Morning Brew - 😉 I don’t mean to brag

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

OK, so the Roomba is old news. But the j7 series comes with a bunch of cool new updates like improved mapping, object avoidance, and self-emptying functions that you can control on the app. If you can summon the energy to click Start on your phone, that is.

Taking advantage of your employee education benefits but stressed about paper formatting and citations? Essayist does the work for you, according to whatever academic style you need. (And if you don’t want to pay, Purdue Owl is a great resource!)

You can love what you do and feel fulfilled by your work, but dedicating every waking minute to the hustle is a recipe for burnout. Here’s how to reprioritize—even when you’ve got the dream job.

A head start on your hustle.

Self-promotion is tricky. Go about it the wrong way, and you can come off as arrogant or condescending. Do it right, and it becomes a critical skill for successful career management. So, how do you take the ick out of self-promotion?

Be useful: Identify ways to leverage your skill(s) that are helpful to others. If you’re an ace at Excel, save a coworker a ton of time and offer up your expertise. Know how to lead a great icebreaker? Volunteer to take the reins at the next awkward team social event.

This helps you make stronger connections with colleagues, build your reputation as an expert or specialist, and widen your impact in your company (or your entire industry).

Keep it cross-functional: Ask for opportunities that align with your skills, even (or especially!) if they are outside of your day-to-day duties. Talk to your boss, coworkers, and mentors. Find out if skills you may not use regularly at work could be helpful on another team’s project or initiative.

This helps you grow your influence, highlight your strengths, and become more valuable to your organization overall.

Explore: Volunteer outside of your company. Do some pro-bono accounting for a nonprofit if numbers are your thing. Offer in-kind graphic design services to a community theater or local charitable organization.

This expands your network, showcases your capabilities, and gives you access to new experiences and contacts.

In short, be genuine and authentic in your work endeavors. Whatever skills you have, combined with an approachable and respectful attitude, will take you far. You don’t have to be a cringe egomaniac to build your brand. (Fun fact: Egomaniacs almost always sabotage their own brands.) By sharing your talents and orienting your skills for maximum impact, you will become known for your strengths and build a reputation that will serve you well in the long run.—Karen Hebert-Maccaro, Morning Brew's Queen of the Eduverse

Tech tips and tricks.

Disclaimer: This Lifehack was inspired by true Sidekick events. Names have been withheld to protect the innocent.

If your company relies on Google Drive, let this be a warning: When an owner of some docs and folders leaves the company and their account is wiped, all the files they owned get wiped, too. To avoid this, create a Shared Drive in Google Workspace instead, so you can set multiple owners and protect your community files regardless of who comes and goes.

Open Drive and click Shared Drives in the menu on the left. Select New +, name your Drive, and hit Create. Add team members so they can access the files inside and assign permissions. Upload folders or drag existing files in your Drive to the Shared Drive to update permissions on those. You must have a Manager, Content manager, or Contributor designation to add or remove files. Now nothing will get lost in the ether. —SS

Burning questions of our time.

Remote work sacrifices:

In the latest attempt to bring employees back to the office, some companies are letting employees work remotely—in exchange for a pay cut.

As convenient as WFH can be—particularly for caregivers—there may be hidden downsides like fewer opportunities for promotions and raises or less visibility when special projects are assigned. While some employees feel these negative points make RTO preferable, others are fine with the potential career risks that come with remote work, believing the benefits far outweigh the cons.

What are you willing to give up to continue to work remotely? Are you open to lower pay or fewer opportunities for advancement to WFH in your bed home office? Share your thoughts in the inbox by hitting Reply to this email!—MW

And now, your thoughts on the Gen Z way:

“Gen X here. I cannot believe how much I’ve learned from Gen Z! I’ve been slogging away at work for years and never thought to question basic things like mental health care or PTO. I just accepted the status quo. I’m grateful that the younger generation is pushing the boundaries of what role work should play in our lives. They’ve got it right, and the employers who don’t get it should sit down.”—Heather

“I think Gen Z needs to wait their turn for the six-figure salary. I think ample PTO, flexible work, remote work, and other things should be available at the hiring date. I’m a ‘Zillennial’ and have about four years of experience. If I had been offered six figures when I interviewed, it would feel like there was less room to grow. To me it’s rewarding when I receive a raise—it feels like my hard work is being rewarded and valued. The money is nice, but it’s also important to learn to budget and live within your means.”—Tanner

Your punch list for when you punch out.

Read: Big industries like oil and gas actively contribute to declining air quality that damages the skin. Then, cosmetics companies use ingredients derived from fossil fuels to treat that damage. There’s lots to learn from this thoughtful newsletter about both sides, like how “slugging” and multi-step skincare routines contribute to climate disaster.

Watch: We love a good vacation, but we can’t deny that tourism brings about some troubling consequences. In the documentary The Tourist, revered primatologist and conservation expert Dr. Jane Goodall examines the darker side of travel and shares tips on how to vacation ethically.

Listen: If your location determines your mood, where should you go to feel the happiest? Listen to firsthand stories from people who moved for a better quality of life and get the lowdown on life in popular destinations on the No Stupid Questions podcast.

** A Note From Catch

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