Recently, I’ve noticed a lot of advice and controversial statements masquerading as the absolute truth on LinkedIn. We know this is a strategy that mainstream media, as well as social media like TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook have used for years.
But, I couldn’t help but ask, “Et tu LinkedIn?”
Don’t get me wrong, I think having a distinct viewpoint, opinions, and convictions is important as a leader, a Force Multiplier, and as an interesting human. But where is the line between clickbait posts when it comes to our careers, professional networking, and business connections?
Does it feel a little inauthentic to you, or is it just me?
When it comes to someone’s career or business, I just think there are too many nuances to be able to say, “This is the way this role, this salary, this company, this fill in the blank should be,” without more context and conversation. The way you see the world (and the choices you subsequently make) depends on your point of view, your goals, and experiences – which are unique to each person.
I understand this may sound hypocritical because I have a lot of ideas and opinions, and often dispense advice for a living!
But, I try to approach my work with extreme curiosity and an individualistic approach. I believe that it’s less helpful to be the “expert” and more beneficial to ask questions, to teach others how to think for themselves, how to research, how to question the status-quo, triangulate information and then make the best decision for themselves based on their goals and situation.
One size does not fit all.
What is right for me, may not be right for you, your business, or your career. And vice versa.
Yes, this does make decision-making, leadership, career pathing, and business building more difficult. There usually isn’t one “right” answer.
This is why I am so insistent that we, as leaders and Force Multipliers, spend more time on personal growth, stretching our thinking, decision-making frameworks, communication, behavioral psychology, and leadership… all those “soft skills”. Because those skills are what will serve you well no matter where you end up in your life or career.
Does this mean everything is relative? Maybe. But I would encourage you to question that too and come to your own conclusion.
Hit reply and let me know what you think. It’s through the exchange of different perspectives and conflicting ideas that we all grow!
– Hallie
P.S. Don’t get me wrong, I still generally like LinkedIn. Click here to connect!
On the Blog
Informational Interview: What’s It Like to Be a Chief of Staff to an Entrepreneur?
I recently had someone reach out to me as they consider the next steps in their career. He had an interest in the Chief of Staff career path. But, instead of just sending my responses to him, I figured I would share them here in case anyone else finds them useful. In addition, if you are trying to figure out your next career step, use this as inspiration! Don’t be afraid to reach out to someone who’s career you admire. Ask to meet for coffee. Send them a list of questions. You won’t get what you don’t ask for. So, just ask!
Weekly Top 5
- Owner Mode isn’t just for business owners. No matter what you do for work, you can adopt an owner’s mindset. Afterall, you are the CEO of YOU, Inc. “Being in Owner Mode means you refuse to be a passive participant.” Read more about the 6 things to know about Owner Mode at Contrarian Thinking.
- Did you know that in 2023, the corporate swag industry in the US and Canada grew for the third consecutive year to a record of $26.1B? Historically, promotional products have a solid ROI and as companies pivot to more premium products (think Stanley and Bose Speakers), the longevity of the item in the hands of consumers increases. Check out The Hustle’s article for more stats. And the next time you’re thinking about your marketing budget, maybe add some swag!
- 404 PAGE NOT FOUND. Yeah, seen that before? It usually means your website has a broken or “dead” link somewhere. Unfortunately, you usually only find out about it when you’re looking for something or when a frustrated reader/customer contacts you. Get ahead of your potential broken links with this broken link checker. It’s free and will save you future headaches!
- The Challenge: Begin a conversation with any question besides, “What do you do?”. The next time you’re at a networking event, start the conversation with any other question besides, “What do you do?” We are so much more than our jobs. And believe me, the person you’re talking to will be pleasantly surprised to talk about something other than their work. You’ll probably circle back around to it eventually, but we don’t always have to lead with our careers. Here are a few questions to try: “What was the last great trip that you took? What made it great?”, “What 3 people do you most like, admire, and respect and why?”, “What was the last thing you Googled?”, “What’s your biggest fear?”, “What moment in the past year have you been most proud of?”
- “Sometimes you have to step outside of the person you’ve been and remember the person you were meant to be. The person you want to be. The person you are.” —HG Wells. I always used to ask team members and coaching clients, “Who do you want to become?” But, I’ve come to realize that it is so much less about striving and seeking and trying to “become” someone or something and much more of an unbecoming. The more layers of ego, identity, external validation, and societal norms we let go of, the closer we get to who we are meant to be… because it’s actually who we already are. So, I’ll ask you this, “Who are you?”
Book of the Week: Private Equity
What’s it like to be the assistant to a hedge fund billionaire?
Carrie Sun breaks it down in her beautifully written and raw memoir, Private Equity. A book that I still think about months after reading.
You all know how much I respect and value the Executive Assistant, Chief of Staff, Personal Assistant, and Force Multiplier roles. This book was so familiar in so many ways (both from my own experiences and from all the stories that other assistants and Force Multipliers have shared with me over the years).
Here are just a few examples of Sun’s story that stood out to me:
- “Everyone will ask you why a math and finance dual degree from MIT, who graduated in three years, wants to be an assistant.”
- “About the position: I received no job description.”
- “Boone gives me diet tips although I have never asked him for any.”
- “He thought we would view this as a kind of promotion, as though Carbon were doing us a favor by giving us opportunities to get more and more involved. We viewed it as added responsibilities for which no one had any extra bandwidth.”
- “Goals for next year: a) Stop prioritizing my work over my mental and physical health. b) Speak-up – especially to Boone, even if it’s not what he wants to hear.”
- “The goalposts moved the next day.”
This was a fascinating read and I highly recommend it to any assistant, as well as any leader who wants to better understand the effects of their decisions and leadership (or lack thereof) on the culture, productivity, and well-being of their team.
This book brings to light so many of the underlying and overt challenges that assistants face, as well as offers a broader commentary on hustle culture and burnout.
It also reminds me how much work we still have to do to educate founders, leaders, HR professionals, and Executive Assistants on what a strong, respectful, productive, fulfilling, and impactful strategic business partnership looks like. I know it’s possible. I’ve seen it and it’s a beautiful thing!
If you liked this book, check out Sarah Jaffe’s book, Work Won’t Love You Back. Or, for a totally different vibe, read The World’s Worst Assistant by Sona Movsesian, assistant to Conan O’Brien.
