✅ Today’s checklist:
- The business case for DEI
- How to find a good therapist
- Recipe of the week: healthy PSL ☕️
🤔 Trivia: Which video game company originally started as a card game maker in 1889? Find out.
QUICK LINKS
💻 Tech: How to get ChatGPT, Gemini, Midjourney, and more for life.
🗣️ Communication: Three ways to clearly explain your company’s strategy.
🧘♀️ Health: Is it spotting or a period?
💍 Weddings: I ditched my big bachelorette trip and decided to go alone.
INCLUSION
The Business Case For DEI
With many companies announcing cuts to DEI programs, it’s more important than ever to highlight the impact that diversity and inclusion have on company success.
This Global Diversity Awareness Month, we’re reminding everyone why investing in DEI is a smart move for both financial growth and creating a healthy workplace culture. Despite the trend of “quiet quitting” DEI initiatives, true leaders understand the value of keeping them strong.
Here’s how a solid DEI strategy can elevate your business:
- Boosts Financial Performance: Companies with diverse teams consistently outperform their peers. Diverse teams bring fresh perspectives, driving innovation and better decision-making, ultimately benefiting the bottom line.
- Increases Market Adaptability: Businesses that prioritize DEI are better positioned to respond to global market shifts. By reflecting the diversity of their customers internally, these companies adapt more quickly to changes and customer needs, enhancing competitiveness.
- Enhances Employee Engagement: An inclusive environment fosters a sense of belonging, which improves employee satisfaction, reduces turnover, and lowers hiring and training costs.
- Strengthens Brand Reputation: Companies known for strong DEI practices attract customers and talent who value inclusivity and ethical practices, leading to greater loyalty and easier recruitment.
- Helps Meet Legal Requirements: Proactive DEI efforts help companies comply with anti-discrimination laws, reducing the risk of legal issues and reputational damage.
How Leaders Can Champion DEI:
- Set Clear Goals: Define specific, measurable goals for your DEI efforts using the SMART framework.
- Educate and Train: Offer regular workshops and training sessions to ensure everyone understands the importance of diversity and knows how to contribute to an inclusive culture.
- Use Tech for Inclusivity: Tools like Ongig’s Text Analyzer help you create inclusive job postings, making sure your recruitment attracts diverse candidates.
HOLIDAY PLANNING
Time to Plan Your Holiday and Event Swag 🎁
Having managed close to $1M in swag budgets for marketing events, employee gifts, client gifts, and holiday gifting, I can tell you one thing: now is the time to start planning.
Whether you’re gearing up for the holiday season or prepping for upcoming conferences, early planning is crucial—vendors need extra lead time due to high demand.
Keep in mind:
- For Holiday Gifting: Plan now for personalized gifts that’ll stand out during the busiest time of year.
- For Events: High-quality or highly useful swag at conferences makes your brand memorable, but timing is everything—start early to avoid rush fees.
- Shipping & Delivery: Ensure you have updated addresses and allow for longer lead times.
Here are some of my go-tos when it comes to events:
- Branded socks (always a hit)
- EOS lip balm
- S’well tumbler
- Eye mask
- Power bank
And some trending holiday gifts:
Don’t wait—work with swag.com to create unforgettable, high-quality swag.
Joanna (TA Co-Founder)
MENTAL HEALTH
How to Find a Good Therapist
Finding a good therapist can feel like navigating the clearance rack at TJ Maxx in the dark 🤣. And if you’ve ever chosen a therapist who didn’t quite click, you know just how discouraging that experience can be.
It can shake your confidence and leave an unwelcome taste in your mouth, making the next step feel even more daunting. I’ve been there and learned some things along the way I’ve like to share with you to help you find a kick ass therapist.
Know Your Vibe
It’s important to get familiar with the different therapy modalities out there—cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), psychodynamic, humanistic, and plenty more. Each approach comes with its unique benefits, and understanding them will empower you as you choose one that resonates with your specific needs. Researching these modalities upfront can help you target the type of therapy that aligns best with your challenges, and personality.
Set Your Intentions
Start by reflecting on what you hope to get out of therapy. Are you looking to work through a specific issue, such as a major life transition or unresolved childhood trauma? Or are you simply in need of a supportive space to process the day-to-day stresses of life? Knowing your “why” will help you narrow your search and identify the type of therapist who can best support your goals.
Choose Your Format
Decide whether you want remote sessions from the comfort of your home, in-person meetings for that face-to-face connection, or a hybrid approach that combines both. Each format has its own advantages, so consider what feels most comfortable for you as you embark on this journey.
Utilize Resources
Once you’ve got a clear vision, it’s time to put on your detective hat. Websites like ZocDoc and Zencare are invaluable resources, allowing you to browse therapist profiles, read reviews, and even book introductory calls. And speaking of those intro calls, don’t be afraid to take full advantage! This is your chance to get a feel for the therapist’s personality, communication style, and approach. Here’s a list of questions to get you started:
- “How much experience do you have working with clients who share my concerns?”
- “What can I expect from our sessions, and what are your expectations of me as a client?”
- “How do we collaboratively set goals for my therapy?”
- “What’s your process for handling feedback?”
- “How do we determine when therapy comes to an end?”
You Might Not Get It Right The 1st Try
Don’t be afraid to switch therapists if the initial fit isn’t quite right. I know it can feel like a daunting task to have to explain your situation all over again, but many therapists are more than happy to collaborate and share notes with your next provider, making the transition as seamless as possible.
Ultimately, the key to finding a good therapist is a combination of self-awareness, persistence, and a willingness to step outside your comfort zone. It may take some trial and error, but I can assure you that the journey is worth it. Because when you find that perfect match, the impact on your mental health, your relationships, and your overall well-being can be truly life-changing.
Thania (TA Content Mgr.)
TOP EA TOOL
A Calendar That Actually Gets How Hard Your Job Is
Tired of fighting with calendars that weren’t made for you? Vimcal EA is the first calendar designed just for Executive Assistants—no more shoehorning your workflow into a tool that doesn’t fit.
Vimcal EA saves C-Suite EAs at companies like Dropbox, Kleiner Perkins, and Zapier over an hour a day. Imagine having auto-deleting holds, easy overlapping time zone conversions, separate tabs for each executive, and polls that don’t turn into email chaos. It’s everything you wish your current tool could do, but without the headache.
Finally, spend less time on tedious scheduling and more on the strategic work that moves the needle. Because you deserve tools that respect how crucial your role is.
STAFF PICKS
Stuff We’re Loving This Week
👜 Check out this perfect fall shoulder purse to complement your autumn outfits.
🏡 Add a touch of style with a floating house number that stands out.
🌿 Nourish your skin with this vitamin complex.
⏳ Read up on strategies to maximize productivity in Buy Back Your Time.
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
🚨 Job Ops: Visit our job board here.