OG Tuesday Issue #216

The Assist Newsletter
November 11, 2024
Illustration of a hand making a finger heart gesture, with text in bold pink font: 'I am constantly growing and evolving into my best self,' symbolizing self-love and personal growth.

Today’s Checklist: 

  • Nail your next presentation’s timing
  • Reclaim control of your growing to-do list
  • Wise words from TA reader Sar

🤔 Riddle me this: What is the difference between a cat and a comma? (Find the answer on the bottom).

🗓️ Save the date: Join us this Thurs 11/14 at 11am PT/2pm ET for holiday gifting tips that’ll help you wrap it all up in a day.

QUICK LINKS

🧞‍♂️ Wish granted: Plan your presentation in one hour or less.

🧠 Maybe you can remember everything…if you use a mind map.

🎓 A student at Columbia shares inspiring reflections about the career ‘game.’

📺 The newest workplace mockumentary to get you laughing at the ways we work.

PRODUCTIVITY

Minimalist illustration of two people in a workspace discussing a large display with charts and checkmarks, symbolizing teamwork and project management.

Masterfully timing a presentation

 

You knew how much time the itinerary allocated for your presentation. You outlined your key points, meticulously. You polished your slides until they gleamed.

But somehow, despite all the effort you invested in the presentation, the delivery didn’t go as smoothly as you’d hoped. After what felt like just a few minutes, your time was almost up…and then you rushed.

Things happen, of course, but you just know it could have gone soooo much better.

“Time doesn’t just fly when you’re giving a talk, it WARPS,” says professional speaker, coach, and trainer Lauren Sergy in her guide to getting your presentation timing right.

In her YouTube video on the topic, she shares her favorite tips for timing a presentation and optimizing impact.

“Getting your timing down is a matter of planning and practice.”

Planning steps:

  • Break your presentation into all its different components
  • For each component, pinpoint…
    • The main topic
  • For each main topic, pinpoint…
    • All the subtopics or supporting points
  • After you’ve outlined the components, make note of roughly how much time you’ll need to communicate each section

“I call this ‘Time Budgeting’ because, well, time—like money—is limited, and you need to budget it just like you need to budget your money,” Lauren says. “Otherwise, you get to the end of the money before the end of the month. You get to the end of the presentation before you get to the end of the content. It’s the same sort of problem.”

Lauren starts her planning process by…

  • Saving 25% of her overall time for Q&A
  • Saving 2 – 5 minutes for the introduction
  • Saving 2 – 5 minutes for the conclusion

“I take those out of the equation right away. I can’t mess with that part of the time budget,” she explains. “Then I distribute the remaining time between each segment within the body of my presentation.”

Practicing steps:

  • Set a timer
    • But try not to look at it
  • Improvise your way through a complete dry run
    • But try not to look at your notes
  • When you’re finished, you may check your timer
  • If you’re under or close to the allocated time…
    • Give yourself a pat on the back
    • But also repeat these practice steps until you feel comfortable and confident
  • Over or under time?
    • Take a time out
    • Review your presentation content
    • Cut just a few sections / or / Add just a few sections
      • Try to be conservative
      • Looking at only a few sections at a time may be tedious, but it prevents overdoing it and fundamentally disrupting your original structure
    • Repeat practice steps until you start consistently hitting your time

HOLIDAYS

Say Goodbye to Corporate Gifts that Suck

 

Corporate gifting usually falls somewhere between a snooze and a yawn 😴. Another pen? Thanks, I guess?

Enter Swag.com, the platform that’s here to blow up everything you thought you knew about swag. Imagine gifting that’s so good, people actually want to use it.

 Here’s why Swag.com isn’t your grandma’s corporate gifting service:

  • Customization that Pops: Your logo on everything from socks to cold brewers—classy, not cringey.
  • Top-Shelf Goodies Only: No junk here. Every item is chosen to make you look like the gifting genius you are.
  • No Bulk Headaches: Whether you need 500 branded tumblers or just one luxe tote, they’ll handle it. Like, all of it. From storage to shipping. You’re welcome.
  • Warehouse Wizards: They store, they ship, they do the heavy lifting so your office isn’t drowning in boxes.

⭐️ Take a look at some of the all-stars:

  • Asobu 34 Oz. Cold Brew: For the coffee fiends who think a French press is basic. Brew it cold, drink it cool, love it forever.
  • Pebble Carabiner Power Bank: Power up anywhere, anytime. Never be that person with the dreaded “1%” again.
  • Simple Modern 24 Oz. Tumbler: Keeps your coffee hot and your iced tea cold, because lukewarm is for amateurs.
  • Swag.com Socks: Cozy, customizable, and a walking advertisement for your brand. Socks with personality!
  • Monterey Tote Bag: Perfect for the beach, the gym, or just hauling around all your secrets.

Ditch the lame corporate gifts and check out Swag.com.

BIGGEST CHALLENGE

Illustration of a woman pouring water from a watering can onto her head, surrounded by a to-do list and a cup with a checkmark, representing self-care and growth amidst daily tasks.

Wrangling a ‘self-proliferating’ to-do list

 

One TA Subscriber feels trapped by an endlessly growing to-do list: My biggest challenge right now is staying organized while juggling multiple projects and the day-to-day responsibilities of my job. I feel like I check one thing off the list only to add five more.

Way back in the 400 BCEs, Socrates earned a reputation for being a really good teacher. His go-to method involved asking really good questions to guide students to think critically and arrive at their own insights and solutions.

How is this relevant to the challenge at hand?

We hope the questions below, courtesy of the Corporation for a Skilled Workforce (CSW), will help you find a solution that is specific to your needs and simple enough to remember without adding to your already overgrown list.

  • Does this need to be done AT ALL?
  • Does this need to be done BY ME?
  • Does this need to be done NOW?
  • Does this need to be done MAXIMALLY or MINIMALLY?

Read CSW’s full post for more helpful details and tips.

TOOL TIME

Illustration of a laptop with a digital to-do list on screen, surrounded by flying sticky notes and paper, capturing the chaotic feel of a busy workday.

Still Overwhelmed? Try These Tools to Tame Your To-Do List

 

Ready to turn those Socratic questions into action? These top tools can help you filter, prioritize, and finally feel in control of your endless to-do list. Here’s how each can serve your unique needs:

Todoist

  • Use if: You’re a minimalist (or at least aiming for it) who hates clutter.
  • Pro-tip: Tag tasks as “Immediate” or “Optional,” and let the “Next 7 Days” view keep you focused. The “Karma” feature tracks your productivity patterns, helping you find your prime time for the big stuff.

Wrike

  • Use if: You’re managing a team and holding back chaos with one hand.
  • Pro-tip: Make Gantt charts to see your timelines and spot issues before they implode. Wrike’s “My To-Do” dashboard keeps priorities at your fingertips, and integrations with Microsoft Teams and Zoom mean fewer “Are we aligned?” meetings.

monday.com

  • Use if: You’re balancing a thousand projects and need eyes everywhere.
  • Pro-tip: Set up custom boards like “Needs Me” and “Needs Now” for instant clarity. Automate reminders and sync with Slack, Google Calendar, and Excel to keep deadlines straight—no more “Where’s my next meeting?” panic.

Zoho

  • Use if: You want reports that make you feel like a project-management rockstar.
  • Pro-tip: Timesheets help you see where the day went, and analytics show you what’s draining time. Zoho’s milestone tracker gives you progress updates that feel like real wins, not just endless boxes to check.

Evernote

  • Use if: Your notes, ideas, and to-dos are scattered like confetti.
  • Pro-tip: Evernote’s notebooks sort everything from random thoughts to must-dos. The powerful search means you can dig up that one brilliant idea you had last month without losing your mind.

Try one (or mix a few!) and finally tame that to-do list with less dread and way more done.

SUBSCRIBER SPOTLIGHT

You are not a tree…

 

“If you’re not getting the respect you deserve at work, remember you’re not a tree — you can move.” — Sar Clem, Head of HR

⭐️ Share your best career advice here so we can share it in a future newsletter.

STAFF PICKS

Stuff We’re Loving This Week

 

🕯️ We found the perfect decor idea for Harry Potter fans.

📖 The Next Mrs. Parrish is the thriller our community can’t stop raving about.

💃 The comfiest period panties you’ll ever own.

✈️ Navan is the go-to platform for seamless business travel and expense management.

JUST FOR FUN

A white dog sitting with towels wrapped around its body and head, resembling a spa day look, on a pink background. The text at the bottom says, 'snap a pic of your pet.' The scene is playful and charming, capturing a cozy, pampered pet vibe.

SPILL THE TEA

Before you go…

 

🚨 Open Jobs: Visit our job board here.

⭐️ Answer to the riddle.

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

👀 Want to see if your company is a good fit for our 100k+ ambitious readers? Join our Sponsor Waitlist here.

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