New year, same me! I don’t have any lofty resolutions (and research says that most people have abandoned them by now anyway), but I do want to follow my own advice and focus on the relationships I’ve built. Recently, I was asked, What would you tell your 25-year-old self? I said, “Be intentional about cultivating your relationships. Have coffee dates. Write to the people you want to meet.” I think it’s applicable for people at any age. You have to be deliberate about building and caring for your tribe, and supporting the people around you.
That goes for your coworkers, your direct reports, your boss, and everyone in between. Managers often ask me how they can help their team feel more comfortable speaking up and contributing. Creating a psychologically safe culture, where people aren’t afraid to share ideas and feel that they can be their real selves at work, is the topic of my latest Refinery29 column and one that I think everyone needs to read, whether you’re a founder or a freelancer. Working together to eliminate toxic work behavior is core to the Nice Girl movement.
Encourage a peer to share an idea in a meeting; be aware of when people are feeling excluded or diminished; and speak up when you notice harmful behavior. Remember, we’re all in this world together. Treat your relationships as such.
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David Romanelli is on a mission to capture the heart, soul, and stories of Americans in their 80s, 90s, and beyond. In his book, Life Lessons from the Oldest and Wisest, he gives a voice to people who feel that they’ve lost it. He talks to a woman who first rode a horse and buggy and others who survived World War II and the Holocaust. Through these incredible stories and sage advice (like Chapter 12: Raise Kids Who Want to Spend Time With You Even When They’re All Grown Up), he reminds us to cherish our elders, be present, and listen (really listen) to what they have to say. It just might change your life.
Win it: The first three people to respond to this email will receive a free copy of David's new book!
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As The Wing secures their Series C, another startup gets off the ground: After realizing that 5 billion pounds of rugs and carpets go into landfills every year and are being sprayed with toxic chemicals, former Gilt Groupe buyer Sara Michelle Weaver started Loomy, a new rug brand focused on sustainable, ethical, eco-material handmade rugs. Bonus: Get 10% off any rug purchase with code FRIEND10.
The Pitch: I was thrilled to be on the judging panel at the WeTalks pitch competition and to crown Trialjectory the winner! Its founder is a cancer survivor who realized that there are more than 100,000 clinical trials with potentially life-saving treatments that most people don’t have access to. She is using AI to create a database that can quickly surface the right clinical trials for the cancer patient. Congrats, Tzvia—I can’t wait to see what’s to come.
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And, if you have a friend who would love to join our newsletter circle, tell them to sign up here. If you want a sample of my book, take a listen. And, as always, email me with ideas.
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