Karli Williamson 🎨

"Creativity" and "innovation" are really daunting words for me. Those kinds of asks always trip me up. I'm not typically the person throwing out idea after idea in a brainstorm. One of my greatest strengths is creative problem solving and I think that's true for a lot of professionals with a get-shit-done attitude. So I ask myself, "What are we trying to solve for?" and that always tends to kickstart my creative side. If that doesn't ring true for you, what is a skill that you can lean on to bring out creativity?

Remind your clients that their value is more than their career. I often say that my career is the least interesting thing about me. That's not because I find it boring or that I'm not proud of my work, but I have a robust identity outside of it, so any "failure" in my career can be seen as new information in one arena of life. When work isn't your only identity, it's esier to say, "I tried something, it didn't work out," rather than to internalize perceived failures.

Asking to jump on a call is a big and vague ask. Don't start there. Instead, be really specific about what you're looking for and why you want to connect. Sharing what you have in common is great, but what are you hoping to give or gain from the relationship? This is especially important when job searching. If you're networking with someone you have a clear connection to (old colleague, common friend, etc), be specific in your asks: referrals, public endorsements, introductions, or other support like reviewing a resume. If this is someone you aren't as familiar with, it's important to share not only why you're contacting them and what you want, but to address the WHY. Why should they care? Why should they spend time talking to you?

Setting boundaries is critical for work/life balance, but sometimes your calendar is out of your control. And while where you spend your time is significant, it's also important to consider where you spend your energy. Track your energy! Create a column for "energy givers" and another for "energy drainers." Throughout your week, pay attention to how you feel after calls, tasks, etc., and add them to your list. You can use this to draw conclusions like, "I enjoy problem-solving with a team member" or "writing copy exhausts me." This will allow you to balance your week with as many energy-givers as possible. Protecting your energy is often more feasible than protecting your time.

All of the above is critical to work-life balance. Sometimes, though, you don't always have control over the number of meetings in a week, last-minute approvals needed, and employees leaving. In cases like these, it's important to make sure you have work that fills you up. Ask yourself: - What gives me energy? - What drains my energy? Try to schedule out your work and your week to make sure you have projects and tasks that bring you energy and that make you feel proud of yourself. Bonus points, find out if there's someone on your team who has a passion for something you strongly dislike. There may be a way to get some of that off your plate so that you can focus on the things that build you up.

Before you even jump into the process, have a clear outline of what you will and will not be looking for. Writing down your absolute yeses, would considers, and hell nos will give your search direction and allow you to evaluate job posts by more than just a gut feeling or by title alone. This rubric will allow you to score potential jobs. A good rule of thumb might be: 1 star = don't bother 3 stars = apply with a generic resume 5 stars = tailor your resume and utilize your network Essentially, the more a role aligns with your priorities, the more energy you put in.