Morning Brew - ☹️ FOMO

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

These JLab wireless earbuds cost 25 bucks (that’s $175 less than the Beats Fit Pro Kim K Special Edition earbuds) and come in seven signature shades. Reviewers say they sound great, and they’re durable enough to survive an accidental spin through the washing machine. OK!

Whether you want to make sure you have enough reading material to get through a transatlantic flight, or you’re craving a speedy mystery, check out Howlongtoread.com to find the right book at the right time.

Your CEO just really feels like true collaboration only happens in an IRL office, she says on Zoom from her home office. Vox reported that bosses are mandating RTO for employees—but for themselves? Not so much. Nothing inspires collaboration like hypocrisy!

What’s top of mind at the watercooler.

Does it seem like your peers are all getting new jobs and raises and promotions, but you’re stuck in the same place? As you move through your career, you may find yourself a step behind, even while you’re reaching for the same milestones. But there’s no need to let career FOMO take over. To find out how to keep a positive mindset and cancel comparisons, Sidekick spoke with Dr. Anisha Patel-Dunn, psychiatrist and chief medical officer at LifeStance Health, and Chantal Pierrat, founder of two leadership orgs, Emerging Human and Emerging Women.

There are many factors that could contribute to the feeling of being left behind, said Dr. Patel-Dunn. The pandemic, for one, has slowed life paths down for many, especially people in transition—like new college grads, first-time managers, and anyone adjusting to a new geographic location. Work from home has also limited our ability to see beyond our teams as workers, too. And of course, social media only exacerbates the feeling that others are moving faster than us—even if it’s not true.

But as Pierrat told Sidekick, in order to fight the anxiety that comes with FOMO, you need to just focus on yourself. Level up your own career and mind the business that pays you by following these tips:

• Don’t rush. This one’s for all the Gen Z workers. Young people have a desire to move really fast in their careers, but Pierrat advises the newest generation of workers to slow down and keep a broad field of vision. “When you feel like you need clarity too soon in your career, your vision narrows and you focus on just one path…When you start just following what gets put in front of you, you’re perpetually in a reactive mode about your career,” she said. And that’s not the vibe of new leadership. “Old-school leadership and success really depended on that deep mastery in one thing. The new school of leadership is about how much vision you have into the rest of the organization [and] different strategic experiences.”
• Establish your legacy. This is especially good advice for mid-level employees and underrepresented groups. Don’t underestimate your own experiences. Instead, own them. “At that mid level, it’s a great time to look inward and to think, ‘What do I want?’ Not just, ‘What should I be doing?’” Pierrat told Sidekick. “Do less fitting in and more leading.” And for the late-career folks, focus on leaving an impact, Pierrat said. Mentor, sponsor, and do public speaking engagements—make yourself visible and memorable in your own way.
• Get off the socials. This is just good life advice in general. Don’t consider social media to be an accurate representation of how someone else is doing, Dr. Patel-Dunn recommends. Focus on you and what you know to be true. Real life doesn’t happen online, and appearances (like Photoshop magic) can be deceiving.

If you feel like you should be doing more, let it be because you are driven to do more. Establish connections with coworkers at every level, and set up peer mentorship groups both inside and outside of your organization to exchange ideas, Pierrat suggested. You may be surprised to learn that your peers share  the same fears and anxieties.—SS

Your punch list for when you punch out.

Watch: Christopher Pike hive, I’m gonna need you to stand up for The Midnight Club, now streaming on Netflix. This classic series from the OG master of young adult suspense gets the limited series reboot it deserves. R.L. Stine is quaking.

Read: Historian Adam Hochschild, author of King Leopold’s Ghost, re-examines a pivotal period in American history between World War I and the Roaring ’20s in American Midnight. It was a time when war; a pandemic; and violent clashes over race, immigration, and labor rights nearly derailed democracy. Sound familiar?

Eat: We told you pumpkin had range! This savory ravioli dish is seasonal carb loading at its very best.

Learn: Gain valuable insight this week with a Morning Brew exclusive FREE Leadership Workshop featuring Julia Boorstin, author of When Women Lead. Join us Wednesday (Oct. 19) @ 7pm EST. Register now!

Color goals: Give your performance an edge with HOKA’s new light-and-bright hues + cushioned soles that feel like a breath of fresh air on your feet. Check ’em out.*

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How many times a day do you encounter a problem you wish someone would solve? The entrepreneurs on Sidekick’s Solo List did too, but they decided to be the ones to fix it. The 20 rising stars on this list didn’t necessarily reinvent the wheel. Instead, they recognized a need in the market and identified innovative solutions across the health, tech, community, food and drink, publishing, and style sectors. Their stories are inspiring, creative, and instructive.

Sidekick went deep with these founders to find out everything about their business journeys, from ideation to scaling, and the challenges and lessons they learned along the way. Buckle up, because by the time we’re done with this series, you’ll be rushing to give these brands and their founders a follow (and maybe start a business of your own). But for now, from the Bronx to India and everywhere in between, let’s meet them!

Pearls of career wisdom.

“Get your foot in the door and figure it out from there. I have found that, working in the sports world and being on camera, I always wanted to do the interviews and be in front of the camera. But my first gig was really a marketing role in sports. So for me, it was: Get in the door, work hard, treat people well, and just find a way to make it work by being there and getting to know the right people.

“[When I interviewed at FS1] I took the time after my interview to thank the crew. So, the camera, audio, teleprompter. And I didn’t think anything of it—it was two seconds…[My new boss] said he’d never seen someone go out of their way to thank the crew, and it really stood out to him. Ultimately, I think it did help me get the gig, so I’m always very careful and conscious to thank everyone behind the scenes because that does stand out.”—Jenny Taft, FOX News show host and broadcast reporter.