences” to save your changes—and you’re all set!

👉 Update my subscriber preferences here.

👀 Want to see if your company is a good fit for our 250k+ ambitious readers? Join our Sponsor Waitlist here.

⭐️ Answer to the riddle.

🤔 Brainteaser of the day: In what year was International Women’s Day first celebrated?

Click here to see the answer.

✅ Today’s Checklist:

• Thania needs your advice

• The Olivia Dean track to dance to in the kitchen

• Pet of the week: Meet Ernie

QUICK LINKS

📅 Are your 1:1s productive or just polite? It might be time to rethink whether they still earn a calendar slot.

👉 Easy ways to show your team some Tax Day love.

📱 Your phone affects your mood more than you think, and wellness tech is only making it more complicated.

🔥 More women are calling out emotional labor at work and why it drains so much energy.

RELATIONSHIPS

My Best Friend’s Mom Is Dying. I Don’t Know What to Do.

One of my favorite things about writing for TA is the community. The subscribers. You.

I genuinely love reading your comments and feedback, and that this space feels like a two-way conversation.

So in the spirit of honesty, today’s article isn’t about giving advice, it’s about asking for it.

Because today I’m feeling a little lost, deeply sad, and incredibly empathetic for someone I love.

One of my dearest best friends, Mary*, just told me that her mom’s breast cancer is terminal. We only found out about the stage 4 diagnosis about two weeks ago.

Hearing that the cancer has spread to her liver has been devastating.

And I say we because Mary is like family to me, and her mom’s treatment feels personal to me too.

Just recently, we were talking about the plan to tackle the breast cancer. We were discussing her mom’s wishes to have both breasts removed during surgery.

Now, suddenly, the conversation has shifted to a terminal diagnosis.

Her breasts aren’t even the issue anymore. The focus is simply keeping her alive.

That kind of emotional whiplash is hard to process.

I don’t know how to offer support.

This is heartbreaking and painful and sad in a way that feels bigger than the normal playbook we’re all taught.

You know the typical advice:

Don’t ask “what can I do?”—just show up and do something.

So I’ve tried.

I offered to drive down and visit her today. She said it wasn’t necessary.

I offered to watch the kids so she could have a full day to just be in bed and feel whatever she needed to feel. She told me she already got to do that yesterday.

I could send flowers, but that feels small.

I could research every medical or holistic treatment that exists, but that feels like overstepping.

Mary and I have very similar personalities and approaches to life. We’ve always had an awareness that our parents won’t be here forever. We’ve talked about it before.

We’ve both tried to be intentional about spending time with them, cherishing them, appreciating them.

We always knew that one day our parents would face hard moments, and we assumed we’d be there for each other when that happened.

But as I read her texts this morning breaking the news, I realized something.

I feel incredibly unprepared.

I don’t have a lot of experience with cancer. I don’t have a lot of experience supporting someone whose loved one is going through something like this.

Normally, I’m the one in the driver’s seat taking care of my own sick loved ones.

I know that role.

But being the sub-supporter—the person standing beside the person who is carrying the real weight—feels unfamiliar.

I’m a do-er. I like to take action. I like to help.

Right now I feel a little useless.

But I know there has to be something meaningful I can do.

So I’m turning to you.

Those of you who have cared for a dying parent.

Those of you who have gone through cancer.

Those of you who have supported someone you love through it.

• What helped?

• What did you wish someone had done for you?

• What support actually mattered?

I would truly love to hear from you.

Sincerely,

A best friend who is incredibly sad for her best friend.

Thania (TA Content Mgr)

MEANINGFUL RECOGNITION

Culture Is Built in the Smallest Gestures

Culture isn’t built during the annual all-hands. It shows up in the small moments.

Like when someone’s had a rough week and their effort doesn’t go unnoticed.

Not with another pizza party. Not with generic swag.

But with something that actually feels thoughtful.

Maybe, it’s the stone diffuser that makes their desk feel like a deep breath.

The Turkish blanket that upgrades their WFH setup.

The insulated mug that becomes their daily sidekick.

The blue light glasses that help them survive back-to-back meetings.

The sticky notes book where their best ideas start.

Or the scrub joggers that say, we see how hard you work.

None of these things are huge, but they signal something important: someone’s paying attention.

And those small signals? They’re what shape a culture people actually want to be part of.

Make someone’s day.

STAFF PICKS

📚 Read: The Pilgrimage by Paulo Coelho

Less “self-help,” more soul-nudge. A story about discipline, doubt, and what happens when you commit to the path even when you don’t feel ready, with little takeaways that stick in your head long after you close the book.

🎧 Listen: So Easy (To Fall In Love) by Olivia Dean

We were already obsessed with her entire album, but this track is the cherry on top. It carries that airy, nostalgic, romantic-but-still-fun feeling that makes you want to dance around your kitchen while you’re cooking. Blast it if you’re in love, flirting with the idea of love, or just in a good mood and refusing to apologize for it.

📺 Watch: TURN: Washington’s Spies (Netflix)

A surprisingly bingeable mix of spycraft, war politics, and messy human loyalties, all set during the American Revolution. It’s the kind of show that makes history feel less like a textbook and more like high-stakes strategy with real consequences.

BUSINESS SYSTEMS

Your Business Is Leaking Money, Time, and Sanity. Here’s the Patch.

Most businesses don’t fail dramatically. They bleed out slowly. A missed follow-up here. A lost receipt there. A project that drifted two weeks off course before anyone noticed. A social post that never went out. A form submission that fell into a black hole.

By the time you notice, the damage is done.

Here is what an unorganized business actually costs you. Deals lost because data lived in someone’s inbox. Projects derailed because accountability was “assumed.” Thousands in expenses untracked until the auditor asks questions. A social media presence so inconsistent your audience forgot you existed. Teams working hard in completely opposite directions.

This is not a people problem. This is a systems problem.

Zoho Projects puts deadlines, ownership, and progress in plain sight so excuses disappear and results show up.

Zoho Expense turns receipt chaos into automated, audit-ready reports your finance team will actually thank you for.

Zoho Social transforms sporadic posting into a disciplined, data-driven content strategy that keeps your brand visible and relevant.

Zoho Forms captures clean, structured data from day one so nothing gets lost in translation.

And the entire Zoho Business platform connects every moving part so your tools work as one engine, not five separate machines fighting each other.

Clarity. Accountability. Momentum.

That is what a connected business feels like.

👉 Start free today and join over 100 million businesses running smarter on Zoho.

JUST FOR FUN

COMMUNITY

🗓️ Upcoming Events

• On Demand: 2026 Compliance Predictions Companies Can’t Afford to Ignore

* Smart Girl Society is our private community for women who want deeper conversations, accountability, and tools that actually make life easier. Join the waitlist to get in the next round.

🐶 Pet of the Week: Meet Ernie

Ernie is a 13-year-old Dachshund-Beagle. He has diabetes and lost his eyesight a year ago, but hasn’t lost his ability to materialize exactly where you are about to put your foot. Ernie is solar powered, requiring him to bask in the sun as much as possible. He is a happy, content little dog who spends most of his time indoors in an incubator (a basket with a heating pad and blankets) or in a lap (also with blankets).

🐾 Got a cute fur baby? Submit them to be our pet of the week in an upcoming issue.

💼 Browse our job board here.

SPILL THE TEA

Take Our Poll

Have more feedback? 💌 Reply to this email and tell us.

✨ P.S. Want more inspiration and positivity to kick off your week? Sign up for our Motivational Monday texts (U.S. only).

UPDATE YOUR PREFERENCES

Only Get What You Want

Here’s how to update your preferences in just a few quick steps:

1. Click the link below and on the “Update Your Preferences” page, click the “Email me a link” button.

2. Open the email with the subject line “The Assist Subscribers: Update Profile” and click the link inside.

3. Choose the weekly email newsletters you’d like to receive from us (Tues, Wed, Thurs, Sat).

4. Click “Update Preferences” to save your changes—and you’re all set!

👉 Update my subscriber preferences here.

👀 Want to see if your company is a good fit for our 250k+ ambitious readers? Join our Sponsor Waitlist here.

✅ Today’s Checklist:

• Your sign to finally figure out the life insurance thing

• The peptides your friends are using and not talking about

• Recipe of the week: Oregano chicken with buttered tomatoes (reader-approved)

🤔 Trivia: The average person makes how many decisions per day—35,350, or 35,000? Find out.

QUICK LINKS

✨ Your skin and brain are literally in a relationship, and neurocosmetics breaks it down.

🎥 Better hires start with better video interview software.

🔎 We’re all Googling wrong, and these 10 search hacks will save you an embarrassing amount of time.

🌿 The wellness trends experts are calling for 2026 might seriously reshape your routine.

LIFE INSURANCE 101

The “I’ll Deal With It Later” Thing You Actually Shouldn’t Put Off

Life insurance sits on the “I’ll deal with it later” list for most people. It’s not exciting. It’s not urgent-feeling. And honestly, thinking about it requires going to a mental place most of us would rather avoid.

But it’s also one of the most practical things you can do for the people you love.

Whether that’s a partner, parents, siblings, or future kids, life insurance creates a financial safety net so the people in your life aren’t left scrambling if the unexpected happens.

I asked my mom (a State Farm agent) to walk me through the basics, because if anyone was going to make this feel less overwhelming, it was going to be her.

What a Policy Actually Helps Cover

At its core, life insurance protects the people you leave behind from financial stress during an already hard time.

A payout can help loved ones:

• Keep up with rent or a mortgage

• Cover shared living expenses while they adjust

• Pay off debt like student loans or credit cards

• Handle funeral and final expenses

• Support a family member with special needs long-term

• Create a college fund for children

And it’s not just for homeowners or large families. Even if you’re young or single, your absence could leave financial responsibilities behind. Think shared leases, co-signed loans, or family members who’d step in to handle your affairs. Life insurance keeps that from falling entirely on them.

The 3 Main Types

1. Term Life Insurance

Coverage for a set period, usually 10, 20, or 30 years. Think of it like renting: fixed payments, set timeframe, solid protection while you need it most.

It’s typically the most affordable entry point because premiums are lower when you’re younger. Commonly used to replace income during working years, cover a mortgage, or protect a family while raising kids.

One thing worth knowing: once the term ends, coverage stops. Renewing later usually costs more and may come with new health requirements.

2. Whole Life Insurance

Permanent coverage that lasts your entire life, as long as premiums are paid. Think of it like buying instead of renting. It costs more upfront, but builds cash value over time.

Key features:

• Lifetime coverage

• Guaranteed cash value growth

• Fixed premiums that never increase

Some families buy whole life policies for children or grandchildren while they’re young and easy to insure, locking in coverage before health conditions can change.

3. Universal Life Insurance

Also permanent, but with more flexibility. You can adjust premiums and coverage as your life changes, and the cash value grows based on interest rates or market performance.

Optional riders can include long-term care coverage, joint coverage for two people, and other customizable benefits. Good option if you want permanence without the rigidity of whole life.

“But I Already Have Life Insurance Through Work…”

Employer coverage is great, but it usually has limits and only lasts while you’re employed there. Change jobs and it likely disappears.

An individual policy stays with you no matter where your career takes you.

Why Starting Earlier Actually Matters

Life insurance pricing is tied directly to your age and health. There’s an old saying in the industry: you’re never as young or as healthy as you are today.

Even one new diagnosis can affect eligibility or drive up costs. That’s why financial planners consistently recommend exploring coverage before it feels urgent.

3 Signs It Might Be Time

1. Someone depends on your income (or could in the future). A partner, child, parent, or anyone sharing major expenses with you would feel the financial impact if you were gone.

2. You have debt someone else might inherit. Co-signed loans, student debt, and credit cards don’t always disappear. A policy can make sure someone else isn’t left holding the bill.

3. You’re young and relatively healthy. This one surprises people, but this is actually when you get the best rates. Waiting usually makes it more expensive.

Life insurance is a way of taking care of the people you love before they ever need it.

Not the most exciting item on the adulting checklist, but possibly one of the most meaningful.

Cameron (TA Ops Mgr)

WORKPLACE TRAINING

Your Harassment Training Might Be the Reason Nobody’s Paying Attention

Most harassment training gets the same reaction: eyes glazed, boxes checked, forgotten by Thursday. It was built to satisfy a legal requirement, not actually change behavior.

Traliant rebuilt theirs from the ground up for 2026, and on March 25 at 2 PM ET, you can see it live.

Their redesigned Preventing Workplace Harassment course is a cinematic, TV-style experience with realistic workplace scenarios, interactive decision points, and an actual storyline employees will stay engaged with.

What to expect:

• Episodic, story-driven learning that holds attention start to finish

• Scenarios that build real skills, not just awareness

• Behavioral data and analytics built for HR investigations and audits

• Full alignment with EEOC guidance and state mandates

If your current training feels like wallpaper, this is worth an hour of your time.

👉 Save your seat here.

WELLNESS

So, About Those Peptides Everyone’s Suddenly Obsessed With…

Let’s get the legal stuff out of the way first. I’m not a doctor. This is not medical advice. For the most part, peptides are not FDA-regulated. All of this is very much the wild west.

I’ll keep my Big Pharma tin foil hat in the closet, but most peptides are technically sold for “research purposes” and “not for human consumption.” That said, plenty of wellness spas and holistic clinics are using them with patients every day.

We’re not here to debate the safety and bureaucracy of it all. We’re here to educate you on what’s happening and let you decide from there.

For what it’s worth, I’m personally using a few I purchased from an online store I’ve vetted: U.S.-based manufacturing, cGMP-compliant facility, independently third-party tested. And I’m genuinely loving it. 🙂

One quick note: GLP-1s like semaglutide are technically peptides, but we’re skipping those today. This is about the under-the-radar ones your friends might be micro-injecting while casually crediting “collagen and electrolytes.”

What are peptides?

Peptides are short chains of amino acids (basically tiny proteins) that act as signaling molecules in the body. Think of them as text messages your cells send each other: “Heal this tissue.” “Release that hormone.” “Turn down inflammation.” “Turn up fat burning.”

Unlike a multivitamin, peptides are typically used in micro doses, often by injection (subcutaneous, just under the skin), and sometimes as creams or nasal sprays. The appeal: they’re designed to mimic signals your body already produces, rather than introducing something completely foreign.

The ones people are actually using

• BPC-157: The gut + healing one
  Used for joint pain, tendon issues, gut irritation, and workout recovery. Thought to support blood flow, collagen formation, and tissue repair. Users report less pain, better mobility, and calmer digestion. Worth knowing: it’s not approved for human use, and there are real open questions around purity and long-term safety. The FDA has also recently moved to restrict it in compounded medications, so the landscape here is shifting.

• Tesamorelin: The visceral fat one
  FDA-approved for reducing visceral fat in people with HIV-associated lipodystrophy, and widely used off-label for stubborn belly fat and metabolic health. It stimulates your body’s own growth hormone release, shifting fat metabolism around the abdominal organs.

• CJC-1295 + Ipamorelin: The sleep + recovery duo
  This combo gently increases your own growth hormone. People use it for deeper sleep, better post-workout recovery, and gradual body composition changes over months. Typical use is a small nightly injection before bed.

• TB-500: The repair one
  Popular with athletes dealing with overuse injuries or stubborn soft-tissue issues in elbows, knees, and shoulders. Thought to support wound healing by helping cells migrate into damaged tissue, though most of the data is still preclinical.

• GHK-Cu: The skin + hair one
  A copper peptide that shows up in high-end skincare. Known for supporting collagen, improving skin texture and firmness, and aiding wound healing. Most people use it as a cream or serum rather than an injection.

• PT-141 (Bremelanotide): The libido one
  The “date night” peptide. FDA-approved under the name Vyleesi for premenopausal women with low sexual desire, and used off-label more broadly. Unlike ED medications that work on blood flow, PT-141 acts on brain pathways related to desire.

• Glutathione: The detox + glow one
  One of the body’s primary antioxidants. Used for supporting liver detox, reducing inflammation, skin brightening, and recovery from illness or stress. You’ll find it in IV drips and injections at most med spas.

• NAD+: The cellular energy one
  Technically not a peptide, but worth including. Used for mental clarity, cellular energy, burnout recovery, and longevity goals. Results vary a lot—some people feel dramatically better, others feel nothing at all.

So, should you try peptides?

That’s not a question I can answer for you. Here’s what I can say:

Peptides exist on a spectrum from well-studied and FDA-approved for narrow uses to barely researched and completely experimental. Quality control is a serious issue. And yet, plenty of people are using them anyway because they’re curious, or because conventional medicine isn’t solving the thing they’re trying to solve.

Working with a knowledgeable clinician and insisting on sourcing transparency is infinitely better than buying the cheapest vial online.

These are powerful tools that can nudge your biology in specific directions. They’re not magic, and they’re not risk-free. But pretending they don’t exist while everyone around you quietly experiments isn’t helping anyone either.

Now you know the names, the basics, and the context. What you do with that is entirely up to you.

Thania (TA Content Mgr)

DATA INSIGHTS

Feedback Without Insight Is Just Inbox Clutter

Your team is already collecting feedback. The problem is turning it into something useful before the moment passes.

SurveyMonkey Enterprise centralizes your data and uses AI to surface trends, flag sentiment, and generate ready-to-share reports without the manual digging.

Here’s what that looks like in practice:

• AI summaries that turn hundreds of responses into clear takeaways

• Real-time trend tracking so issues don’t sneak up on you

• Visual reports leadership can actually read

Stop sitting on data. Start using it.

👉 Explore SurveyMonkey Enterprise.

STAFF PICKS

Stuff We’re Loving This Week

📆 Learn everything you need to lead your company’s AI transformation. In one day. Free on 4/23. RSVP

🏃‍♀️ The walking pad that turns your slowest meeting into your most active one.

💆‍♀️ Give your scalp a little spa moment with this hair gua sha tool.

🪴 If your plants could talk, they’d ask for this fertilizer by name.

JUST FOR FUN

COMMUNITY

🗓️ Upcoming Events

• Fri 3/27 @ 10AM PT: Automation Workshop (SGS Only* | Join the waitlist)

• On Demand: 2026 Compliance Predictions Companies Can’t Afford to Ignore

* Smart Girl Society is our private community for women who want deeper conversations, accountability, and tools that actually make life easier. Join the waitlist to get in the next round.

👩‍🍳 Recipe of the Week: Oregano Chicken With Buttered Tomatoes. (Shout out to Sarah Wagner for sharing this one!)

😋 Have a recipe you love? Share it here.

💼 Browse our job board here.

SPILL THE TEA

Take Our Poll

Have more feedback? 💌 Reply to this email and tell us.

✨ P.S. Want more inspiration and positivity to kick off your week? Sign up for our Motivational Monday texts (U.S. only).

UPDATE YOUR PREFERENCES

Only Get What You Want

Here’s how to update your preferences in just a few quick steps:

1. Click the link below and on the “Update Your Preferences” page, click the “Email me a link” button.

2. Open the email with the subject line “The Assist Subscribers: Update Profile” and click the link inside.

3. Choose the weekly email newsletters you’d like to receive from us (Tues, Wed, Thurs, Sat).

4. Click “Update Preferences” to save your changes—and you’re all set!

👉 Update my subscriber preferences here.

👀 Want to see if your company is a good fit for our 250k+ ambitious readers? Join our Sponsor Waitlist here.

🤔 Brainteaser of the day: I can be found at the start of every journey, the root of every goal, and the heart of every change. What am I?

Click here to see the answer.

✅ Today’s Checklist:

• Thania shares AI home design tips

• The new HBO show that’s giving major Game of Thrones energy

• Pet of the week: Meet Murphy

QUICK LINKS

🌅 If your mornings feel chaotic before 8am, try these 7 grounding steps.

🤖 Learn how to leverage AI tools to build authority without sounding like a bot.

🛁 Skip the spa bill and pamper yourself at home instead.

💛 Positive DONUT delivers good news without the doom.

INTERIOR DESIGN

What Happened When I Let AI Design My Airbnb Bedroom

I love ChatGPT. I use it for everything. But when I think of AI for interior design, it sounds gimmicky. And honestly, a couple of Instagram ads have gotten me. I’ve downloaded an “AI” interior design app only to be fooled and disappointed.

But Joanna (co-founder of the Assist) swears by it. She’s successfully used it to design several rooms in her home. I’ve dabbled with it for helping me find a certain type of pillow or asking it to help me with my color scheme, but I haven’t yet honed it in for a full-blown interior design consult.

So let’s give her a whirl, shall we?

Styling my Airbnb bedroom

I recently listed my condo on the Airbnb market and need help styling my primary bedroom. What goes on the nightstands? What kind of lamps? How do I tie it in with my bedspread and pillows?

Here’s how I used AI to actually solve this problem.

Step 1: I fed it my vision

Before touching AI, I’d already spent tons of time collecting visual inspiration. I pulled together Pinterest boards, saved images of rooms I liked, and created a color palette mood board. I had a clear vision of what it should look like. I fed it some poorly taken pictures of the room and screenshots of my personal mood board deck I’d created on Canva:

Step 2: I crafted a strategic prompt

I didn’t just say “design my bedroom.” I was specific about the role, constraints, and goals.

Here’s the prompt I used:

“You’re a top short-term rental interior designer. Craft me 3 mood boards or mockups based on my photo and the inspo document I’ve provided. What questions do you have for me?”

You could customize this based on your needs:

• “You’re a top interior designer for busy families with young kids”

• “You’re a top interior designer specializing in small apartment living”

• “You’re a top interior designer for maximalist, colorful spaces”

The more context you give, the better.

Step 3: I answered the follow-up questions

ChatGPT asked me clarifying questions. I answered them thoughtfully:

The more details I provided, the more tailored the results.

Step 4: Review the drafts and request specific deliverables

It provided me with 4 awesome options! However, #4 was cut off, but I could still get the gist.

Then I asked for exactly what I needed:

• “Build me a shopping list”

• “Can you provide me with links to each of these items on Amazon? Or can you help me use Amazon’s AI Rufus tool to find them?”

ChatGPT generated:

• Shopping lists with specific items

• Multiple design concepts to choose from

• Mockups showing how the room could look

• Product recommendations within my budget

Step 5: I refined with follow-ups

The first result was good, but I wanted to see more options. So I asked:

“Can you mock up the room with my preferred colors and this pop art?”

And it generated a mockup with my “BIRDIE baby” pop art piece above the bed, blush pink accents, and the exact vibe I was going for.

My verdict

I was skeptical. But this actually worked. I think ChatGPT’s 5.2 Model has come a long way and the image creation is way better than it used to be.

If you’ve been hesitant about AI for interior design, I suggest giving it a try! It saved me a lot of time and as a visual person, having the mockup was incredibly helpful.

So, I’m officially a convert. I can’t wait to make this Airbnb bedroom design a reality!

Thania (TA Content Mgr)

P.S. If you’re ever in the Coeur D’ Alene, ID area and want to rent a condo, just let me know in the message that you’re a TA subscriber, and I’ll give you a homie discount!

HR TOOLS

Doing Everything Doesn’t Mean Doing It All Manually

Modern HR is more than payroll + paperwork. It’s onboarding, performance, compliance, manager support, engagement, reporting, and still answering “where do I find that form?” without losing your mind.

If your current setup relies on spreadsheets, scattered docs, and manual follow-ups, the bottleneck usually isn’t your team. It’s the system.

Here are two HR platforms that excel in different lanes:

If you want culture + insight across teams

HiBob is the move when employee experience and visibility matter as much as admin.

Best at: engagement tools (shoutouts, surveys), dynamic org charts, and people analytics that help you spot trends (like team health, retention signals, and manager patterns), especially useful for distributed or global teams.

If you want clean, centralized HR that actually runs itself

BambooHR is a great fit when you need one home base for employee info, onboarding, time-off, and approvals without building a whole HR tech stack to get there.

Best at: organizing employee records, simplifying onboarding + offboarding, managing PTO/approvals, performance check-ins, and reporting that doesn’t require 12 tabs and a prayer.

Quick pick: “level up engagement + insights” → HiBob. “streamline core HR + onboarding + approvals” → BambooHR.

STAFF PICKS

📚 Read: No One Would Do What the Lamberts Have Done by Sophie Hannah

The pacing stays tight, the characters are morally messy in the most readable way, and the twists are the kind that make you stop mid-page and re-read what you just finished.

📺 Watch: A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (HBO)

If you miss Westeros but don’t necessarily want the emotional stress of peak Game of Thrones, this is a great re-entry point. It’s more character-driven and playful while still delivering the good stuff: sword fights, status games, and enough intrigue to keep you hitting “next episode.”

🎧 Listen: Gut Punch by Nick Jonas

It’s basically a pep talk for your inner child: you’re not behind, you’re not broken, and you’re doing fine. Put it on when you need self-compassion that doesn’t feel cheesy.

EXCEL SKILLS

Make Excel Do the Work for Once

If spreadsheets keep turning into a time-suck (and you’re constantly fixing the same issues over and over), it’s probably not your Excel skills — it’s that no one ever taught you the systems.

Miss Excel’s free 60-minute class shows you how to stop “hand-cleaning” data and start setting up repeatable shortcuts, including how to:

• Clean messy data fast (extra spaces, weird formatting, inconsistent names, duplicates — gone)

• Record simple macros you can run anytime to repeat the same steps in one click (no coding required)

• Automate the tasks you dread, like standardizing reports, prepping files, and tidying exports

Bonus: you’ll learn a quick “before you touch anything” checklist so you don’t accidentally break formulas, overwrite columns, or turn one fix into five new problems.

You’ll leave with practical skills you can use immediately — the kind that save you minutes every day and hours every month (and make you feel mildly unstoppable).

👉 Register free and let Excel do the heavy lifting for once.

JUST FOR FUN

COMMUNITY

🗓️ Upcoming Events

• REPLAY: Think Like a Leader: 3 Strategic Frameworks to Build Your Power

• Fri 3/27 @ 10AM PT: Automation Workshop (SGS Only* | Join the waitlist)

• On Demand: 2026 Compliance Predictions Companies Can’t Afford to Ignore

* Smart Girl Society is our private community for women who want deeper conversations, accountability, and tools that actually make life easier. Join the waitlist to get in the next round.

Murphy is 1 year old and a complete purr machine. She almost always has a grey mouse toy in her mouth and loves bringing them into bed or leaving them in our shoes. She is obsessed with swimming in the laundry hamper, sitting on the bath mat to supervise showers, and cuddling with her older brothers Fritz and Phineas.

🐾 Got a cute fur baby? Submit them to be our pet of the week in an upcoming issue.

💼 Browse our job board here.

SPILL THE TEA

Take Our Poll

Have more feedback? 💌 Reply to this email and tell us.

✨ P.S. Want more inspiration and positivity to kick off your week? Sign up for our Motivational Monday texts (U.S. only).

UPDATE YOUR PREFERENCES

Only Get What You Want

Here’s how to update your preferences in just a few quick steps:

1. Click the link below and on the “Update Your Preferences” page, click the “Email me a link” button.

2. Open the email with the subject line “The Assist Subscribers: Update Profile” and click the link inside.

3. Choose the weekly email newsletters you’d like to receive from us (Tues, Wed, Thurs, Sat).

4. Click “Update Preferences” to save your changes—and you’re all set!

👉 Update my subscriber preferences here.

👀 Want to see if your company is a good fit for our 250k+ ambitious readers? Join our Sponsor Waitlist here.

✅ Today’s Checklist:

• The mindset shift that gets you to VP

• Word-for-word scripts to ask for your promotion

• What your mistakes are actually teaching you

🤔 Riddle me this: I return when flowers wake and the days grow longer. I bring rain, blossoms, and the feeling of starting over. What am I? (Find the answer on the bottom).

QUICK LINKS

📈 Feeling less driven lately? The ambition gap data says it’s the system, not you.

💼 Retention tools to keep your best people before they start quietly browsing.

🧃 Juice cleanses get the hype, but these 8 detox myths deserve a reality check.

⏰ Three time management moves from an economist and brain researcher worth stealing.

BIGGEST CHALLENGE

How to Negotiate a Promotion Without Second-Guessing Your Worth

“How do I negotiate (and actually get) promotions without second-guessing my worth?” — Vandana K.

Asking for a promotion is hard. It requires confidence, preparation, and the willingness to advocate for yourself even when your brain is screaming that you’re not ready, not qualified, or not deserving.

But here’s the truth: if you’re asking this question, you’re probably already doing the work that justifies the promotion. You just need to package it, present it, and believe it yourself.

Here’s how to do it.

Step 1: Email your boss to request the meeting

Don’t walk into your boss’s office unannounced. Give them a heads-up so they can prepare and take you seriously.

Email script:

Subject: Request to Discuss Career Growth

Hi [Boss’s Name],

I’d love to schedule time to discuss my career trajectory and explore opportunities for growth within the team. I’ve been reflecting on my contributions over the past [time period] and would appreciate the chance to talk through next steps.

Would you have 30 minutes in the next week or two?

Thanks, [Your Name]

Keep it professional, not desperate. You’re not begging. You’re scheduling a business conversation.

Step 2: Prepare for the meeting

This is where most people fall short. They walk in unprepared, hope their boss “just knows” they deserve it, and leave disappointed.

Don’t do that. Treat this like a business case, because that’s exactly what it is.

What to collect:

Your accomplishments. Write down specific examples of impact you’ve made in the past 6-12 months. Use numbers wherever possible:

• “Increased lead conversion by 22%”

• “Reduced customer churn by 15%”

• “Managed a team of 5 through a major product launch”

Expanded responsibilities. Show how your role has evolved beyond your original job description. Are you mentoring others? Leading projects? Taking on tasks that weren’t in your scope when you started?

Market data. Research what people in similar roles at similar companies are making. Use sites like Glassdoor, Payscale, or Levels.fyi. Come in knowing what the market pays for your work.

Your desired title and salary. Be specific. Don’t say “I’d like a raise.” Say “I’d like to be promoted to Senior [Role] with a salary of $X.”

Testimonials or feedback. If you have emails, Slack messages, or performance reviews where colleagues or clients praised your work, bring them. Social proof matters.

Step 3: Give yourself the mental pep talk

This is the part where you fight your inner voice that says you’re not ready.

Here’s the pep talk:

You’re not asking for a favor. You’re presenting a business case. You are presenting the facts on why you earned this and showing the value you bring to the company.

If you don’t advocate for yourself, no one else will. Your boss is not sitting around thinking about how to promote you. You have to make the case.

The worst they can say is “no” or “not yet.” And if they do, you’ll get clarity on what you need to do to get there. That’s still valuable.

You deserve to be paid what you’re worth. Not what you were worth when you started. What you’re worth now, based on what you’re delivering now.

Take a deep breath. Walk in like you belong there. Because you do.

Step 4: What to do if you get a “no”

If your boss says no, don’t panic. And don’t leave the conversation without a plan.

Ask:

• “What would I need to accomplish to be considered for this promotion?”

• “What’s the timeline for revisiting this conversation?”

• “Are there gaps in my performance or qualifications I should focus on?”

Get specifics. Then follow up with an email to document the conversation.

Email script after a “no”:

Hi [Boss’s Name],

Thank you for taking the time to discuss my career growth today. I appreciate your feedback and want to make sure I’m clear on next steps.

Based on our conversation, it sounds like the key areas for me to focus on are:

• [Specific feedback point 1]

• [Specific feedback point 2]

I’d like to revisit this conversation in [3-6 months]. Does that timeline work for you? In the meantime, I’ll focus on these areas and continue delivering strong results for the team.

Thanks again for your time and feedback.

[Your Name]

This does two things: it shows you’re serious, and it creates accountability. If they don’t promote you after you’ve met their criteria, you have documentation.

The reality

Promotions don’t always happen because you “deserve” them. They often happen because you make a compelling case, at the right time, to the right person.

So stop second-guessing your worth. Prepare. Present. And if they say no, get clarity and come back stronger.

You’ve earned this. Now go get it!

PEOPLE OPS

The Fastest Way to Lose Good People? Bad Systems.

Turnover rarely comes with a warning. It builds through clunky onboarding, missed reviews, and contractors paid late. By the time you notice, your best people are already interviewing elsewhere.

Your HR stack is either building trust or quietly eroding it.

Hibob streamlines onboarding, keeps reviews on track, and makes continuous feedback the norm, not the annual fire drill.

Deel handles global payroll, compliance, and contractor management without the cross-border headaches.

BambooHR pulls hiring, records, time off, and performance into one place so nothing falls through the cracks.

CAREER TRAJECTORY

How to Actually Become a VP

I remember sitting in a leadership meeting, listening to a decision I disagreed with. I had a point of view. I had data. I had conviction.

And I didn’t say anything.

Not because I didn’t care. Because I wasn’t sure it was my place.

I told myself, Someone more senior will bring it up.

No one did.

Afterward, I had an uncomfortable realization: I was still acting like someone whose job was to execute, not lead.

No one tells you this, but becoming a VP isn’t about getting promoted. It’s about changing how you show up long before anyone gives you the title.

Here’s what that shift looks like:

Make yourself visible. Leadership requires trust, and trust requires people knowing how you think. You speak up in meetings. You share your point of view. You make your thinking visible.

Stop waiting for assignments. Start identifying opportunities. Bring ideas forward that have real impact, without being asked. The most important part? Share the solution. Even better? Start solving it. The best? Solve it and share the impact.

Let go of ownership. Early in your career, your value is tied to what you produce. You protect it. You refine it. But eventually, you realize the work isn’t yours. It belongs to the business. Your job isn’t to defend it. It’s to make it better—even if that means it changes completely.

Lead through change. Leadership isn’t about maintaining the plan: it’s about maintaining momentum when the plan inevitably changes. Priorities shift. Work you invested in gets deprioritized. Leadership means staying focused on where the business is going, not where it was.

Observe the people already doing it. I started watching other VPs closely. How they communicated. How they simplified complexity. How they focused on outcomes. They weren’t waiting for permission. They had decided it was their responsibility.

That’s when everything shifted for me, and I got promoted to VP.

Because no one promotes you so you can start acting like a VP.

You become one first.

Sallie Oto (VP Marketing)

EXECUTIVE PRESENCE

You’re Not Getting Passed Over Because of Your Performance

You’re getting passed over because leadership sees you as the person who gets things done, not the person who leads what gets done next.

There’s a difference. And it’s costing you the VP title.

In this free, on-demand masterclass, former VP and executive coach Maya Grossman breaks down the 3 mistakes keeping high performers off the short list and the exact moves that change how leadership sees you.

You’ll walk away knowing how to:

• Stop being typecast as the “doer”

• Talk about your impact the way executives actually think

• Position yourself as VP-ready before the role is even posted

The people getting promoted aren’t outworking you. They’re out-positioning you.

👉 Watch the free masterclass.

STAFF PICKS

Stuff We’re Loving This Week

👉 Layoffs, water scarcity, morals?! Learn how to tackle these thorny AI questions. Free on 3/24: RSVP

🔥 This hot tool travel bag keeps your flat iron from scorching everything you own.

🥛 Warm, cozy, and a little addictive, this milk perfume smells like a hug you didn’t know you needed.

🪒 This shea shave cream is the upgrade your legs have been waiting for.

JUST FOR FUN

COMMUNITY

🗓️ Upcoming Events

• Fri 3/27 @ 10AM PT: Automation Workshop (SGS Only* | Join the waitlist)

• On Demand: 2026 Compliance Predictions Companies Can’t Afford to Ignore

* Smart Girl Society is our private community for women who want deeper conversations, accountability, and tools that actually make life easier. Join the waitlist to get in the next round.

👑 Work Wisdom of the Week: “It’s not the mistake; we mess up all the time. It’s how we handle it and learn from it and build ways to never do it again.” — Carrie C. (Vice President)

⭐️ Share your best work wisdom here.

💼 Browse our job board here.

SPILL THE TEA

Take Our Poll

Have more feedback? 💌 Reply to this email and tell us.

✨ P.S. Want more inspiration and positivity to kick off your week? Sign up for our Motivational Monday texts (U.S. only).

UPDATE YOUR PREFERENCES

Only Get What You Want

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1. Click the link below and on the “Update Your Preferences” page, click the “Email me a link” button.

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⭐️ Answer to the riddle.

✅ Today’s Checklist:

• Our “keep or toss” report on viral beauty trends

• Kristel’s roadmap for a career pivot (even if you’re scared)

• Recipe of the week: One-Pot Gnocchi Chicken Pot Pie

🤔 Trivia: Although St. Patrick’s Day is associated with green, what color was originally linked to St. Patrick? Find out.

QUICK LINKS

🧴 Seven reasons dry brushing deserves a permanent spot in your shower routine.

🧠 Science-backed habits that actually protect your energy.

✨ Your next signature scent might live in the “fantasy fragrance” trend.

🌿 Why a solo lifestyle might be your most liberating era yet.

WELLNESS

Health & Beauty Trends We’ve Actually Tried

We’re essentially the office guinea pigs. We test the viral trends so you don’t have to waste your hard-earned HSA funds on things that flop. Here’s the “keep or toss” report from the team.

Joanna is having a “Lizard-Molt” moment

I’ve been on a skincare journey for most of my life. As a teenager, I had the kind of hormonal acne that eats your confidence alive. It ran in my family, and while it eventually calmed down in my early 20s like my sisters promised, the insecurity lingered. Years later, as I prepped for my wedding, skincare became my mission: light peels turned into medium peels every six weeks, and my skin transformed.

My esthetician also gave me the simplest habit I still swear by: icing my face with a single ice cube. It’s free, it instantly calms inflammation, and it quietly became the backbone of my routine.

This year, I leveled up with the Enlighten Peel, a medium-depth depigmentation peel paired with a 30-day at-home system. The in-office peel is dramatic (the most intense peeling I’ve ever had), but only for a few days. The real results show up over the month as you use the products in the kit to keep exfoliating and lifting pigment. My esthetician told me most clients do Enlighten once a year because it outperforms a whole series of medium peels—and she was right. It cost about 3x more, but it delivered 3x the results in a fraction of the time.

By Day 30, my skin was noticeably smoother, clearer, brighter, and more even than anything I achieved with repeated peels. If you’re willing to embrace a full lizard-molt moment where your face sheds in sheets (my husband pretended not to be terrified, which was cute of him), the Enlighten Peel might be the closest thing to hitting “reset” on your skin.

Thania is diving deep into K-Beauty

Masks

I’m loving this brand Beauty of Joseon. Their duo mask comes with a red bean pore mask and a honey glow mask that left my skin feeling so soft.

Honey Serum

They also have this honey lipid serum with propolis (which is antibacterial, anti-fungal, antiviral, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory) that feels light but also oddly protective.

Eye Masks & Toners

Then they have these eye mask patches made with ginseng. And their toners: rice milk, green plum AHA, and a ginseng essence water. I spent like $100 to try a variety of their stuff and I feel like I got $250 worth of value for it. (I asked them for a discount in case you want to try it yourself!)

Cameron is tracking & sculpting

Oura Ring

I’ve worn the Oura Ring for over a year and a half, and as a former Apple Watch and Fitbit loyalist, I’m no stranger to health tracking. If you geek out on sleep scores, recovery data, and cycle insights, it’s genuinely fascinating.

Is it life-changing? No. Is it expensive, especially once you factor in the membership and any connected apps like Natural Cycles? Yes, so I’d definitely research alternatives like the Ultrahuman Ring before committing.

Gua Sha

I’ve been using a gua sha tool on my face and neck daily for lymphatic drainage and sculpting, and I’ve seen a noticeable difference. The key is consistency and properly stimulating lymphatic points before you start (at least 10 gentle pumps per area).

It’s not an overnight transformation, but over time, it subtly sculpts and de-puffs in a way that feels both visible and incredibly relaxing.

Kristel is vibrating & “shroom-ing”

Vibration Plate

I’ve been testing out a vibration plate for the last two weeks, just 10-15 minutes in the morning and sometimes again before bed, aiming for about four sessions a week. Honestly? I like it. I sleep better, feel less stiff, and even noticed a bit of relief in my chronically cranky neck and shoulders.

The first few times made my legs super itchy, which freaked me out, but apparently that’s normal—it’s just your circulation kicking in and dormant nerves waking up. That sensation disappeared quickly, and now it’s part of my low-effort, feel-good routine. Bonus: it’s said to help with flexibility, joint health, circulation, and lymphatic drainage—all wins in my book.

Organic Ryze Mushroom Coffee

I also gave organic Ryze mushroom coffee a shot—mostly because the internet promised better focus, fewer jitters, and magical adaptogenic benefits. But in full transparency: I didn’t love it.

The taste wasn’t for me (earthy in a way that felt more forest floor than coffee shop), and after a couple weeks of trying it, I didn’t notice any major changes in my energy or mood. That said, lots of people swear by it for its potential to support brain function, stress resilience, and immunity, so if you’re into earthy vibes and experimental lattes, it might still be worth a try. Just not a game-changer for me.

What health and beauty trends have you been testing? Did you find a holy grail or a total waste of money? Reply and spill the tea. We’re always looking for the next thing to try!

LEGAL COMPLIANCE

Stop Hoping Your Managers Don’t Say The Wrong Thing

One “accidental” interview question can cost a fortune. Employment law is a 50-state maze, and “I didn’t know” isn’t a legal defense.

Traliant’s Employment Law Fundamentals Certificate Program is the ultimate shortcut to bullet-proofing your managers (and your budget) against compliance nightmares.

In just about 2½ hours, your team can master the 4-course lineup that turns “HR headaches” into policy-backed confidence:

• Hiring Lawfully: Ask the right questions; avoid the EEOC nightmare.

• Wage & Hour: Master FLSA and overtime rules the first time.

• Accommodations: Handle disability and religious requests with empathy and iron-clad compliance.

• Protected Leave: Turn “life happens” moments into smooth, FMLA-compliant transitions.

Walk away with a shareable certificate and a legal team that can finally breathe.

👉 Test-drive the training here.

CAREER

You’re Allowed to Outgrow Your “Calling”

I taught for over a decade, and I loved it in the way you love something that shapes who you are. My students felt like my own kids. I didn’t just care about the curriculum; I cared if the human sitting behind the desk felt seen and capable.

Then 2020 forced a new operating system on all of us.

Suddenly, I was balancing virtual classes with a four-year-old and a six-year-old at home. Living overseas during an economic downturn meant the math of my life stopped adding up. My husband said something that became my turning point: “Change can be part of the plan.”

So, I took a leap. I became a student again, diving into Google Career Certificates. It felt familiar—learning uses the same muscles as teaching. Show up, ask questions, repeat.

As a literature major, writing was always “home,” so I started small: uploading content to a website, then writing blog posts, then editing. Curiosity eventually took over. I wanted to know why some posts worked and others didn’t. I started lurking in every meeting, obsessed with SEO and strategy.

Somewhere in that process, I fell in love with digital marketing. It gave me the same mix of creativity and impact that teaching did. When I was asked to become a Content Manager, I chose it—fully.

I stepped away from the classroom, but I realized I never actually left teaching behind. I just brought the kit with me. Empathy became my tool for understanding an audience. Lesson plans evolved into content calendars. Grading turned into data-driven iteration.

If you’re staring at a pivot right now, here’s what actually helped me:

• Audit your “invisible” skills: Map out what you actually do every day. Communication, mentorship, and problem-solving are high-value in every industry. You just have to describe them in the language of your next role.

• Learn “just-in-time”: I didn’t master content strategy before I said yes. I learned it while doing the work. Don’t wait for a 100% readiness that will never come.

• Talk to the humans, not the job boards: Informational coffee chats taught me more than any course ever could. Ask people, “How did you actually get here?”

• Build something scrappy: A blog, a revamped LinkedIn, or a small side project gives people something tangible to say yes to.

Give yourself permission to be a beginner. It’s the only way to get to the next chapter.

Kristel (TA Marketing)

GROUP GIFTING

My “Emergency Exit” For Team Birthdays (And Everything Else)

I genuinely love GroupTogether. Not in a “we’re partners” way. In a “this has saved me more than once” way.

We run a fully remote team at The Assist, including teammates in the Philippines and Spain, which means sending something physical isn’t always simple (or affordable).

There have absolutely been weeks where I realized a direct report’s birthday or anniversary was… tomorrow. Or someone hit some other milestone and I didn’t want the moment to pass.

That’s when GroupTogether’s group cards come in clutch.

One time, I realized an anniversary was the next morning. I opened GroupTogether, picked a card, wrote a message (added a GIF because obviously), copied the link and texted the share link to the team so everyone could sign. By 9am, it was sent.

It didn’t feel last-minute. It felt thoughtful. And the best part? She loved reading all the messages from the team.

There’s even a built-in AI message generator if your brain is fried and you’re struggling to find the right words.

What I love most is how simple it is:

1. Pick a card.

2. Choose the date and time.

3. Share the link so everyone can sign.

4. Add your note and send.

Recipients open a beautifully designed digital envelope with their name on it (seriously, it’s gorgeous).

For remote teams especially, it removes the friction without removing the thoughtfulness.

Create a group card today.

Joanna (TA Co-Founder)

STAFF PICKS

Stuff We’re Loving This Week

🧊 This cooling support pillow is for necks that wake up choosing violence.

🧳 The travel bag that actually fits your entire 10-step routine.

🧦 Warning: these are the “I’m never taking these off” socks of your dreams.

🍴 Matte gold utensils that make a sad desk salad feel like a five-star reservation.

JUST FOR FUN

COMMUNITY

🗓️ Upcoming Events

• REPLAY: Think Like a Leader: 3 Strategic Frameworks to Build Your Power

• TODAY: Wed 3/18 @ 11AM PT: Co-working Session (SGS Only* | Join the waitlist)

• Thurs 3/19 @ 9AM PT: How to Set (and Achieve) Quarterly Goals with Clarity and Confidence

• Fri 3/27 @ 10AM PT: Automation Workshop (SGS Only* | Join the waitlist)

• On Demand: 2026 Compliance Predictions Companies Can’t Afford to Ignore

* Smart Girl Society is our private community for women who want deeper conversations, accountability, and tools that actually make life easier. Join the waitlist to get in the next round.

👩‍🍳 Recipe of the Week: One Pot Gnocchi Chicken Pot Pie (thank you to TA reader Kaitlin P. for submitting!)

😋 Have a recipe you love? Share it here.

💼 Job alert: Director of Finance & Operations at the org, AAPIP (Asian American/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy). Browse our job board here.

SPILL THE TEA

Take Our Poll

Have more feedback? 💌 Reply to this email and tell us.

✨ P.S. Want more inspiration and positivity to kick off your week? Sign up for our Motivational Monday texts (U.S. only).

UPDATE YOUR PREFERENCES

Only Get What You Want

Here’s how to update your preferences in just a few quick steps:

1. Click the link below and on the “Update Your Preferences” page, click the “Email me a link” button.

2. Open the email with the subject line “The Assist Subscribers: Update Profile” and click the link inside.

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✅ Today’s Checklist:

• 3 frameworks to shift from “doer” to visionary

• The secret to pitching a boss who hates “new”

• A Senior Director’s hack for reclaimed focus

🤔 Riddle me this: I’m a room you can enter without moving. I can be crowded with nobody there. What am I? (Find the answer on the bottom).

QUICK LINKS

👉 The real reason you’re not considered for VP roles.

💬 Steal these difficult conversation scripts so you can finally stop drafting Slack replies in your head at 2 a.m.

🏃‍♀️ Try these desk-to-dinner habits if your only “cardio” lately is sprinting between back-to-back Zoom calls.

🌤️ Build a gentler 2026 career plan that actually accounts for your real-life human capacity.

LEADERSHIP

How to Shift From “Reactive Doer” to Strategic Leader

One of the biggest differences between a reactive leader and a strategic one is this: strategic leaders rely on frameworks.

Not because they love process for the sake of process, but because frameworks protect their energy and sharpen their thinking. When you’re responsible for a team, you’re making dozens of decisions every day. If you try to evaluate every situation from scratch, you’ll burn through your cognitive bandwidth before lunch.

Frameworks prevent that kind of fatigue. They give you a consistent lens for evaluation so you aren’t reinventing the wheel every time a challenge lands on your desk.

But there’s another reason frameworks matter: they reduce bias. When you rely purely on instinct, you’re more likely to treat similar situations differently depending on your mood or the pressure you’re under. A framework keeps you grounded in the same standards every time, creating fairness and clarity for your team.

The most effective leaders build a small “library” of frameworks to handle the heavy lifting:

• A “Diagnostic” Framework: Before reacting, pause to ask: What’s actually happening here? What are the root dynamics? What outcome are we trying to create?

• A Forecasting Framework: Instead of reacting to today’s fire, you’re scanning for upcoming risks and pressure points so the team stays out of crisis mode.

• A Communication Cadence: Setting regular feedback loops ensures your team stays aligned without you needing to micromanage.

Frameworks give you clarity, not another layer of corporate red tape. They free up your mental space so you can spend less time figuring out how to think about a problem and more time actually moving the business forward.

Stop being the one who just “gets it done.” Society teaches women to be world-class executors, but that’s the fastest way to get stuck in the weeds. If you’re ready to stop doing all the work and start shaping the direction, join us for a masterclass with Laura Weldy, who will break down the 3 frameworks you need to move from reactive to visionary, so you can stop just sitting at the table and start building the damn thing.

Grab your seat here.

DATA INSIGHTS

Manual Data Tagging Is a Specialized Form of Corporate Torture

Most teams are sitting on a goldmine of feedback they’re simply too busy to read. You know the drill: 1,000+ open-ended comments, three different browser tabs, and a looming deadline to find a “so what” that actually makes sense to leadership.

SurveyMonkey Enterprise acts as your team’s ultimate decision-making shortcut. Instead of manually tagging every “I wish this was faster” comment, the built-in AI reads the sentiment and summarizes the heavy hitters into digestible bullet points before you’ve even finished your first cup of coffee.

• Instant, executive-ready reports that make you look like a wizard.

• Sentiment tracking that catches the “vibe” of your data automatically.

• Ready-to-share summaries so you can stop “finding” problems and start solving them.

Want to see how AI handles the grunt work so you can reclaim your afternoon?

👉 See SurveyMonkey Enterprise in action.

BIGGEST CHALLENGE

How to Handle a Boss Who Is Allergic to “New”

“My biggest challenge is getting management to step outside their comfort zone and try new things. It’s incredibly difficult to fight the ‘We’ve always done it this way’ mentality, and the negativity associated with innovation.” — Mary Jo

It’s the corporate equivalent of a brick wall. You see a better way forward, but leadership is hunkered down in the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” bunker.

Since “we’ve always done it this way” is usually a fear-based defense mechanism, arguing with logic won’t get you very far. To move the needle, you have to make staying still feel riskier than moving forward.

Flip the script with Loss Aversion

Humans are psychologically wired to avoid a loss more than they want to achieve a gain. Instead of pitching “shiny new features,” highlight the Cost of Inaction.

• The Inefficiency Audit: Don’t just say the old way is slow. Show them exactly how many hours (and dollars) are being evaporated by manual work.

• The Competitive Gap: Point out a competitor who just leveled up. No leader wants to be the one still using a flip phone in a smartphone market.

Lower the stakes with a “Sandbox”

Innovation feels like a threat when it looks permanent. De-risk the request by proposing a 30-day experiment rather than a total overhaul. Make it temporary, reversible, and contained to one sub-team. When the data wins, the results do the arguing for you.

Use the “Inbound Innovation” trick

Sometimes an idea is rejected simply because it didn’t come from the top. Bypass the ego by letting leadership “discover” the solution:

• The Article Share: Send a case study about a company they admire: “Saw this and thought it was an interesting take on our current workflow.”

• Invite an External Voice: Often, a “prophet from another land” is more believable. Suggest a quick lunch-and-learn with a peer or vendor to provide external validation.

A quick note on your vocabulary

Avoid words like “outdated” or “slow.” They feel like a personal attack on the people who built those systems. Instead, use “legacy systems,” “scaling constraints,” or “efficiency opportunities.” It’s a subtle shift from judging their past to improving the future.

The strategy

Focus on making the path forward feel safer than staying stuck. Use data from your pilot to prove the concept and build a coalition of allies across departments to show this is a business necessity. You’re clearing the path for the team to scale, which eventually leads to the best result of all: less time spent fighting old systems and more time actually doing the work you were hired for.

FREE GUIDE

Stop Playing “Catch-Up” With Your AI Strategy

If your current AI strategy is just staring at a blinking cursor and hoping for a miracle, you’re likely working with instructions that weren’t built for your actual life. Most advice is written for people who have all day to “experiment,” leaving the rest of us to figure out how to make these tools actually save us time on a random, overbooked Tuesday.

HubSpot’s free guide provides a 4-part roadmap designed specifically for non-technical leaders who want the results without the headache. It spells out exactly how to use AI to grow your business, how much to actually invest, and where to start without needing a computer science degree.

Inside the “AI for Business Builders” guide:

• The 4-step mastery roadmap to take you from “curious” to “competent” fast.

• Jargon-free breakdowns of LLMs and generative AI in plain English.

• Plug-and-play prompting tips to help you reclaim your afternoon today.

• Real-world examples of how teams are using AI to end the busy work.

Arm yourself with the clarity to make smart AI investments and the confidence to stop guessing.

👉 Download the Free Guide.

STAFF PICKS

Stuff We’re Loving This Week

🔥 Save your suitcase from scorch marks with a hot tool travel bag made for the over-packers.

🧼 Steam clean everything with the gadget that makes gunk disappear like a bad ex.

🧀 Host like you actually planned ahead and turn random fridge items into curated charcuterie.

💆‍♀️ Your hair is begging for this mask that leaves strands incredibly soft and just-left-the-salon shiny.

JUST FOR FUN

COMMUNITY

🗓️ Upcoming Events

• REPLAY: Think Like a Leader: 3 Strategic Frameworks to Build Your Power

• Wed 3/18 @ 11AM PT: Co-working Session (SGS Only* | Join the waitlist)

• Thurs 3/19 @ 9AM PT: How to Set (and Achieve) Quarterly Goals with Clarity and Confidence

• Fri 3/27 @ 10AM PT: Automation Workshop (SGS Only* | Join the waitlist)

• On Demand: 2026 Compliance Predictions Companies Can’t Afford to Ignore

📋 Template Drop

• The Eisenhower Matrix Template

• RACI Templates

• Private AI Career Coach (SGS Only* | Join the waitlist)

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👑 Work Wisdom of the Week: Time block everything and don’t be afraid to turn off email. It’s hard but necessary.

Natalie Lewis (Senior Director, Sales Operations)

⭐️ Share your best work wisdom here.

💼 Job alert: Director of Finance & Operations at the org, AAPIP (Asian American/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy). Browse more jobs here.

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⭐️ Answer to the riddle.

Click the image for the punchline ☝️.

✅ Today’s Checklist:

• What you’re getting wrong about productivity

• How to clean up your email inbox today

• Why you need to be on Reddit

• The story shaping your reality

QUICK LINKS

🌿 Ambitious women are reclaiming rest through the power of a sabbatical.

🧠 9 neuroplasticity exercises that train your brain to work smarter.

🔥 Sometimes growth begins when you stop forcing it, especially if you’re ready to quit trying to make it work.

📊 How work gets done now might look different than you think.

PRODUCTIVITY

The 5 Things You’re Probably Getting Wrong About Productivity

Takeaways:

• Busyness is not productivity. A calendar packed from 9–5 looks impressive, but it’s often just reactivity. Real productivity protects 3–4 hours of focused work and says no to most meetings.

• Focus is about design. Multitasking complex tasks drains you. Better to pair deep work with simple habits when needed and build systems that reduce distractions instead of relying on discipline alone.

• To-do lists don’t equal progress. Listing tasks feels productive, but without scheduling time for them, they stay theoretical. Timeboxing forces clarity on when and how work actually gets done.

See all 5 on LinkedIn.

EMPLOYEE APPRECIATION DAY

Last-Minute Doesn’t Have to Look Last-Minute

Employee Appreciation Day is tomorrow (Fri March 6).

If you’re the one responsible for it, this is the moment where you either scramble… or keep it simple.

You don’t need to coordinate shipping.

You don’t need to guess what 200 people want.

You need something thoughtful that works at scale.

That’s why 5,000+ US companies use GroupTogether.

In minutes, you can send beautifully designed digital cards to 1 person or 1,000, scheduled to land first thing tomorrow morning.

Each employee opens a premium digital envelope with their name on it, then chooses from 150+ eGift Cards (Amazon, Target, Starbucks, Instacart, and more).

What makes it easy:

• No platform fees

• No company sign-up

• No minimum spend

• Pay by card or invoice

• Add your logo and message so it feels intentional

It looks organized, feels thoughtful, and it doesn’t require a logistical war room.

If Employee Appreciation Day is sitting on your calendar and you need this handled today, this is your out.

👉 Schedule bulk eGift Cards here.

EMAIL MANAGEMENT

Stop Letting Your Inbox Run You

Takeaways:

• Unsubscribe in bulk, not one by one. Stop manually hunting down every “unsubscribe” link. Use a bulk tool like Unroll.Me or Clean Email to see every list you’re on and remove yourself in minutes instead of hours.

• Set up filters and labels immediately. Once you clean it up, protect it. Automatically label newsletters, route receipts and confirmations out of your main inbox, and skip low-priority emails entirely so they never demand your attention.

• Create a simple file system for everything else. If your Downloads folder is chaos, start there. Name files clearly with dates and use a basic structure like Work, Personal, Finances, Creative, and Archive. Clean inputs make for a clean inbox.

Get the tips on LinkedIn.

ONLINE VISIBILITY

Why You Should Build Presence on Reddit

Takeaways:

• AI trusts communities more than company websites. Reddit, LinkedIn, and Wikipedia are cited far more often than traditional business sites. LLMs prioritize real discussions, multiple perspectives, and regularly updated content over polished, self-promotional pages.

• Authority now lives in public conversations. User-generated content, thought leadership, verified profiles, and active communities are shaping what AI surfaces. If you’re not participating in those ecosystems, you’re invisible to the systems shaping discovery.

• 2026 strategy = show up where discussions already happen. Build credibility on Reddit. Publish consistently on LinkedIn. Create comprehensive, well-sourced content. Focus on value and engagement over ad spend. AI rewards relevance, authority, and participation, not just SEO tactics.

Read the post on LinkedIn.

PEOPLE OPS

Growth Breaks the People Team First

As teams grow, basic information starts taking longer to locate than it should. An offer letter exists, but no one is sure which version is current. A manager asks for the latest org chart and gets three different files. Onboarding works, but largely because someone remembers the steps by heart.

Individually, these moments feel small; collectively, they absorb hours answering repeat questions, chasing approvals across email threads, and rebuilding context that should already be visible. The work of supporting people quietly turns into the work of retrieving paperwork.

If your headcount is expanding, the right system makes a real difference:

• HiBob keeps engagement, performance, and employee data connected in one place. It is designed for growing mid-size teams that want a modern HRIS strong on engagement, performance, and people analytics, with dashboards that help leaders act instead of guess. If you’re looking for a platform that ties onboarding, engagement, and retention into one continuous experience, this is where many teams start.

• BambooHR offers a clean, reliable foundation for small-to-midsize teams that want to centralize employee records, hiring, and onboarding in a system that is straightforward and widely adopted. If your priority is an easy-to-use HR system that keeps day-to-day workflows organized, it remains one of the most established options.

At a certain stage, the question is less about whether the team can keep up and more about whether the structure around them supports how they work. When information lives in one reliable place and processes are consistent, the people team can spend their time on judgment, development, and culture instead of retracing the same administrative steps.

SELF-PERCEPTION

The Story You Tell Yourself is Editing Reality

Takeaways:

• Your beliefs shape your perception. In a Dartmouth experiment, participants thought they had a visible facial scar during conversations. In reality, it had been wiped off before they entered the room. Still, they reported feeling judged and treated differently. Their internal story shaped how they experienced neutral interactions.

• When you believe something is “wrong” with you, you look for proof. You scan for rejection. You read distance into neutral expressions. You interpret ambiguity as criticism. Over time, that lens becomes your reality.

• The way out is internal, not external. You don’t fix the world’s reactions. You change the belief underneath them. Shift the story you hold about yourself, and your perception of everything else begins to shift with it.

Hear more on IG.

STAFF PICKS

Stuff We’re Loving This Week

🕶 Chic on a budget. These sunglasses look way more expensive than they are.

🍊 The prettiest way to fake a “naturally put together” kitchen.

💡 The tiny lighting swap that makes your apartment look professionally staged.

💻 The laptop accessory that upgrades your whole desk aesthetic.

JUST FOR FUN

COMMUNITY

🗓️ Upcoming Events

• Thurs 3/12 @ 10AM PT: Think Like a Leader: 3 Strategic Frameworks to Build Your Power (SGS Only* | Join the waitlist)

• Fri 3/13 @ 8:30AM & 9:00AM PT: Speed Meet Sessions (SGS Only* | Join the waitlist)

• Fri 3/27 @ 10AM PT: Automation Workshop (SGS Only* | Join the waitlist)

• On Demand: 2026 Compliance Predictions Companies Can’t Afford to Ignore

* Smart Girl Society is our private community for women who want deeper conversations, accountability, and tools that actually make life easier. Join the waitlist to get in the next round.

💼 Browse our job board here.

SPILL THE TEA

Take Our Poll

Have more feedback? 💌 Reply to this email and tell us.

✨ P.S. Want more inspiration and positivity to kick off your week? Sign up for our Motivational Monday texts (U.S. only).

UPDATE YOUR PREFERENCES

Only Get What You Want

Here’s how to update your preferences in just a few quick steps:

1. Click the link below and on the “Update Your Preferences” page, click the “Email me a link” button.

2. Open the email with the subject line “The Assist Subscribers: Update Profile” and click the link inside.

3. Choose the weekly email newsletters you’d like to receive from us (Tues, Wed, Thurs, Sat).

4. Click “Update Preferences” to save your changes—and you’re all set!

👉 Update my subscriber preferences here.

👀 Want to see if your company is a good fit for our 250k+ ambitious readers? Join our Sponsor Waitlist here.