Published in Index·PinnedMember-onlyTreat Your Career Like a Portfolio, Not a ResumeLinear career paths are a thing of the past. — For generations, careers have been a ladder to climb. You start at the bottom, grab each rung, and pull yourself up until you reach the top. You might slip and fall back a bit (like a layoff) or skip a few rungs with a promotion. Or maybe you get stuck…Work5 min readWork5 min read
Published in Curious·PinnedMember-onlyThe Best Tools for Capturing Different Types of NotesFrom analog to digital notebooks — Find the best note-taking tool for your needs. — If you were to see my office, you’d be greeted by a pile of notebooks on my desk. And that would only represent what’s visible — I have another stash of virtual notebooks on my computer. But my notebook collection isn’t random. Each notebook has a very singular purpose. And…Notetaking6 min readNotetaking6 min read
Published in The Startup·5 days agoMember-onlyWin Clients Without PitchingCombine buyer psychology and realistic expectations. — It’s a natural instinct to “pitch” ourselves to new clients. Fancy deck. Lots of testimonials. A discovery call where you try to convince the prospective client that you’re the best person for the job. But is persuasion even the right approach? In the book The Win Without Pitching Manifesto, Blair…Freelancers6 min readFreelancers6 min read
Mar 19Member-onlyReflecting on the Nitty-Gritty of Pandemic ParentingWas there anything good or was it only bad and ugly? — Yesterday was my son’s 11th birthday. In 2020, this was exactly one week after the World Health Organization declared Covid-19 a global pandemic. Back in 2020, our schools had just shut down. In theory, it was only supposed to be a few weeks but I had a feeling it would…Pandemic Stories7 min readPandemic Stories7 min read
Mar 17Member-onlyWhat It Means to “Trust the System”Silicon Valley Bank, the financial industry, and how we move forward — When you’re driving, you have a reasonable assumption that other drivers will follow the rules. There are laws (like the speed limit and obeying traffic lights) and guidance (maybe not the best idea to speed up to pass when traffic is heavy). Sometimes people break the laws. Sometimes people take…Silicon Valley Bank10 min readSilicon Valley Bank10 min read
Mar 12Member-onlyWhat’s Going On? The Silicon Valley Bank Collapse vs. the 2008 Financial CrisisConfused? Here’s a simple (yet thorough!) explainer. — Ever heard the phrase “Explain it like I’m 5”? It means taking a complex topic and breaking it down into terms that a 5-year-old can understand. Over the past few days, I’ve watched a lot of commentators explain the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank. They’re talking about insured deposits, venture…Silicon Valley Bank16 min readSilicon Valley Bank16 min read
Published in The Startup·Mar 6Member-onlyPrepare for Freelance Life Before You Leave Your 9–5Set yourself up for success with these actionable tips. — The internet is filled with stories of people who abruptly leave a 9–5 job and embrace a solopreneur life. Maybe they were fed up. Or were laid off. But making a change like that can be scary — especially if you have a mortgage to pay and kids to feed…Solopreneur5 min readSolopreneur5 min read
Published in The Startup·Feb 13Member-only6 Ways to Market Yourself as a Freelancer (Without the Hard Sell)Don’t like cold pitching? You can still grow your business. — Making the leap to full-time freelance work can be scary. You may have a killer project management system, be comfortable with freelance finances, and know how to draft a contract for your services. But there is often a big unknown when you leave the 9–5 world: How will you land…Personal Brand6 min readPersonal Brand6 min read
Jan 27Member-onlyStop Publishing Garbage on the InternetI’m offended by crappy writing. — I didn’t plan to write today. I woke up and joked (in my brain, to myself) that I didn’t want to contribute to “garbage on the internet.” Even though this is my normal day to publish, I didn’t have anything that I thought was worth sharing. …Content Marketing4 min readContent Marketing4 min read
Published in Better Humans·Jan 25Member-only5 Ways to Prepare For Life’s Worst-Case ScenariosYou can’t prevent life’s difficult moments. But you can save yourself some time and stress. — My mom was an ultimate planner, and in all of her plans she’d say, “And in a worst-case scenario, here’s Plan B.” Of course, we were usually talking about things like, “What happens if it rains at this baseball game we’re planning to attend.” But still. …Planning7 min readPlanning7 min read
