Morning Brew - 😔 I messed up

Time-saving tools and products we’re really into rn.

You just got cozy in bed, and you’re dozing off when suddenly—crap! You realized you forgot to turn off the light. Invest in a GE smart plug, which syncs with Google Nest and Amazon Alexa products, and you won’t have to get up.

As our editor so eloquently put it: “Everyone has to do decks; God help us.” Use Pitch to make your next presentation as seamless and comprehensive as possible.

Burnt out but have no PTO left? If quitting is not an option, try setting boundaries and finding new meaning in your work, no matter how small.

To paraphrase a common sentiment, mistakes are part of being human. So unless you are extraterrestrial (and if you are, please reach out—would love to interview you for this column), you’ve made mistakes. In fact, you’ve probably made a lot of them.

So here’s what to do when you mess up at work:

First, take responsibility as soon as you realize you’ve made an error. This one seems simple enough but can be really, really hard to actually do. Your urge may be to try to sweep it under the rug or deny your involvement. Don’t! Embarrassment, shame, guilt, and pride can take over in these moments, and even a person who is normally quite ethical may be tempted to shirk responsibility. But no matter the mistake, it’s almost always best to admit it—and quickly.

Next, fix it if you can. This is also hard because sometimes you can’t fix the mistake the way you’d want to fix it. If you can make it right, though, prioritize doing that above all else. If it’s one of those “done and can’t be undone” situations, fixing it may mean apologizing, taking over any (extra) work that results from the mistake, and committing to not repeating the mistake.

Finally, move on. You’ve owned it, you’ve fixed as much as possible, and now it’s time to give yourself a break. No one is perfect. Mistakes happen, and while they do have consequences, they shouldn’t rule or ruin your life. It’s important to give yourself the grace you’d give others in these moments because beating yourself up endlessly doesn’t help anyone.

There’s a quote famously attributed to Nelson Mandela: “I never lose. I either win, or I learn.” So, the next time you don’t win, be sure to learn. The things that go wrong teach us more than those that go right. And after all, you are (likely) only human!—Karen Hebert-Maccaro, Morning Brew’s Queen of the Eduverse

Tech tips and tricks.

At some point in your work career, you’re going to encounter a word that has a diacritical mark. Whether you’re typing someone’s name (like my last name, which is actually “Sánchez”), or a word derived from French, you’ll need to use some special characters.

To add accents over letters on a Mac (á,ë,î,ō,ñ), press and hold the letter you want until a pop-up window appears. Then, just type the corresponding number for the letter with the special character…and that’s it.

Windows users can open the Character Map by clicking Start Menu and searching for “character map.” Find the character you want to use and click Copy, then paste it into the corresponding document. You’re all done! If you’re feeling like an overachiever, you could try memorizing the Alt Codes, but ain’t nobody got time for that.—SS

Burning questions of our time.

Going above and beyond at work:

We know you try to show up as your best self at work. But sometimes, things outside of your control—boring work projects, personal matters, or even work politics—can keep you from earning accolades and praise.

Recently, the phenomenon of not going above and beyond at work has been labeled “quiet quitting,” or decreasing your work output until you finally decide to quit. Critics have responded fiercely, saying that this new label just shames employees who are simply…doing their jobs.

Is doing your job and nothing more a bad thing? Or are employers wrong to expect their employees to go above and beyond on the regular? Share your thoughts by Replying to this email!—MW

And now, your thoughts on the complicated world of application portals:

“I agree 100% that online application portals and the ATS systems [applicant tracking systems] they utilize unfairly treat applicants. I don’t have a good alternative solution. The number of applicants [for] any one job opening are probably staggering, and there needs to be some type of filter. With that said, the work it takes to customize a résumé with what you hope are the right keywords in an effort to game the ATS is incredible. As someone actively looking for a new job, I’m becoming more and more selective with my outreach, and [I’m trying] to reach out to anyone I can find in HR/Recruiting in an effort to stand out.”—Neil

“I hope as companies adopt more strategic, structured approaches to hiring, the industry incorporates automation in ways that improve efficiency on both sides of the hiring process. It should be easier for candidates to connect with and apply to jobs that are relevant to them. Automation should help talent acquisition teams make important decisions more efficiently—but automated tools shouldn’t be making the important decisions for them.”—Trevor

Your punch list for when you punch out.

Read: The chaotic end of The Wendy Williams Show sure caught everyone by surprise, dinnit? This recent article from The Hollywood Reporter dives into the health issues and internal politics behind the show’s downfall.

Watch: The most recent episode of Netflix’s Untold series highlights Tim Donaghy, a former NBA referee who was caught gambling on his own games.

Follow: Archaeologist Annelise Baer gives the real tea on historical figures like Cleopatra, King Tut, and the fictional Indiana Jones on her popular TikTok account.

Learn: Does your company offer a stipend for continued learning? You might want to check, and if the answer is yes, definitely apply today for Morning Brew’s Leadership Accelerator course. Enhance your leadership skills and bring you and your team to the next level. Don’t wait—our September cohort is right around the corner!