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

Ikea continues to infiltrate our homes with its newest storage solution. The name may make you think of the leaves of the truffula tree, but it’s just a Lazy Susan tray for your fridge.

Discover amazing nature spots right near you with the Chimani app, which helps users track their way through America’s national and state parks. (It will also give you some perspective on what we stand to lose in the climate crisis.)

Get a career reset with expert-backed advice that didn’t come from a LinkedIn jargon generator, courtesy of this article from The Atlantic.

“That is really what unifies all Latinos. It’s not our language or our country of origin. It’s our desire to progress—to fulfill the American dream and go forward.”

Claudia Romo Edelman is a Mexican Swiss diplomat, marketer, activist, and author with more than 25 years of experience leading advocacy initiatives for organizations including UNICEF, the Global Fund, the United Nations, and the World Economic Forum. She is the founder of the Hispanic Star nonprofit for Hispanic progress and We Are All Human, a foundation that advances equity, diversity, and inclusion.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Kickoff: I’m a planner, and I’m pretty obsessed with quotas. I make a yearly plan and then revise it on a quarterly and monthly basis for my personal life. [I include] things I want to achieve, what I want to change, and things that are important to me. I work out six days a week for about 55 minutes to an hour. I have breakfast with my kids six days a week and dinner four times a week. I drive them to school every day, and as soon as I drop them off at 8:15am, I start taking calls. And I see people for lunch meetings three times a week. Usually they are people who are either going to expand my horizons [with] a different perspective, or people who I’d like to learn from to advance [my plans].

The not-so-average average day: I devote 80% of my working time to the We Are All Human Foundation and Hispanic Star. And what we’re trying to do is not small—we’re trying to literally accelerate the progress of Hispanics and make people understand that Hispanic progress is American progress. I spend a lot of time understanding the market and recognizing gaps, like that there are few children’s books with biographies of Latinos for Latinos. So, we put a concept forward with Macmillan, and [we published our first Hispanic biographies]. Part of my routine is to break down big dreams into tasks that are breakable and measurable, and bring stakeholders along that can help.

On galvanizing support: Everybody has their own talents and their own strengths. I think mine is to galvanize a collective desire and project it as a dream that people can be part of. That means creating shared goals and shared agendas. What motivates me is the ability to create change for so many people. In this case, it’s making sure that every Hispanic is seen, heard, and valued—and that we have equal opportunities so we can progress. That is really what unifies all Latinos. It’s not our language or our country of origin. It’s our desire to progress—to fulfill the American dream and go forward.

On becoming a children’s author: Only about 5% of children’s books have Hispanic characters. Between 70% and 80% of authors and editors are non-Latinos. So, it was natural to see that we needed to create those stories about the role models and heroes that can inspire every kid. [We started] two books out of six in this contract—one on Roberto Clemente and another on Celia Cruz. By the end of next year, we hope to see every school, every library, and every company giving these as gifts so Latino children can have access to their own heroes.

Facing challenges: My mother [taught me] fear cannot [rule] your decisions. So every time I find obstacles, even within the community where I feel resistance, I think back to [my mom] and [tell myself] to transform it into action.

Hope for the future: I think it’s possible that we can become the last generation of Latinos to face discrimination, racism, and [economic disparity]. We are going to be able to see the next generation be fully paid, fully respected, and fully seen. In the next five years, I would love the Hispanic Star logo to be what the rainbow is for the LGBTQ+ community. When it’s Hispanic Heritage Month, I would like to be able to walk the streets in Soho where I live and see it hanging in the windows and on T-shirts.—SS

Your punch list for when you punch out.

Read: While the Great Resignation prompted some to quit their jobs for a career of their dreams, the workers left behind became increasingly overworked and exhausted. Learn more about the current employee satisfaction crisis, and the employees most affected by it, from this Vox article.

Watch: Get geared up for HBO’s Emmy-winning series The White Lotus, which is back for season two this October. The new chapter takes place in Sicily and brings season one standout Jennifer Coolidge front and center.

Drink: Instead of giving up margaritas as fall skies settle in, try a sweater weather twist. This apple cider margarita recipe offers the best of both seasons with cinnamon, tequila, and (of course) apples.

Comin’ in hot: Morning Brew presents Strategy for Creators—a 1-week virtual course hosted by our very own co-founder, Alex Lieberman, and featuring a lineup of expert guests you won’t want to miss. The course launches October 17 and spots are filling up fast. Register now!

No amount of fancy-pants Moleskine planners or genius productivity hacks will make any human being perfect. And that’s why we need to find balance. How do we stay upright when life pulls us in a million different directions? While there’s no one-size-fits-all approach—everyone has different priorities and responsibilities, after all—we’re here to tell you about seven habits to balance your time, mental health, and personal goals. Because as life often reminds us, we’re no good to anyone else if we don’t help ourselves first.

Burning questions of our time.

The referral tightrope:

It’s a familiar scenario: You get a great new job, your friends and family congratulate you, someone asks what the salary is, and then someone says, “You should get me a job there.” But giving a job referral for loved ones can be problematic. While you may want to help a cousin who’s just been laid off (and possibly secure a hiring bonus for yourself), do your due diligence first. What’s their work ethic like? Do they have the chops for the role? Will they bow out gracefully when the time comes? Take this Twitter thread as a cautionary tale—you might be the one who has to fire your own referral down the line. So, should you feel obligated to help friends and family get jobs at your company? Under what circumstances would you take the risk and give a personal recommendation? If you decided it wasn’t worth it, what would you say to that person? Hit Reply and let us know in the Inbox!—SS

And now, your thoughts on the cost of remote work:

“That’s a total scam. The company is saving a bunch of cash through remote employees—think real estate costs, utility bills, office supplies, furniture, etc. It’s really not right to try to penalize the employee for this.”—Dagmar

“I already took a lower job offer by 5–10k to take a fully remote option, so if they gave me a pay cut, I would leave!”—Rachel