✅ Today’s Checklist:
🤔 Riddle me this: You can’t touch it, but it controls what you touch next. What is it? (Find the answer on the bottom).
📜 Claude’s constitution is a fascinating peek into how AI makes decisions.
📈 This report makes the case for investing in women-led VC funds.
👩💼 First-time manager? Start here before your next 1:1.
💪 Becoming more assertive doesn’t mean being aggressive.
You finally get a break in your schedule. No meetings. No deadlines breathing down your neck.
The question is: now what?
If you’re like most high-performing women, your instinct might be to either (a) fill it with busywork or (b) freeze and scroll, guilt-tripping yourself the whole time. Neither is helping you.
Here’s what to do instead:
🧠 Get intentional: Think of open time like financial capital. The most successful knowledge workers treat time as something to invest, not just spend. That doesn’t mean you need to pack every second, but rather, plan ahead for what this time is for. Thinking time? Deep work? Rest? Pick a purpose.
📌 Block it off: Literally. Hold your free time like it’s a standing meeting…because it is! Call it “CEO time,” “deep work,” or “recalibration” and don’t let anyone (including yourself) hijack it.
💡 Use it for high-value, low-pressure work: Update your templates, research tools you’ve bookmarked, clean up that doc you’ve been avoiding. You’re still being productive without draining your brainpower. Need inspo? Here are 11 ways to spend office downtime from starting a journal to finally making that playlist.
😌 Or…take the break: We’re conditioned to believe that open time should be “earned.” But downtime is a productivity tool. It fuels creativity, prevents burnout, and ironically, helps you work smarter when you log back in.
Not sure where to start? Pick one of these:
Bonus tip: If the idea of free time makes you anxious, you’re not alone. But overloading your schedule as a coping mechanism isn’t the flex you think it is. Creating and protecting white space is a leadership skill. It signals you know what matters (and that includes you).
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A reader wrote to us with this biggest challenge: “Getting my manager to actually prioritize my career development.”
The short answer? You’ll probably have to prioritize it first.
Many managers say they support growth, but few will carve out time for it unless you take the lead. That means scheduling a separate meeting, not tacking it onto your weekly 1:1, and being clear about the purpose:
“I’d love to set aside time to talk about my career goals and how I can grow here. Would next week work for a 45-minute convo?”
Before that meeting, take time to reflect on three things:
Managers are more likely to support your growth if they see how it aligns with team objectives. For example, pitching a stretch project that builds your leadership skills and supports an upcoming initiative shows foresight (and value).
But what if they keep brushing you off?
That could be a signal of deeper issues. Some managers hold employees back—intentionally or not—because they’re insecure, overwhelmed, or simply not invested. If this sounds familiar, start documenting everything: your asks, their responses (or lack thereof), and missed opportunities. This gives you clarity and leverage if you need to escalate or explore other paths.
You can also expand your support system. Find a mentor in another department. Join cross-functional projects to raise your visibility. Seek feedback outside your manager.
It’s not always fair, but waiting for someone else to drive your growth will leave you stuck in place. Set the direction, share the plan, and invite your manager along. Whether they get on board or not, you’ll still be moving forward.
If paying your team across multiple countries means chasing vendors, double-checking taxes, and crossing your fingers every pay cycle, it’s time for a better way.
Multiplier lets you handle multi-country payroll in one streamlined platform. It’s accurate, compliant, and actually easy to use.
💸 With Multiplier, you can:
You’ll also get clear reporting, automatic adjustments for time off and expenses, and a better experience for your people.
Your team gets paid right. You get your time back.
“If they ask you to take an opportunity to work on a new project or task, say yes! This could be your chance to new roles, networking, development, learnings, and promotions. Don’t be afraid. You’ve got this.”
— Sam T. (Senior Finance Manager)
🧠 Lose weight (and keep it off) with a plan that’s rooted in psychology and built just for you.
💌 Your life’s already good on paper. This newsletter helps it feel that way, too.
💸 Gut check that offer before saying yes.
💔 When Breath Becomes Air is a gut-punch of a memoir you won’t forget.
👉 See all of July’s OG Tuesday Riddles.
✨ P.S. Want more inspiration and positivity to kick off your week? Sign up for our Motivational Monday texts (U.S. only).
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