A&B #123

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👋 Hey everyone,

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📚 Book Summary:

This week's book is How To Make Work Not Suck by Carina Maggar.

This book is a fun and short book (160 pages), that shares advice on how to deal with the many obstacles young adults face when they get their first job.

Here are a few short key lessons from the book:

1) Everyone Is Winging It

Everyone's making it up as they go along. You don't have to have all the answers to do a good job.

If you're suffering from imposter syndrome or feel out of your depth, know you're not the only one crying in the bathroom at lunchtime. It's really just a case of who's putting on the best performance.

2) You Are Your Own Greatest Investment

Whether it's some software, a gadget, a book or an online course, spending money on expanding your knowledge and skillset will never be wasted.

3) Assumption Is The Mother of All F*ckups

Ask, clarify, ask again.

Don't fall into the trap of nodding your head and pretending you've understood something when you haven't. It will come out, you will look silly and you will regret it.

4) Tips To Make Working From Home Better

Working from home can be a blessing but it can also be hard to be productive. Here are a few tips to help:

• Stretch often.

• Have a shower.

• Eat a nutritious breakfast.

• Create a welcoming workspace.

• Set your alarm for the same time every day.

• Get out of the house and go for an afternoon walk.

• Do something productive in the time you would've spent on your commute.

5) How to survive your first speaking scenario:

Public speaking is a very common fear, but the more you move up the corporate ladder, the more you'll have to do it. Here are some tips to survive your first talk:

• Take your time, pause often.

• Avoid filler words such as "like, uhm, you know, well, etc."

• Avoid coffee–nerves and caffeine are not a wise combination.

• Keep a glass or bottle of water so your throat doesn't get dry.

• Prep and test all the tech equipment before starting the presentation.

• Maintain eye contact with your audience–just look at one person at a time when speaking.

• Don't freak out if you mess up–most people are in their own heads and likely not fully paying attention to you anyway.

✅ Actionable Advice:

1) Tips to help you not lose your mind:

• Keep your desk tidy.

• Try not to eat lunch at your desk.

• Don't get involved in office drama.

• Try to remain clam if your lunch disappears from the fridge.

• Headphones are handy for drowning out the voices of people you hate.

• Stay hydrated (it's good for you and forces you to take bathroom breaks AKA time away from your computer).

2) Don't let the good ones get away:

• Stay in touch with former colleagues and old bosses. Keep track of what they're up to.

• Invite them for a coffee once in a while make use of their expertise.

• Just because they're from your past doesn't mean they can't help you in the future.

3) No job is worth your sanity:

• Chances are you'll have more jobs you hate than enjoy. Think of it as character building.

• However, when you start losing sleep and your physical or mental health begins to suffer, that's when you should consider looking for a new job.

📖 Reading Lesson:

10 most common problems every reader faces (and a solution to each one).

⭐️ Weekly Quote:

"What if, when it came to your reading and learning, you prioritized quality over quantity? What if you read the few great books deeply instead of briefly skimming all the new books? Your shelves might be emptier, but your brain and your life would be fuller."

From "The Daily Stoic" by Ryan Holiday.

Thank you for your support everyone, I'll see you next Sunday!

Read on,

Alex W.