#ThirstyThursday Issue #253

The Assist Newsletter
September 17, 2026
A large red apple appears beside a rounded text box containing the words, “MY FRIEND BROUGHT A SPREADSHEET TO THE ORCHARD.” Yellow patterned graphics fill the background.

Click the image for the punchline 👆.

✅ Today’s Checklist:

  • Think so clearly people think you’re a genius
  • Evaluate which tools to use for each task
  • How to answer salary expectations in an interview
  • Use Notion to organize your closet

🗓️ NEXT THURS 9/24 @ 9AM PT: A checklist for better AI answers, a system for ranking your week, a log that builds your raise case. One free hour. 3 AI Plays, save your seat.

QUICK LINKS

🚶🏻‍♀️Why your lymphatic system needs this viral walking trend.

📊 The best 360-degree feedback software, picked for how anonymous the reviews actually feel.

⚡ 72% say teams should write AI rules inside HQ’s guardrails.

🤖 Ethan Mollick’s AI guide says keep approvals on for anything that spends or sends.

PSYCHOLOGY

A man wearing glasses and a white shirt appears in a video frame. A graphic of a seated figure with red lightning symbols is shown on the left, with the word “Decision” near the bottom.

The Three Moves That Make a Hard Problem Feel Small

 

Takeaways:

  • Stop thinking harder and start thinking smaller. Working memory holds only a few variables at once, so split the problem into pieces, solve two or three factors at a time, then reassemble.
  • Treat overwhelm as triage. Ask which single constraint, once resolved, makes everything downstream easier, and sketch a quick dependency map to see what is actually blocking what.
  • Think in ranges instead of waiting for certainty. Name what you can confidently conclude with the information you have today, say out loud what you still do not know, and decide anyway.

Watch the full breakdown on YouTube.

THE DINNER EXPERIMENT

Several dishes of food and a bottle are arranged on a kitchen counter. Two people are holding plates, with a microwave and a green sign visible in the background.

 

I Love to Cook, But It’s the Deciding That Wrecks My Week

 

I grew up cooking in Lebanon, so I’m not someone who dreads the kitchen. The part that wears me down is the deciding. What are we eating, did I buy the thing, why is the fridge full and there’s still nothing for dinner.

So over the next few weeks I’m cooking my way through a few meal delivery services and writing up every one, so we can sort out which fits which kind of week.

First up: Green Chef. My son picked the Turkey Couscous, my daughter the Diavola Shrimp, and most nights we were eating about 20 minutes after I started.

It’s all in the review. Next one lands Saturday 💗.

👉 Read my full Green Chef review, including 50% off your first box with code ASSIST50STAUB.

— Kristel (TA Marketing)

MODEL MATCH

An infographic compares four AI models: Grok, Claude, ChatGPT, and Gemini. Each section includes text describing features and suggested uses.

Which AI Should You Use For Different Tasks?

 

Takeaways:

  • Use Claude Fable 5 to start complex tasks, then switch to Claude Opus-5 to continue working without the higher cost. For a strong first prompt, include the larger project, who it’s for, desired outcome, evidence required, boundaries, and a clear definition of when the task is done.
  • Match specialized tasks to the AI that handles them best: Grok 4.5 for searching X and current conversations, ChatGPT GPT-5.6 for creating and editing images, Gemini for multilingual work and analyzing YouTube content, and DeepSeek for open-source use cases and long-running AI agents.
  • The quality of the prompt still matters. For research, for example, tell the AI your role and industry, what developments or opportunities to find, how recent the information should be, how many sources you want, and that every claim needs to be cited with a link.

Read the full model breakdown on LinkedIn.

THE ASK

A smiling woman wearing glasses appears in a close-up video frame. Text over the image reads, “How to answer: ‘What are your salary expectations?’ in a job interview.”

Three Rules for the Salary Question You Will Get Asked

 

Takeaways:

  • Negotiate every time. Salary negotiation is a normal part of the hiring process, and advocating for a higher starting salary can have a lasting impact on how much you earn throughout your career.
  • Practice what you’re going to say before the conversation. Try to avoid giving the first number, but if you need to, come prepared with a well-researched range based on the role, market, and your experience. You can also negotiate again once you receive the actual offer.
  • Get comfortable with silence after asking for what you want. Don’t immediately soften your request with “I’m flexible” or “totally fine if not.” State your ask, stop talking, and give the recruiter or hiring manager space to respond.

Hear the explainer video on TikTok.

CLAIM SPEED

A hand holds a smartphone displaying a “Pet Claim” screen with an illustrated cat and the word “APPROVED.” A person, flowers, drinking glasses, and a table are visible in the background.

Filed in the Vet Parking Lot, Paid Before You Got Home

 

You know how this usually goes. Fax the invoice, wait for a reviewer, call to check the status, wait some more, and the bill sits on your credit card the whole time.

With Lemonade you file from your phone in the vet’s parking lot. Around half of eligible claims settle on the spot. Dublin’s cancer diagnosis came to $15,259 and $14,143 of it came back covered, filed the same simple way as Dot’s $632 visit for stranguria, which returned $426.

Coverage starts at $10/month and includes accidents, illness, hereditary and chronic conditions, surgery, hospitalization, diagnostics like X-rays and MRIs, and medication, at any licensed vet in the country.

👉 Price your pet’s coverage in 90 seconds.

CLOSET SYSTEM

A woman holds a small microphone and a book while speaking to the camera. Framed photographs and a floor lamp are visible behind her, with text overlaid across the image.

The Notion Setup That Ends the Morning Closet Stare

 

Takeaways:

  • Create a “Basic Wardrobe Essentials” page and organize your staples by tops, bottoms, outerwear, shoes, and accessories. Track what you already own, note colors and styles that work together, and flag gaps before you shop.
  • Build an “Outfit Ideas” gallery with photos or descriptions of complete looks. Tag outfits by season, occasion, and wardrobe pieces so you can quickly find something to wear instead of starting from scratch every morning.
  • Use Notion as a simple life planner alongside your wardrobe. Create a database for tasks, priorities, work, personal plans, and habits, then add reusable templates for things like weekly planning, packing lists, shopping lists, and seasonal wardrobe swaps.

Watch the TikTok.

STAFF PICKS

Stuff We’re Loving This Week

 

👉 Stay on top of major news while keeping your sanity intact with The DONUT, a free daily newsletter delivering smart, unbiased and enjoyable-to-read news in under 5 mins.

💵 Answer a few questions, then book a free video consult with an advisor matched to your life stage.

🐾 Stuff this rubber KONG toy with peanut butter and buy yourself twenty minutes of peace.

🔇 Turn down the world without tuning it out with Loop Switch 2 earplugs.

JUST FOR FUN

A social media post from Dr. Parik Patel, BA, CFA, ACCA Esq. displays text about workplace relationships and a reference to “vlookup.” A small profile photo and social media interface elements appear above the text.

COMMUNITY

📆 Upcoming Events

* 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.

💼 Browse our job board here.

SPILL THE TEA

Take Our Poll

TA Poll Weekender 253

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