Click the image for the punchline ☝️.
✅ Today’s Checklist:
- The mindset shift that separates directors from managers
- Is there really a great millennial career crisis?
- Capacity setting that makes you look strategic
- Steak night, improved
📅 Next Tues 1/27: If you can explain an idea, you can build an AI agent. Join Agent.ai for a free live, no-code workshop made for The Assist fam.
QUICK LINKS
🛠️ What top teams are using to hire faster + better.
💻 CES’s new dual-screen laptop for anyone who lives in 27 tabs at once.
👻 Ghost growth is the workplace trend quietly stealing your time and your next promotion.
🧘♀️ The 70-20-10 rule can help you stress less and feel more in control.
CAREER GROWTH
Key Traits to Embody a Director Mindset
Takeaways:
- Before meetings, identify the key decision you’re driving. A quick 3-minute prep shifts you from participant to decision-maker.
- Speak in outcomes, not updates. Instead of “We’ve been testing messaging,” say “We’ve seen a 14% lift, so I recommend rolling it out regionally.”
- Always close the loop. Send a short recap like: Decision made, next step, owner. Clear follow-through is what builds leadership trust.
EMPLOYEE APPRECIATION
A Thoughtful Team Surprise, Minus the Planning
Your team has been carrying a lot lately. Not just the work, but the late Slacks, constant context switching, and endless “can you just…” requests.
When it’s time to show appreciation, the last thing you need is another mini-project. Chasing addresses. Guessing preferences. Hoping it doesn’t feel generic.
Goody makes appreciation simple without making it impersonal. You can send something thoughtful in minutes, without collecting sizes, dietary needs, or shipping details. People choose what they want, and you still get it right.
From food and books to experiences and gift cards, the options feel personal and flexible, whether you’re marking a big win or just acknowledging extra effort.
If appreciation keeps getting pushed to “later,” Goody removes the friction without removing the meaning.
Explore Goody here and make appreciation easier to follow through on.
CAREER RECKONING
The Great Millennial Career Crisis
Takeaways:
- Millennials were promised stability if they followed the rules: college, career, house, kids. But the traditional playbook is broken, and the payoff? Not what was advertised.
- This generation isn’t lazy. They’ve endured a recession, student debt, disappearing industries, and constant reinvention. The burnout is real, and so is the disillusionment.
- More and more are rewriting the script. Choosing freedom over hustle, fulfillment over titles. If you’re questioning your path, you’re not behind or alone.
COMMUNICATION
5 Ways to Say You’re at Capacity While Looking Strategic
Takeaways:
- Strategic language signals leadership. Instead of saying “I’m at capacity,” try: “I’m prioritizing X and Y. If this is more urgent, what should I deprioritize?”
- Protecting your time doesn’t mean blocking progress. Try: “I want to give this the attention it deserves. Can we revisit after [date] or loop someone else in?” It positions you as quality-focused, not unavailable.
- Transparency beats overwhelm. Listing your top 3 priorities and asking where the new task ranks shows clarity and is the difference between being busy and being strategic.
PERSONALIZED HEALTH MANAGEMENT
Weight Loss That Actually Works for Real Life
Weight Loss by Hers¹ makes clinical support more accessible—no inflated pricing, no months-long waitlists. Plans start at just $69/month*, so you can start seeing progress without the financial stress.
On average, customers lose 11.1 lbs in the first two months².
If a medical provider determines prescription treatment is right for you, your plan may include:
- 🍽️ Personalized meal plans and easy recipes
- 🏃 Movement guides that fit your routine
- 😴 Sleep support to recharge your body
- 👩⚕️ Ongoing care from licensed providers (not just a one-time consult)
It’s affordable. It’s science-backed. And it’s built for your life, not someone else’s idea of “discipline.”
¹Disclaimer: Compounded drug products are not approved or evaluated for safety, effectiveness, or quality by the FDA. Prescription required.
²Disclaimer: Based on self-reported data from approximately 1525 Hers customers on a personalized treatment plan including compounded GLP-1 injections, along with a reduced calorie diet and exercise. Customers reported their weight at their initial medical consultation and check-in approximately 2 months later.
Not available in all 50 states. Weight Loss by Hers is a holistic program that includes nutrition support, technological tools, and medications prescribed based on what your provider determines is medically appropriate and necessary for you. See website for full details, important safety information, and restrictions, including online provider consultation requirements.
*Paid upfront in full. Actual price to customer will depend on product and subscription plan purchase.
KITCHEN HACKS
An Easy Upgrade for Your Next Tenderloin Night
Takeaways:
- Use a mason jar to help you cut a large tenderloin into equal fillets. Take the same mason jar and fill it with 1 tbsp melted butter, 4 oz of beef broth, and 4oz of red wine. Then transfer it to a cocktail mixer, and shake.
- Pour the mixture into 4 shot glasses. Take some sautéed mushrooms and 1 tsp of garlic, and place into each of the shot glasses.
- Prepare the fillets by rolling them into a salt and pepper mixture. Add an incision 3/4 through to create a pocket to insert the shot glasses. Slide the fillet on top of the shot glasses, then bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes. Take out the shot glasses and put some mashed potatoes into the created pocket. Voila! You’ve got juicy steaks with a wonderful sauce.
STAFF PICKS
Stuff We’re Loving This Week
🎥 Skip the burnout—get pro videos + a free strategy call.
📆 IN 1 WEEK: Join Scott Galloway and Section to learn the new AI marketing playbook on 1/29. RSVP free.
🤖 Mindstream makes AI easy to understand and actually useful, with clear takeaways you can apply in minutes.
🧠 A low-lift way to compare employee engagement survey tools that actually fit.
COMMUNITY
Upcoming Events
- Thurs 1/22 @ 10AM PT: Invisible to Irreplaceable: Personal Branding for Women Leaders (SGS Only* | Join the waitlist)
- Fri 1/23 @ 10 AM PT: Idea to Automation—Turning Concepts into Workflows (SGS Only* | Join the waitlist)
- Tues 1/27 @ 11AM PT: Agent.ai Workshop
* 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.
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