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It’s Time to ⚠️ BeReal ⚠️

How to let things go

Oh hey there. Today we’re talking about being ourselves, and nothing is more me than this: My favorite thing about Valentine’s Day being over is that the candy goes on sale. *Camera pans to me, surrounded by Dove chocolate heart wrappers, looking smug*

Friday vibes: Headed into the weekend like the anxiety-driven, iced coffee-fueled human that I am, I’m playing this on repeat to remind me that I’m exactly where I’m meant to be.

—Rod

In a World of Fake, BeReal

 question 
I pitched the idea of a company newsletter for one of our clients (WorkDaze was the inspiration! 🙂), and now I have to create a first draft to show them. Do you have any tips on how I can ensure effective communication for this project and for life in general?

 answer 
First, nothing makes me happier than knowing this newsletter is more than just an excuse for me to campaign for four-day work weeks and reminisce on Demi’s Camp Rock era. 🫶

Writing is a really personal endeavor. And that can be scary! “What if they think I’m weird?” “What if they don’t get my jokes?” “What if they hate my taste in music?” (lol yeah right).

But the more real you are in your communication efforts, the more people are going to hear you out. Some tips?

Be authentic 👊. Pretending you hate Christina Aguilera when you actually know the entire choreography to Genie in a Bottle is exhausting and stressful and will negatively impact your work in the long run. Take it from me, trying to be someone you’re not to blend in with everyone else is like taking the express train to burnout.

Keep it short and sweet 🍭. I’m the first to tell a two-minute story in 20, but I’m learning (thanks to my angel of an editor…hi Kinsey!) that shorter is better. If people don’t have the attention span to watch a 10-second TikTok, they’re not going to read your 55-page essay on ~company culture~.

Have some fun 🎉. Remember that starting a new project, especially something creative, should be fun! Have a joke you’re not sure people will get? Try it anyway. Even if it doesn’t land, you’ll learn something about your audience’s tastes.

Be patient 🕰️. Building anything from scratch takes time and patience. Your newsletter probably isn’t going to win a Pulitzer Prize after your first go, but as another Disney icon said once…it’s all about the climb.

🎶 Now It’s Time To Leave and Make It Alone 🎶

 question 
I recently gave notice at a job I’d been at for nearly a decade. My boss has been acting incredibly unprofessional and hostile towards me ever since I broke the news. I’m super excited about what’s next but also furious about how this all went down. Tell HR or let it go?

 answer 
You and your manager are not very *NSYNC about the future of your career—so it sounds like you made the right decision. Whether you’re at a company for a few months or a decade, you shouldn't be villainized for moving onto bigger and better things. A mature and caring manager will be happy for your next step, even though they’re losing a good employee.

So what to do in the case of your no good very bad manager? Usually I’m all for holding people accountable for their actions, but my answer to this one: nothing.

Let this one go and move on knowing good things are ahead for you in this new role. Your manager showed their true colors. Believe them the first time.

Got a Q for me to A? Submit yours here.

Things to Slack your work besties

…while you sip a crispy Diet Coke from Mickey D’s.

Besides my role of EVP of Procrastination, more-important-sounding titles are being handed out like those branded water bottles everyone gets on their first day of work. Wage loopholes, recruiting efforts, and company credibility, are all driving companies to offer bigger titles for smaller positions.

One time I was giving a presentation over Zoom and my desk chair broke in half…a Scarlet Takes a Tumble moment if you will. Still waiting to recover from the embarrassment, and so are these people. Email me your favorite work fail, so we can all be mis together.

Turns out that the iconic It’s Raining Teens 2003 Vanity Fair cover was a lot less fun than it looked! Hilary Duff and Lindsay Lohan confess just how stressful and awkward the day actually was. But hey, that’s showbiz baby!

Thanks for reading! Have a good week, and remember to grab the last of the candy hearts during your debaucherous Saturday morning Target run.

IDK WHAT DO I KNOW?! LMAO!

—Rod

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