Don't leave your career to chance. Skill up with inspiring tips, tactics, and affirmations and become the creative, wise CEO of your life. One mail a week. Always free.
10 Micro-Tasks to Get Out of Grind Mode π
|
β Hey Reader - If you haven't heard, the lock in for grind mode is on. Long days are no surprise in Silicon Valley, but the kicker is that tech bros and gals are curbing after-hours habits so they can have peak productivity. Fort co-founder Miranda Nover summed it up as, "We're doing this six days a week in-office, we're working until 9 PM, we're not drinking, we're not partying, we don't do any of that." I suppose the "work hard/play harder" approach isn't what it used to be! You may not be gearing up for 70-hour work weeks, but everyone faces competing priorities and compressed deadlines. Building the muscle to face those situations isn't only about making your boss happy. It's backed up by the science of "executive function," which is how the brain focuses, manages, and organizes information. So, in the October series, Survive Grind Mode with People Skills, we'll discuss ways for you to pair executive function and people skills to power through tough sprints. Executive Function Improves with People SkillsColby Kultgen is challenging the "just work harder" mindset with a controversial idea: "Screw motivation." His solution? Start with tasks "you would feel stupid for not getting done." Are you worried that idea will keep you playing small? That's understandable. But here's why you want to take a second look: When you make quick work of little jobs using soft skill How tactics like shrewd decision making, creativity, and adaptability, you're improving executive function. So, if you're feeling so underwater that you don't know where to start, or you're spinning and cycling from one pile to another, try any or all of the micro-tasks. They all employ people skills, and have the silver lining of providing instant gratification: π Executing fundamental tasks well is essential to winning. So, build your reputation as the person who knows how to take consistent, impactful steps and keep projects and people moving in the right direction. Your superb executive function just may get you promoted. All the best, Michelle Mains β Keep the Soul Boss inspiration going!
|
Soul Boss Soft Skills
Don't leave your career to chance. Skill up with inspiring tips, tactics, and affirmations and become the creative, wise CEO of your life. One mail a week. Always free.
Hey Reader - This month weβve discussed how to pivot with purpose. Now that youβre on board with the concept of living on purpose, are you stumped about how to make it personal, fun, and juicy? Donβt rely on wishing and hoping. Harness AI to kickstart a blueprint filled with marketable skills. For instance: If youβre new to people skills: Iβm just getting started with people skills. Give me a sample list of skills + examples so I can discover my superpower. If youβre in the middle of a job...
Hey Reader - Curator Mary Savage had a simple idea: Showcase blue ribbon winners from American state fairs at the famous Smithsonian Institution. "State Fairs: Growing American Craft," which runs through September 7, 2026, features a diverse range of art, including woodworking, canning, and quilting. My personal favorite? The life-size butter cow. No kidding. You might look at some of the entries and think, Why in the world would someone devote time to that?! But here's what's interesting:...
Hey Reader - Missy Park had an a-ha moment in 1989: a mail-order business specializing in athletic attire specifically designed for women. Her goal was to help women feel confident on the playing field, and that meant rethinking clothing designs. She named her new venture "Title Nine" after the 1972 law enabling gender equality for women athletes. Soliciting funding would have been a natural first step. But Park decided to manage the business solely on the merit of its sales. Surviving...