🏢 Work Sucks, I know

We’ve all heard it in the workplace:
“Living the dream.”
“Can’t wait for Friday!”
“Maybe next year.”

Sound familiar?

Don’t settle for “just hanging in there”

This is the trap society set for us—work 40-50+ hours a week, complain about it, then maybe enjoy life after 65.

❌ Not today.

Honestly, we’re proud of you for your effort.  Don’t ever lose grip of the impact you can make.

But don’t expect “the boss” to pass this around like a compliment donation bin. 

You can take charge of your career and promote yourself.

You don’t have to stay stuck.

No one’s going to toot your horn for you 🎺
So here’s the truth:

• YOU have to show up.

• YOU have to speak up.

• YOU have to be proud of yourself.

Because throwing away 5 days just to enjoy 2? That’s a terrible deal. 🙅🏻‍♂️

Life is too short.

And hey, if you’re reading this, we think you’re pretty awesome! 🤩

Let’s do big things. ⛰️

🫳🏻 Do Or Do Not, There Is No Try

Look, we get it.  Some situations are unavoidable and we all have to make a living.

If you feel underpaid, overlooked, or undervalued, the only controllable factor is YOU. 🫵🏻

We can’t change how people ACT, but we can change how we REACT to them.

A little concerted effort to better your situation can compound dramatically over time. ⏳

Say you’re stuck wanting more pay from your current employer

Take control of your future. 🔓

Start with research:

• Check Indeed and Glassdoor for salary comparisons in your role.

• Look at LinkedIn job postings for pay ranges and responsibilities.

That’s your ammo for negotiation. And trust us, you deserve it 💪

🍮 Proof in the Pudding

Back in 2019, I (Adam) finished numerous engineering classes utilizing his employer’s tuition reimbursement package (totally worth it!) and spent 2 years as an engineering assistant. 📐

Then came to a shocking discovery: my pay was nearly 20% less than the industry average. 😱

In addition to courage, I gathered the evidence: market data, salary ranges, my own wins

The anxiety of approaching your superior to request a raise is daunting, no doubt about it. 😈

But you got this! 

I nervously walked into my manager’s office and…. Drumroll please! 🥁

Less than 30 seconds later, I walked out with a 10% raise. 📈

Pretty sure everyone reading this would enjoy that extra moolah in their pocket. 🐄

And that’s what we want for you.

It doesn’t always happen that fast. But if you never ask, you’ll never know. 🙋🏻‍♂️

It also makes me wonder, what if we stay dormant and just put our heads down, grinding to the bone, hoping someone will notice our hard work? 🦴

Don’t make that mistake.  Own your future.  Take control.  No one is coming to save you.

You’re capable of a lot more than you give yourself credit for. 🌟

🙏 Ask and You Shall Receive

Your boss might say, “Not in the budget” or “Maybe next year.”

Fine. But now they know you care, and that seed can grow 🌱.

Here’s the thing: most companies CAN afford to pay more.

But if you don’t ask, they won’t offer. 🤷🏻‍♂️

So do yourself a favor…

ASK!

⛔ Never Say Never

Vera Wang started fashion at 40. 👗
Samuel L. Jackson didn’t break out until 46.👨🏾‍🦲
Morgan Freeman at 52. 👨🏾‍🦳
Charles Flint founded IBM at 61. 🧔🏻‍♂️

It’s never too late to level up.  Maybe it’s a raise, a new skill, or a whole new career path.

The biggest regrets aren’t the risks people took. It’s the ones they didn’t. 🫣

So go ahead, shoot your shot at work, your hobby or towards that cute guy in the grocery store.

Living with regret sounds like the worst thing imaginable. 😵

Going home after work just to sit around and do nothing but watch TV… Not B.A.

Pursuing your dreams day by day and looking back with full gratification… Now That’s B.A.

Keep reaching. Keep asking. Keep promoting yourself.

Who knows, you might just end up living the dream for real 💭

Someone That’s B.A. 👩🏼‍🏫

MADELINE MANN | Career Strategist | Author | Job Shopping Method Creator

She has spun her insider knowledge of the hiring process into an award-winning career coaching empire, called Self Made Millennial, where she has helped millions of people improve their career outlook.

Through her platforms and coaching, Mann works to turn job seekers into Job Shoppers, enabling any professional to land high-paying job offers, with many landing roles at competitive Fortune 500 companies.

With an abundance of free resources and tutuorials, she is a wonderful place to start your journey to a better future!

Something That’s B.A. 🥤

Owala 24 oz. FreeSip Stainless Steel Water Bottle

I was baffled at how simplistic the bottle works while staying completely leak proof. Whether you’re a straw sipper or tilt gulper this couldn’t be easier to wet your whistle.

Legend has it the top is reminiscent of a koala nose and they make you feel cuter than the tiny marsupial with this supportive slogan

“It is engineered to make it ridiculously easy to stay hydrated. Because we believe that a properly hydrated human is a happy human. And happy humans tend to spend more time doing what they love.”

Inspirational Quote 👑

"It has always been easy to hate and destroy. To build and to cherish is much more difficult." - Queen Elizabeth II