✅ Today’s Checklist:

• What no one tells you when you become a manager

• Getting heard without getting louder

• Why fitting everyone in your mold is holding you back

🤔 Riddle me this: I’m a meal that tells an ancient story of freedom, shared with family over symbolic foods. (Find the answer on the bottom).

QUICK LINKS

🌿 What the next wave of workplace mental health looks like.

🤐 More workers are staying silent at work even as workplace discrimination concerns keep rising.

💬 Most people tank the “describe a challenge” question; here’s how to nail it.

🤝 The mindset shift that changes how you work with AI.

CAREER

Newly Promoted? Here’s the Manager Checklist Nobody Hands You

Your title changed, your salary (hopefully) did too, and now you have at least one person reporting to you.

The transition is exciting, and it comes with a learning curve that nobody fully warns you about. The skills that made you exceptional as an individual contributor are not the same ones that will make you great as a manager. Understanding what shifts is what makes the whole role start to click.

Here’s where to focus:

Shift Your Mindset First

Learning to manage starts with learning to think differently about your work.

As an individual contributor, your job was to execute. Tasks in, tasks out, output measurable and mostly within your control. As a manager, your job is to build and maintain the conditions that let other people do their best work. Your output is now your team’s output.

That’s where most new managers get tripped up. The urge to just handle things yourself because it’s faster is real—resist it. Your team needs room to grow, and your job is to create that room, not fill it.

Start asking different questions: What does my team need to succeed? What’s blocking them? How am I setting them up to do great work?

Get to Know Your Team Before You Change Anything

Your first job is to listen.

Schedule one-on-ones with each team member and use that time to genuinely understand how each person works, what motivates them, where they feel stuck, and what they need from you. Ask how they prefer to communicate. Ask what’s working and what isn’t.

Some managers kick things off with a “Meet Your Manager” one-pager, a simple doc that outlines your working style, communication preferences, and values. It’s a small move that builds trust fast and signals you’re someone worth working for.

Weekly team meetings with a clear agenda matter more than you’d think. Structure creates safety, and safety is what unlocks great work.

Build the Systems

One of the best parts of stepping into management: you get to design how things run.

In your first 90 days, prioritize getting aligned on team goals—the ones already in place, and the ones you’ll set together. Understand your company’s performance review cycle and start tracking notes on your team members now, so you’re not scrambling when review season hits. Build a continuous feedback rhythm that doesn’t depend on the formal process. When people always know where they stand, trust compounds fast.

For a longer-term anchor, this 12-month roadmap for new managers is worth bookmarking now.

Find a Mentor and Stay Close to Engagement

The best leaders seek input early and often. Find someone in your organization whose leadership style you respect and ask if they’d be open to meeting regularly. A good mentor helps you think through the hard calls, gives you honest feedback, and shares lessons they learned the hard way.

At the same time, stay close to how your team is actually feeling. Think of employee engagement as a live signal. It tells you whether your people feel seen, supported, and motivated. Actively ask for feedback, follow through on it, and close the loop by sharing what actions you’re taking. That transparency is what builds the kind of loyalty that makes teams exceptional.

The Best Managers Stay Curious

Nobody walks into their first management role with it all figured out. The IC-to-manager transition is one of the most meaningful pivots in a professional career—and the people who navigate it well are the ones who stayed humble, kept asking questions, and kept showing up for their teams.

And if you want something to print and actually work through, this new manager checklist is worth keeping in your back pocket.

AI PLAYBOOK

The Free Toolkit That Teaches You How to Stop Doing Everything Yourself

Most people’s AI strategy right now is opening ChatGPT, staring at a blank prompt box, and hoping something useful comes out. That’s a guessing game, not a workflow.

HubSpot’s free AI Assistant Kit gives you the templates, prompts, and system to make AI work for you from day one.

What’s inside:

• Ready-to-use templates that offload 80% of your repetitive work to AI

• An AI Command Center to organize your prompts and tools in one place

• A 60-minute quickstart guide so you’re up and running before lunch

• A built-in time tracker to see exactly how many hours you’re getting back

• Done-for-you prompts that make ChatGPT sound like your most organized coworker

If you’ve been meaning to get better at using AI but keep pushing it to “when things slow down”, this is the thing that actually makes it click.

👉 Download the free AI Assistant Kit.

BIGGEST CHALLENGE

You Don’t Have to Be Loud to Have Influence

“My biggest challenge is earning respect and getting ideas heard when I am not the loudest, most charismatic person in the room.” — Jessica A.

Most workplaces reward whoever speaks first and takes up the most space, even when their ideas aren’t the strongest ones in the room. It’s a frustrating dynamic, and unfortunately, a deeply common one.

Influence and volume have very little to do with each other. Here’s how to build one without performing the other.

Do the work before the meeting starts. The meeting is the wrong place to introduce a big idea for the first time. Share your thinking beforehand—a quick Slack, a short email, a casual conversation with your manager. It plants your idea before anyone else claims the space and means you’ll have at least one ally who can echo you in the room. That’s not politics. That’s strategy.

Say less. Make it land. Brevity signals confidence. A short, clear, well-timed point carries more weight than a long one that trails off. State your point, give one strong reason, stop talking. Cut the softeners: “I’m not sure if this makes sense, but…” is doing you no favors.

Use listening as a strategy. Listening is one of the most underrated ways to build influence. When you synthesize what others have said and add a sharp observation, people notice. “Building on what Sarah said, I believe the real issue here is…” reads as executive presence in most rooms.

Name it when you need to. If you’re consistently talked over, naming it calmly is an option. “I wasn’t finished, let me complete my thought” is a complete sentence. Research shows women are interrupted at significantly higher rates in professional settings. Naming it isn’t oversensitive. It’s necessary.

Build your reputation between meetings. Send the recap email. Follow up on the idea you floated. Strong one-on-one relationships shape how seriously people take you when you do speak up. The loudest person gets remembered in the moment. The most consistent one gets trusted over time.

FOUNDER TAKE

I Watched Bonusly Change How 1,000+ People Worked

At my last company, over a thousand people used Bonusly. I watched it go from a new-ish HR rollout to the thing everyone obsessed over.

The public recognition feed became something people checked on their own. Managers were giving shoutouts without being asked. And because the rewards were real (I personally redeemed mine for a flight to Cabo 🙌), the whole thing had actual stakes.

Here’s the part I didn’t appreciate until now: as a founder, I know how hard it is to get your whole team to actually adopt something new. People ignore tools. They forget. They revert. Bonusly didn’t have that problem. Nobody had to chase anyone. It just ran.

My team went back and reviewed it properly so I could share it with you. (Spoiler: still a yes.)

👉  Here’s the full Bonusly breakdown.

And if you’re already using it, hit reply. Always curious what the TA community is actually experiencing out there.

Joanna (TA Co-Founder)

STAFF PICKS

Stuff We’re Loving This Week

📆 TODAY: How to build an AI-first culture on your team | Free event on April 14. RSVP here.

🗞️ The DONUT is the free daily newsletter that keeps you informed without making you want to log off forever.

🧼 Too tired to double cleanse? This grinding cleansing balm does the work without the mess.

🌸 The kind of perfume people will stop you to ask about.

JUST FOR FUN

COMMUNITY

🗓️ Upcoming Events

• Thurs 4/16 @ 8:30AM PT: Speed Meet (SGS Only* | Join the waitlist)

• Thurs 4/16 @ 9AM PT: The Playbook Method (AI Workshop)

• Thurs-Sat 4/23-4/25 @ 11AM PT: AI Advantage Summit

• On Demand: How to Save 3+ Hours Each Week Using AI Tools

📋 Agent Drop

• The Assist Leadership Coach

* 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

Monica Keena (Paralegal Supervisor) shares:

“Not everyone works like you. This reminded me that people operate differently, and trying to fit everyone into your mold only leads to disappointment, frustration, and stunted growth (for both you and them). Your role is to grow others, and that starts with understanding what growth means to them. It won’t look the same for everyone, and that’s not just okay, it’s necessary.”

⭐️ 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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⭐️ Answer to the riddle.

🤔 Brainteaser of the day: I get longer as the days grow warmer, but I’m gone by night. What am I?

Click here to see the answer.

Check out our March 2026 Weekender Brainteasers here.

✅ Today’s Checklist:

• Your brain on a toxic ex

• A chill playlist that carries you straight to 5pm

• Pet of the week: Meet Phil

QUICK LINKS

♻️ Office-friendly Earth Day ideas worth putting on the calendar.

💼 Interview prep just got easier with 30+ Q&As worth practicing.

🥴 Turns out chronic bloating has some pretty overlooked causes.

🏡 9 charming U.S. small towns worth adding to your 2026 travel list.

RELATIONSHIPS

The Psychology Behind Why We Get Stuck in Toxic Relationships

If you’ve ever looked back at your dating history and thought “omg, why did I tolerate that?”, here’s some news: it’s not entirely our fault. Our brains were literally getting high.

Women attach and form bonds when oxytocin is present. Men form attachment when they create vasopressin, a hormone that spikes mostly under stress. So when we stress him out, he likes us more. And when he gives us physical or emotional intimacy, we like him more because it releases oxytocin.

Just that biological exchange alone is a recipe for chaos. Before you flood my inbox telling me I’m overgeneralizing—yes, I am. Human data are more mixed and nuanced than what I’m describing here.

I’m not giving anyone an excuse for toxic behavior. I’m explaining the science behind why we behave how we behave to give logic to our actions.

Our Brains on Toxic Love

Toxic relationships work like slot machines. Hot, cold, hot, distant, affectionate again. That pattern wires our brains to chase the feeling of winning him back, not the person himself.

This is called intermittent reinforcement. It’s the same mechanism behind gambling addiction, which means inconsistency doesn’t feel like a red flag and is often confused for “chemistry.”

Here’s what’s actually happening in our bodies:

Dopamine spikes during reconciliation. Our brains are chasing the next reward, the next moment of affection. That unpredictability creates a stronger high than steady love ever will.

Cortisol floods our systems during conflict or the silent treatment. We’re overthinking, checking our phones, anxious about where we stand. When he finally comes back and shows affection, our brains register relief and mistake it for safety, even though he caused the stress in the first place.

Oxytocin bonds us during physical touch or emotional intimacy. Our brains don’t vet who they attach to. They just say “this person matters, stay connected.” (Even when they’re hurting us.)

Research suggests this biochemical addiction to intense emotional highs and lows functions similarly to drug addiction. The cycle creates a powerful trauma bond that’s incredibly difficult to break.

Familiar Pain Feels Safer Than Healthy Love

A lot of us grew up with emotional unpredictability, lack of validation, or having to earn love. When we encounter calm and secure love, it can feel boring or even suspicious. Not because it actually is, but because it’s unfamiliar.

So we’re not actively choosing toxicity. We’re choosing what our nervous systems recognize.

People subconsciously try to replicate their relationships with their parents because it feels familiar or like what they think they deserve. So if they had controlling and toxic parents, they’re more likely to be drawn to similar partners.

The High-Achiever Trap

Another trap? High-achieving women turning relationships into fix-it projects.

A lot of smart, driven women are so used to solving, improving, optimizing, and carrying that we unconsciously bring that same energy into dating.

If I just communicate better. If I’m more patient. If I love him hard enough. If I can help him heal.

That mindset builds companies, closes deals, and gets promotions. In relationships, it keeps us stuck in cycles where we’re doing all the emotional labor while he does the bare minimum.

The Pattern We’re Probably Stuck In

Here’s the cycle:

1. Attraction to emotional intensity

2. Inconsistency creates anxiety

3. Anxiety fuels attachment

4. We invest more to stabilize it

5. He pulls back

6. We try harder

Repeat.

Women fall for the effort, not the toxicity. Someone toxic and unpredictable goes to great lengths to hide their insecurities, and it can take a long time for their true nature to surface. They make concerted efforts to create an illusion of perfection: bringing flowers, quoting poetry, writing letters. Despite our instincts, it’s hard to see clearly when someone appears to be making an effort and showing respect.

Chemistry Isn’t Always a Green Flag

That “spark” we feel? It might actually be anxiety, uncertainty, and emotional risk. Healthy relationships often feel like ease, safety, and clarity, which, if we’re used to chaos, can feel like something’s missing.

Sometimes the “boring guy” is actually the aligned one.

Breaking the Pattern

According to psychotherapists who specialize in toxic relationships, healing requires developing confidence in our ability to trust our own discernment. Self-reflection and working with a therapist to explore childhood patterns can help us understand why we’re drawn to people who hurt us.

If you’ve ever had a toxic ex, your brain was doing exactly what brains do: chasing dopamine hits and mistaking cortisol spikes for passion. The science behind it all is worth knowing. It puts language to something a lot of us have felt but couldn’t explain. And sometimes, that’s exactly where the shift starts.

Thania (TA Content Mgr)

SUNDAY SCARIES

Your Brain Shouldn’t Be Your To-Do List

Sunday afternoon is supposed to be the easy part of the weekend. But for a lot of us, it’s when the mental inventory kicks in: deadlines, threads you forgot to close, the Monday morning meeting you haven’t prepped for… The week hasn’t started and you’re already feeling behind.

monday.com keeps all of it in one place, so none of it has to live in your head.

What makes it worth it:

• Deadlines and priorities visible at a glance, no hunting required

• Automated reminders for the routine stuff that always slips through

• Full team visibility so the “wait, where did that land?” convos stop

• Everything in one place instead of scattered across four different tools

When your week is already organized before Monday hits, Sunday feels like a Sunday again.

👉 See how monday.com can help.

STAFF PICKS

📚 Read: See Me by Nicholas Sparks

A rainy-night meet-cute turns into something way darker when Maria’s past legal case starts resurfacing in the form of real threats. You get the classic Sparks romance, but with a stalking, suspense-thriller edge that keeps the pages turning long after you planned to put it down.

📺 Watch: Louis Theroux: Inside the Manosphere (Netflix)

Theroux gets rare, unusually open access to a rising ultra-masculine influencer network and mostly lets the subjects talk themselves into corners. It’s unsettling, fascinating, and weirdly useful as a primer on how this content gets packaged as “self-improvement,” and why it’s pulled so many ‘red pill’ types in.

🎧 Listen: Summer Chill House 2026

The perfect “I’m at work, but mentally I’m outside in the sun” soundtrack. Put it on when you need upbeat energy that won’t hijack your focus.

GROUP GIFTING

EAs and Office Managers: We Want to Hear From You

You keep the office running. The least we can do is ask how it’s actually going.

GroupTogether wants to learn more about how EAs and Office Managers in the U.S. are navigating their roles right now, and they’re making it worth your 2 minutes.

The first 50 responses get a $10 AnyCard eGift Card redeemable across 150+ brands including Amazon, Target, and Starbucks.

You might already know GroupTogether as the platform that makes group cards and eGift Cards stupid-simple. Unlimited messages, no chasing signatures, no coordinating who paid what. Just a clean, easy way to show up for your team without the logistical headache.

👉 Take the 2-minute survey here.

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 Phil

Phil is a cute, funny Golden Retriever who turns 2 on Valentine’s Day 2025. He works on a golf course and his job is to chase geese (which are very detrimental). At home he steals socks, slippers, shoes & sneakers & sleeps with them. His owners love Phil to the moon & back!

🐾 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

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Click the image for the punchline ☝️.

✅ Today’s Checklist:

• Warren Buffett’s goal rule and 4 other productivity hacks

• How to get through the tasks you keep putting off

• Turn your weekly 1:1 into a promotion tool

• What to do when you haven’t heard back after the interview

QUICK LINKS

🤝 The relationships you invest in now are often the ones that move your career forward later.

🤖 If AI replacing your job is something you’ve been thinking about, here’s what to actually do next.

💫 Manifesting your dream job works better when you understand what it actually requires.

💪 A UCLA dietitian breaks down why everyone’s talking about creatine.

WORK SMARTER

Science-Based Productivity Hacks

Takeaways:

• A study from University of CA Dominguez Hills, you’re 42% more likely to hit your goals if you write them down.

• Warren Buffett’s 5.25 rule: write your top 25 goals, focus on the top 5 and avoid the other 20 (they’re distractions).

• The Eisenhower Matrix: if it’s urgent and important, do it now. Important and not urgent? Decide a time to do it. If it’s urgent and not important, delegate it. If its neither urgent or important, delete it.

See the other 2 hacks on IG.

LOW-IMPACT FITNESS

The Low-Impact Workout Busy Women Are Actually Sticking To

If your joints have been vocal lately or your usual routine has stopped feeling worth the effort, Wall Pilates might be worth a look.

Reverse Health’s Wall Pilates program builds strength, improves balance, and supports your core using just a wall at home. No jumping, no intense routines, no equipment collecting dust in the corner.

The wall provides stability and alignment support, so every movement is controlled and intentional rather than stressful on your joints. It’s gentle enough for beginners, effective enough to actually see results, and won’t leave you wiped out by Wednesday.

Women who’ve tried it report:

• Less stiffness by week one

• More energy by week two

• Noticeable tone by week four

For anyone who’s been waiting for a workout that fits real life, this is a solid place to start.

👉 Take the quick quiz to get a plan tailored to you.

PRODUCTIVITY MINDSET

How to Get Through the Tasks You Keep Avoiding

Takeaways:

• Stop relying on willpower. Struggling to start tasks can be tied to how your brain is wired, not just discipline. Building systems like routines and scheduling removes the need to “feel motivated” every time.

• Make starting ridiculously easy. Do the hardest task first, break it into tiny steps, and lower the barrier to entry. Momentum builds once you start, not before.

• Add friction where you procrastinate, and reward where you act. Make tedious work more enjoyable by pairing it with something you like, batching it into routines, and giving yourself a reward after. The work still needs to get done, but it doesn’t have to feel miserable every time.

Get all the tips on LinkedIn.

CAREER ADVANCEMENT

How to Turn Your Weekly 1:1 Into a Promotion Tool

Takeaways:

• Visibility drives opportunity. Your manager can’t advocate for work they don’t see. Tracking and sharing your wins, with real impact and feedback, makes it easier for them to push for your growth.

• Come in with direction, not just updates. Setting your own priorities, flagging risks, and bringing thoughtful questions positions you as someone who leads, not someone who waits to be told what to do.

• Ownership is the fastest trust-builder there is. Spotting inefficiencies and showing up with ideas demonstrates you’re ready for more responsibility, without burning yourself out trying to prove it.

Swipe through the carousel on LinkedIn.

CAREER VISIBILITY

The Most Capable Person in the Room Is Often the Least Visible

You can write a glowing recommendation for anyone on your team. But when it’s time to talk about your value? The words get muddy.

Most high-performing women know they’re good at what they do. The harder part is finding the precise language to describe it — what makes you different, what conditions bring out your best work, and what you specifically bring that nobody else brings the same way.

That gap is expensive. It shows up when someone with less experience gets the visibility you’ve been quietly earning. When you walk out of a performance review feeling like you undersold yourself again.

Pigment is a self-discovery assessment that gives you language specific enough to use in a negotiation, a bio, a pitch, or a conversation with your manager about what’s next. We use it at The Assist, and we love it!

Here’s what it surfaces:

• Your specific combination of strengths and why they’re rarer than you think

• The conditions where you do your best work so you can advocate for them

• Your blind spots so they stop showing up at the worst possible moments

The people getting the most visibility aren’t always the most talented. They’re the ones who can articulate their value in twelve seconds. Pigment gets you there.

Take the Pigment assessment here.

JOB SEARCH

Ghosted After an Interview? Here’s Your Next Move

Takeaways:

• Before you leave any interview, ask when you can expect to hear back. It sets a clear timeline and saves you from guessing later.

• Following up after a week or two is completely appropriate. A short, professional email shows enthusiasm and keeps you top of mind without coming across as pushy.

• When you do reach out, make it easy for them to respond. Try something like: “Hi [Name], I interviewed for [role] on [date] and wanted to follow up. I’d love a status update on your hiring timeline, and I’m happy to provide any additional information that would be helpful. I remain very interested in this role because [specific reason].”

• If you still don’t hear back, follow up one more time a week later. After that, move on mentally while keeping the door open professionally.

• Use the waiting period productively. Keep applying, keep interviewing, and treat every offer as your best offer until you have a signed one in hand.

Watch the tutorial on IG.

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 color changing foundation for a quick, low-effort base.

📚 Joanna keeps staying up past her bedtime for The Secret Life of Sunflowers.

🦷 This toothpaste delivers a clean, fresh mouthfeel without the harsh chemical aftertaste.

JUST FOR FUN

COMMUNITY

🗓️ Upcoming Events

• TODAY 4/9 @ 9AM PT: Skillful 1-2-1s

• 4/10 @ 9AM PT: How to Start Investing (Without Picking Stocks) (SGS Only* | Join the waitlist)

• On Demand: How to Save 3+ Hours Each Week Using AI Tools

* 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

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👉 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:

• What autism support actually looks like at work

• Why a trust belongs on your financial to-do list

• Recipe of the week: Yellow Curry Chicken

🤔 Trivia: April’s birthstone is believed to symbolize strength and eternal love. What gemstone is it? Find out.

QUICK LINKS

🎟️ “Network more” deserves a real spot on your calendar; start with these conferences happening this year.

🏋️‍♀️ A science-backed guide to choosing the right training style for your goals.

🧩 Build your own “productivity stack” with these AI-powered tools.

🎤 15 interviewing tips that help you spot the right hire before you extend the offer.

INCLUSION AT WORK

How to Support Autistic Employees (And Employees with Autistic Kids)

Most people mean well when it comes to supporting autistic colleagues or coworkers raising autistic kids. The gap is usually in knowing what that support actually looks like in practice.

So let’s get specific.

First, what is autism?

Autism, or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), is a developmental condition that affects communication, behavior, and sensory processing. It’s called a “spectrum” because it looks different in every person.

Some autistic people are nonverbal. Others are highly verbal but struggle with social cues. Some are hypersensitive to sensory input like sounds, lights, or textures. Others seek it out. One consistent thread: autistic people process the world differently, and workplaces that accommodate those differences unlock real talent, creativity, and problem-solving.

It’s also worth understanding that many autistic people experience rigid thinking, a neurological response to uncertainty and change that makes routine, predictability, and advance notice especially important. When those things are missing, it creates real stress that compounds quickly.

Around 85% of autistic adults are currently unemployed. Most of that gap comes down to workplaces that were never designed with them in mind. That’s what we can change.

How to support autistic employees

Building an autism-friendly workplace starts with paying attention and making intentional adjustments. No overhaul required.

Ask first. Before assuming what someone needs, just ask. Breaking the ice shows an autistic employee how to communicate with you and gives them permission to share what works and what doesn’t. Many struggle to initiate that conversation, so modeling openness goes a long way.

Send agendas before meetings. Surprises are stressful. Send agendas 24 hours in advance so employees know what to expect, what’s being discussed, and what’s expected of them.

Think about sensory needs. Bright fluorescent lights, loud offices, strong smells, and unexpected sounds can be genuinely overwhelming. Offer noise-canceling headphones, quiet workspaces, lighting flexibility, and remote options where possible.

Follow up in writing. Verbal instructions can be hard to process in the moment. After meetings, send a quick recap: what was decided, who owns what, and when it’s due.

Give advance notice on changes. Autistic employees often thrive with clear expectations and consistent routine. Before any role or process changes, explain the why, give plenty of lead time, and check in regularly.

Be direct and literal. Sarcasm, idioms, and vague hints can genuinely confuse. Skip “It would be great if someone could handle this” and say “Can you take this on by Friday?”

Respect stimming and sensory tools. Stimming (fidgeting, hand-flapping, rocking) helps autistic people self-regulate. Don’t comment on it. Don’t ask them to stop. Let people do what helps them focus.

What employees raising autistic kids actually need

Parenting an autistic child is a full-time job running parallel to their actual job. Families with children on the autism spectrum face an average of $60,000 in costs per year, covering therapy, specialized education, and additional support services. Between speech, occupational, and behavioral therapy appointments (often multiple times a week), IEP meetings, and the unpredictable nature of meltdowns and sensory overload, these parents are navigating a system that wasn’t built for them. All while trying to meet deadlines and show up fully at work.

Here’s what actually helps:

Flexible schedules. Therapy and school meetings happen during work hours. Flexible start and end times, remote options, and not penalizing employees for needing to adjust their day makes a real difference.

Backup childcare support. Childcare for autistic children is harder to find and more expensive. Offer stipends, share resources for autism-friendly providers, and allow work-from-home when care falls through.

Check in without assumptions. Some days are manageable. Some are full survival mode. A simple “How are you doing? What do you need?” goes further than you think. Be flexible around deadlines when things get hard and don’t penalize mental health days.

Normalize the conversation. If an employee is comfortable sharing, create space for their colleagues to understand what that means. Share resources, encourage empathy, and make neurodiversity a regular part of how your team talks about inclusion. It can make more of a difference than you’d expect, and our own team is proof of that.

Ivette has been our beloved virtual assistant for years. Her first day with TA started with an absence. She shared that her daughter had an episode that prevented her from joining orientation. We told her she could always be honest with us, and she’s been part of our team ever since. When we asked her to weigh in on this piece, she said:

“You never judged me, never underestimated me, never doubted whether I could handle something. Even when I was upfront about my needs from day one, the focus was always on how I work and what I deliver. That’s all any of us really want.”

That’s the whole point. When people feel safe enough to be honest, they bring their full focus to the work. The small, consistent choices that tell your team their whole life is welcome here are what make workplaces more sensory-friendly, communication-clear, and genuinely supportive. For autistic employees and the parents raising autistic kids, that’s what actually moves the needle.

COMPLIANCE TRAINING

The Employment Law Changes Your Managers Might Not Know About Yet

Employment laws shift constantly, stack up differently across states, and create compliance problems that only surface when something goes wrong.

Pay transparency mandates, updated anti-discrimination standards, new paid leave requirements — 2026 has a full slate of changes that affect how managers hire, discipline, and respond to employee situations every single day.

Traliant’s free webinar was built for exactly this moment. Two compliance experts will walk through the developments that matter most and translate them into clear guidance your HR team and frontline managers can actually use.

Key 2026 Changes in Employment Law: What HR Needs to Know (Wed, April 8 at 2PM ET)

Here’s what you’ll walk away with:

• Clarity on which federal and state changes affect your organization

• Practical steps to address compliance issues before they become liability

• Guidance on policy updates and manager training for multi-state teams

• SHRM and HRCI credits for attending live

👉 Reserve your free seat here.

FINANCIAL PLANNING

The Power of Trusts (And Why You Don’t Have to Be Wealthy to Need One)

My great-grandparents arrived from Spain with little to their names but a robust work ethic and a dream to build wealth. They were the epitome of the old-school immigrant ethos: frugal, perpetually prepared for economic hardship, and staunch believers in buying things outright with cash.

My parents took a different path, which led to a childhood that mixed low-income realities with middle-class moments, most of them made possible by my grandparents’ support.

Today, I’m the property manager and executor of the trust my great-grandmother originated. Over 30+ years, I’ve witnessed just about every family dynamic a trust can surface: peaceful transitions, Game of Thrones-level sabotage, and tense standoffs with the IRS when a relative decided to dodge their tax duties.

Here’s what that experience has taught me about trusts, a tool I once naively assumed was only for the wealthy.

1. Trusts aren’t just for the wealthy

Anyone with assets worth protecting can benefit from a trust. A home, a savings account, a small business—these all qualify. Trusts offer a structured, legal way to manage and transfer what you’ve built. Want to understand how they actually work? This podcast is a solid starting point.

2. Life is unpredictable. A trust helps you plan for that.

Divorce, bankruptcy, tax liens, lawsuits… none of these are fun to think about, but any of them can disrupt your financial future. A trust creates a protective structure around your assets before the unexpected happens.

3. Protect what you’re building for the next generation

An irrevocable trust can minimize estate tax liabilities and help your heirs receive what you’ve left them without the burden of hefty taxes. When downsizing or gifting assets, a trust lets your beneficiaries bypass the estate entirely.

4. Avoid the time and cost of probate

Probate is the legal process that kicks in when someone dies without a proper plan in place, and it typically costs between 4% to 7% of an estate’s total value. On a $500k estate, that’s up to $35,000 gone before your family sees a cent, and the process can drag on anywhere from six months to two years. A trust sidesteps all of it.

5. Keep your financial life private

A trust shields your property details from public databases like Zillow, which reduces your exposure to scams and keeps your financial picture out of the public record.

6. Protect your assets from legal claims

If you own a business and face potential lawsuits, an irrevocable trust can protect certain personal assets from creditors. Once ownership transfers into the trust, those assets are effectively shielded from legal claims.

Setting up a trust takes some effort upfront. The families I’ve watched skip that step have paid for it in ways that go far beyond money.

Thania (TA Content Mgr)

LEVEL UP YOUR READING

How I Finally Started Making a Dent in My Nonfiction Reading List

I write for The Assist and run my own business, which means I’m constantly trying to level up on leadership, communication, and productivity.

The nonfiction books I want to read? Endless. The time to read them? Not so much.

That’s why I was excited when the TA team started using Shortform. I’ve been working through Influence by Cialdini ever since—on walks, between tasks, whenever I have a few minutes. The summaries are way more thorough than I expected. It feels less like reading a summary and more like someone already did the highlighting for you. (And I set up my account in literally two minutes.)

If your TBR list keeps growing faster than you can read it, this is for you.

👉 Start your free trial and get $50 off—and let us know what you think. We genuinely want to hear if it’s as useful for you as it has been for us.

Thania (TA Content Mgr)

STAFF PICKS

Stuff We’re Loving This Week

📆 Learn how to build an AI-first culture at your organization at this free event on 4/14. RSVP free.

🧼 Melt off makeup with a pro-collagen cleansing balm that leaves skin soft, not stripped.

🛏 The bed wedge gap filler that finally closes the mattress crack where your phone goes to die every night.

🚗 Cleaning gel that pulls dust and crumbs out of every vent, button, and impossible crevice in your car.

JUST FOR FUN

COMMUNITY

🗓️ Upcoming Events

• Wed 4/8 @ 10AM PT: 2026 Employment Law Updates You Can’t Ignore

• 4/9 @ 9AM PT: Skillful 1-2-1s

• 4/10 @ 9AM PT: How to Start Investing (Without Picking Stocks) (SGS Only* | Join the waitlist)

• On Demand: How to Save 3+ Hours Each Week Using AI Tools

* 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: Yellow Curry Chicken.

😋 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.

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👉 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:

• Leadership lessons from top Fortune 500 execs

• How to protect yourself when your manager can’t be trusted

• The importance of a mentor

🤔 Riddle me this: Children search for me in gardens and baskets, and I’m often filled with chocolate or candy. (Find the answer on the bottom).

QUICK LINKS

🗂️ The project management tool review that’ll help you get organized without the overwhelm.

📊 The latest Women in the Workplace report is the data you want in your back pocket before your next promotion or policy conversation.

🧭 If “I can’t do this forever” is your current mood, here’s how to make a career move without having it all figured out first.

🧠 A therapist explains what loneliness is actually telling you.

LEADERSHIP

12+ Years Next to the C-Suite Taught Me This

I spent over 12 years at a global Fortune 500 company, sharing office space with the C-suite. To my younger self, these executives felt like celebrities, the people responsible for keeping 10,000 employees working. What I didn’t expect was how much they’d teach me without ever intending to. Here’s what stuck.

From the office of the Chief Executive Officer:

After a long day, he’d walk through the office and turn off every light. Some employees called it miserly. I always found it endearing, a concrete daily act of stewardship in a company that occupied hundreds of offices. He also made a point of saying goodnight to anyone still working as late as him.

NOW: Whenever I leave a shared space, I make sure the lights are off. Small habits practiced consistently are how leaders build trust. People notice the details you don’t have to care about.

A note from the Chief HR Officer:

At an offsite leadership meeting, she stepped out mid-call with a family member, close enough that I could overhear. I didn’t have kids at the time, but she offered me this: “The infants and babies won’t remember if you’re home all the time. Find more availability in your career when your children are older. They need you more then.”

NOW: Nobody warns you that the challenges of working parenthood don’t shrink as your kids grow. They just change shape. The toddler years feel all-consuming, but the teenage years are when the real conversations happen. I took her advice seriously. I was there for the hard talks, the heartbreaks, the pivots. You can choose to be available for those moments. I’m glad I did.

From the Chief Revenue Officer:

Sharply dressed, charming, the kind of guy who could negotiate anything. I was walking him to the main event space the night before he’d address 1,500 people, when a man approached pushing a wheeled garbage can. He stopped, engaged him in a real conversation, asked how his day was going, and finished with a genuine: “Thank you for making our event special.”

A masterclass in recognizing that no job is too small, and that the work happening all around you deserves to be seen.

NOW: I thank the people some might overlook: the women mopping airport bathroom sinks, the person picking up clothes in fitting rooms, the garbage collectors who get a wave from me every single time. I see you.

From the President:

Two large screens. Two thousand attendees expected in under an hour. He walked in after a cross-country flight, being pulled in every direction, spotted me, rattled off a few slide changes, and stood still while a lav mic was threaded through his shirt. Then: “I love this. I’m more nervous in the boardroom.”

Minutes later, he filled the entire room. Reserved in the office, but electric on stage. He knew his content cold, and it showed.

NOW: I prep for every presentation now, even PTA meetings. My college-aged kids ask me to run through their speeches with them. Preparation is contagious.

None of these executives sat me down for a mentorship session. The education happened in hallways, in passing moments, in things they probably didn’t think twice about. Leadership is a pattern of behavior people absorb whether you realize it or not. The real question isn’t what you’re learning from the people above you. It’s what the people watching you are taking home.

— Lainie Gaither (TA Guest Writer)

AI SKILLS

The Free AI Class That’s Already Saved People Thousands of Hours

You already know AI can save you time. The problem is getting it to actually do that.

Most people are stuck in the same loop: vague outputs, frustrating back-and-forth, and results that need more fixing than if you’d just done it yourself. Learning a few high-impact shifts in how you prompt changes everything.

Miss Excel’s free 1-hour session has helped 400,000+ professionals cut the guesswork and get real results from AI, fast.

Here’s what you’ll walk away with:

• A hallucination detector so bad AI output stops slipping through

• Simple prompt frameworks that get you cleaner, more accurate results from the jump

• Practical techniques to cut the back-and-forth and get what you actually asked for

One hour, and you’ll finally feel like AI is working for you instead of the other way around.

👉 Grab your free spot here.

BIGGEST CHALLENGE

What to Do When Your Manager is the Problem

“My biggest challenge this week is my manager. He lies and it causes me extra work and headaches.” — Lauren D.

A manager who lies creates a fog you have to navigate every single day: second-guessing decisions, covering yourself on things that shouldn’t need covering, and burning mental energy just to figure out what’s actually true.

Here’s what you can do about it.

Start by building your paper trail

Before anything else, document everything. Save emails. Write down conversations with dates, times, and who was present. Screenshot anything relevant. Keep it somewhere outside company systems.

Documentation protects you if their lies ever land on your desk as your problem like a missed deadline you didn’t miss, or a decision you didn’t make. Think of it as your insurance policy.

Know your relationship before you confront

According to Forbes contributor Bonnie Marcus, the strength of your relationship with your manager matters here. If there’s a foundation of mutual respect, a direct one-on-one conversation is often the best first move. Present the facts calmly, give them the chance to course correct, and keep emotion out of it.

If that foundation doesn’t exist, skip straight to the next step.

Build relationships above your manager

If your company has skip-level meetings, use them. If they don’t exist, suggest them. A low-key email to your manager’s boss can open the door: “I came across this idea and think it could be great for our team. I’d love to grab 20 minutes with you this month.”

Face time with other leaders builds allies and political capital outside your immediate chain of command. That matters more than you think if things escalate.

Bring HR into it

This is exactly what HR exists for. You don’t need to go in hot. Start with a calm, factual conversation backed by your documentation. Be specific, be measured, and let the facts speak.

It’s also worth asking: does your company culture actually hold leaders accountable? The answer will tell you how much traction you’re likely to get.

Get honest with yourself about your future there

If this is a pattern of dishonesty and not a one-off, you have a real decision to make. Staying in an environment that tolerates this behavior has a long-term cost to your reputation, your energy, and your integrity.

Whether you decide to push for change or start exploring other options, having a plan puts the power back in your hands.

APPETITE & ENERGY

GLP-1 Results Without the Injection, Cost, or Waitlist

You know the feeling. It’s 3pm, you’ve eaten reasonably well, and somehow you’re still reaching for something—anything—to get through the rest of the day. Your energy dips, your focus goes with it, and the cravings kick in right when you need to be sharpest.

GLP-1 medications work for some people, but the cost, side effects, and access make them unrealistic for many. If you’re looking for a non-prescription option that supports steadier energy and appetite cues without overhauling your routine, ColonBroom GLP-1 Booster is worth a look.

It’s a once-daily capsule with ingredients chosen to support how your body manages hunger and energy throughout the day:

• Berberine to support appetite cues and healthy blood sugar

• Zinc to support metabolic and hormonal function

• Resveratrol + quercetin dihydrate to support cellular health

No injections, stimulants, or a complicated schedule. Over 5 million bottles sold worldwide, with plenty of women reporting they feel steadier and less snacky throughout the day.

👉 Grab $15 off with code ASSIST15.

If you’re pregnant, nursing, on medication, or managing a condition, check with your clinician first.

STAFF PICKS

Stuff We’re Loving This Week

📆 Free event – 4/23: A day of AI transformation workshops that’ll make you a winning AI leader. RSVP.

🎲 Bring this game out and suddenly everyone’s laughing.

👚 This sleek boatneck long sleeve is your new office-to-couch uniform.

🧼 A non-toxic leather cleaner that keeps your favorite bags and shoes looking like you just bought them.

JUST FOR FUN

COMMUNITY

🗓️ Upcoming Events

• Wed 4/8 @ 10AM PT: 2026 Employment Law Updates You Can’t Ignore

• 4/9 @ 9AM PT: Skillful 1-2-1s

• 4/10 @ 9AM PT: How to Start Investing (Without Picking Stocks) (SGS Only* | Join the waitlist)

📋 Agent Drop

• The Assist Leadership Coach

* 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: “Invest in a mentor and be sure to take time away from your desk; it will make you a better colleague.”

Lisa (L&D Officer)

⭐️ 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.

👉 See all of March’s OG Tuesday Riddles.

🤔 Brainteaser of the day: The more you tidy me, the less of me there is. What am I?

Click here to see the answer.

✅ Today’s Checklist:

• The real math behind why your paycheck never feels like enough

• The comedy-drama to help you with your Spanish

• Pet of the week: Meet Kia

QUICK LINKS

💪 Many people still aren’t getting enough creatine.

👯‍♀️ Work friendships don’t just happen; these simple rules make them a lot easier to build.

💰 Making extra income can look like renting your place to pets, which earned one investor $55K.

🌅 Ditch the chaotic mornings—this “opening shift” routine might be the reset your day’s been begging for.

ECONOMIC REALITY

Why It Feels Like We’re Poor Even When We’re Not

I’m a Millennial, which means when I entered my freshman year of college in fall 2007, the economy was already entering a recession.

So for most of my adult life, the economy has felt unstable.

And lately, the gap between wages, costs, and actually getting ahead feels wider than ever.

No matter which financial milestone my friends and I hit, it still somehow feels like we’re not any closer to being “rich.”

Buy a house? Now you’re house poor. Invest in the stock market? Great, but also terrifying. Get a raise? Perfect. That’ll cover groceries, eggs that cost $12, and the creeping fear that every minor health issue could financially ruin you.

So what’s actually going on?

The math changed

It feels like you’re “poor” even when you’re not because the math of housing, wages, and basic costs is completely different from what previous generations faced.

Housing: In the mid-1980s, the median U.S. home cost about 3.6x the median household income. By 2023, that ratio climbed to 5.3x, with some analyses putting it closer to 6x. Between 1985 and 2023, incomes rose about 241% in nominal terms while home prices rose around 408%. The ratio of what you earn to what a decent home costs is just more brutal now.

Wages: From 2020 to 2024, wages rose about 18% but prices rose about 21%, meaning purchasing power actually fell 2 to 3%. And real income growth has slowed, especially for younger workers.

Basic costs: The cost of a basic American life rose faster than earnings in 2024, with housing and childcare seeing some of the biggest jumps.

Why housing feels impossible

Several structural things are stacking the deck:

Home prices have grown faster than wages for decades, especially in big metros and coastal states. In California, the median home is nearly 2.5x the national median, making the squeeze even worse in places like LA and the Bay.

There’s a real housing shortage. Not enough homes built, very low vacancy rates, and too many people competing for the same limited supply.

Higher interest rates since 2022 mean even if prices flatten slightly, monthly payments can still be enormous.

Existing owners with low 2020 to 2021 mortgages are locked in, not selling, which keeps inventory tight and prices sticky.

Millennials and Gen Z also carry student debt and higher living costs, leaving less for down payments and savings.

Healthcare is eating your paycheck

Healthcare costs grow faster than general inflation in the U.S. Overall health spending grew 7.2% in 2024, reaching $5.3 trillion, or about $15,474 per person. Between 2021 and 2024, medical costs rose about 7% per year on average, and pharmacy costs increased even faster at around 9% per year. Even when general inflation cools, healthcare keeps climbing.

You’re not crazy

The system changed. The goalposts moved and nobody sent a memo. Once you understand that, you can stop measuring yourself against an economic reality that no longer exists and start making decisions based on the one you’re actually living in.

The rules changed. Now we adapt.

Thania (TA Content Mgr)

EXCEL SKILLS

Give Excel 60 Minutes This Weekend. It’ll Pay You Back All Year.

If Excel still feels like a full-time job inside your actual job, this is worth an hour of your time.

Miss Excel’s free class teaches you the practical skills that turn your most tedious spreadsheet tasks into something that practically runs itself. No coding background. No prior experience. Just immediately usable techniques you can apply the same day.

Here’s what you’ll walk away with:

• Clean messy data in minutes instead of starting from scratch every time

• Beginner-friendly macros you record once and reuse forever

• Automated workflows that handle your most repetitive tasks so you can focus on work that actually matters

Over one million people have already taken it. The ones who haven’t are still manually reformatting columns.

👉 Save your spot for free.

STAFF PICKS

📚 Read: God Has a Name: What You Believe About God Will Shape Who You Become by John Mark Comer

Thania loves spiritual reads, and this one is perfect if you’re dabbling with Christianity, a curious atheist, or just hungry for knowledge. The core premise is simple but powerful: what you believe about God shapes who you become, and the book challenges a lot of the lazy, inherited ideas carried around.

📺 Watch: The House of Flowers (Netflix)

If you’re trying to practice your Spanish (or finally commit to learning), this modern telenovela is high-quality, funny, and weirdly sweet. Think lovable characters, all centered around a family-run flower business. It’s dramatica pero in a good funny way.

🎧 Listen: Is It Lovebombing? Or Were They Genuinely Interested? by The Sabrina Zohar Show

A super useful listen if you’ve ever found yourself asking, “Is this real… or is this manipulation with better branding?” It breaks down common love bombing patterns, why stable connection can feel “boring” at first, and how to stay grounded when the attention feels intoxicating.

BURNOUT & ALIGNMENT

The Exhaustion That a Vacation Won’t Fix

You took the PTO. You slept in. You did the thing everyone says to do.

And you came back to your inbox feeling exactly the same.

Here’s what nobody talks about: there are two very different kinds of tired. One comes from doing too much. The other comes from spending too much time on work that doesn’t fit how you’re actually wired. Rest fixes the first one. The second one needs something else entirely.

Pigment is a self-discovery assessment that maps exactly that gap. We use it here at The Assist, and it’s awesome. It breaks down how you process information, where you naturally create value, and which kinds of work fill you up versus which ones quietly hollow you out over time.

What makes it useful:

• It separates capability from energy. You can be great at something and still be drained by it. Pigment shows you the difference.

• It gives you language. For conversations with your manager, for restructuring your role, for knowing what to say yes and no to.

• It works for teams too. If you manage people, it reframes the “they’re just not motivated” conversation into something you can actually act on.

If you’ve been running on fumes and can’t figure out why, the answer might not be more rest. It might be a clearer picture of how you actually work best.

👉 Take the Pigment assessment here.

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 Kia

Kia talks when she wants to go for walks. Also when she needs something she really talks and yells (as huskies do). Kia likes to go for car rides, long walks in the park, and she often gets hit with the zoomies in the backyard on summer days.

🐾 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.

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

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