Focus on what’s important to YOU. — Most people don’t have control over what happens between the hours of 9:00 am and 5:00 pm. An employer tells you what to do. You do those tasks. Clock in, clock out, right? If you let those eight hours define you, your employer is truly controlling your life. You’re living…

Yes, it’s hard work. And yes, I’ve learned a lot. — Countless articles talk about how having kids can be a career setback. Parents often find themselves passed over for promotions, struggling to work the required hours, or discriminated against. It’s easy for those without kids to say that a new parent’s “priorities have shifted,” and that’s what holds them back. …

Rather than feeling constrained, use time to your advantage. — Some freelancers are constantly in “feast or famine” mode. They’ll have plenty of work one day and be desperately trying to find more work the next. It’s cyclical — and a stressful way to make a living. Other freelancers have no shortage of work. They may not be any more…

You’ve already done the hard work. Let AI handle the rest. — I’m the first to admit: I’m skeptical about AI when it comes to writing. Probably because — as a writer — I have yet to see it come close to the type of work I do. But I’ll also admit that a lot of the work after creating a longform…

Work a lot. Or a little. As long as it’s up to you. — Money. Fancy title. Prestige. If you’re ambitious, these seem like the ultimate goals. That you’re so good at what you do that you’re paid well, promoted, and respected by your peers. Yet a lot of people reach the top, look around, and realize it wasn’t what they wanted. They’re not…

The right freelancer can play an invaluable role in a growing business. — Freelancers can be a great marketing resource for small and growing businesses. You may not need a full-time resource (yet!), so a freelancer can fill a specific need, whether it’s writing, design, or fractional strategy roles. Most of my clients are tech startups of varying sizes. Sometimes, I’m one of…

No one will look out for your goals except you — If you think an employer will look out for your career growth, you’re mistaken. That’s always been the case, but the pandemic and mass layoffs of the past few years have put this truth in the spotlight: you have to look out for yourself. I left the corporate world in…

Don’t expect employees to be “just like you” either. — I was a manager for many years and one of the worst mistakes I made was expecting others to be like me. I’d been a star employee before I became a manager. Responsive, organized, always going above and beyond. …

Learn how to propose a new role to your existing employer — Back in 2014, I became the product manager at a software company. Before I took on the role, it didn’t exist. I’d been with the company for several years by that point. And while I liked my job, I was (frankly) bored. Ready for something new? …