#002—Edvolve Together: Showing Up & Supporting

Jun 04, 2020

Hey all, it feels like it’s been a month—not a week—since I put together the last email update. Hope all of you are okay and safe.

The protests going on right now are top of mind for everyone, and I know a lot of folks are struggling to figure out how best to add their voice to the chorus. It can be tough to know what to say or how to contribute, especially if you don’t feel 100% confident about your knowledge on the issues.

So, I’m sharing a great article that was written by a recent guest on my podcast, Sasha Shilko, that I think will help. And if you want to hear more from Sasha, you can check out the episode here.

I’ll have more resources on how you can educate yourself and become an active ally to the black community in Final Thoughts.

Also, thank you to so many of you for the lovely notes and feedback last week. Glad you’re loving this new format of my weekly emails - remember, you can always share feedback with me by simply replying to this email. I love hearing from you!

Now, on to more resources. 👇

💼 CAREERS AND JOB HUNTING

A lot of people have been emailing me for advice on networking, and I’ve been noticing that there’s a lot of uncertainty about how to interact professionally given the circumstances.

There’s so much going on with the pandemic and the protests that people feel hesitant to reach out to others right now. But the reality is that this is an important time to build real connections and sincere relationships. Reid Hoffman (LinkedIn’s co-founder) was recently on Jessi Hempel’s Hello Monday podcast, and he offered some great advice on networking that’s as relevant as ever.

One of my favorite points he makes is that networking is a long-term play. Reach out to someone right now because you’re interested in getting to know them and what they do. You may not “get” anything out of it right away, but if you add value to people’s lives, that value tends to come back your way at some point.

Additional Resources:

Speaking of networking, if you’re struggling to find people’s email addresses, Austin Belcak built this Email Finder tool. He also just sent me his new (and free!) Resume Scanner that can scan your resume and tell you how to improve it.

Struggling with burnout or work-related anxiety? Sasha Shilko talks about her experience dealing with immense burnout after she joined a “sexy” tech company in SF. Hear her story and how she dealt with it all here.

Here’s an Unemployment Guide for all 50 states.
Struggling with procrastination? Here’s a good article on How to Stop Procrastinating by Using the “2-Minute Rule”

Ladies Get Paid is rolling out free career resources for Black women. If you are a non-Black community member and have services you'd like to offer, please complete this form. If you're a Black woman interested in these services, follow LGP for updates - they’ll be launching soon.

Ladies Get Paid is also offering free subscriptions to their Institute for Higher Earning if you’ve been recently laid off/had your hours reduced. Otherwise, there’s a free 30 day trial with code: 30DAYSFREE (as always, I or Edvo do not make any affiliate fees from sharing these resources - I’m just always sharing codes whenever I can)

Job Search Bootcamp: I’m excited to spend next weekend with many of you! If you’re actively job searching, or simply focused on networking more, come join. Tickets are available here 🚀 And shoutout to Playa Tech for co-hosting these bootcamps with me!

👋 SOCIAL AND PROFESSIONAL HANGOUTS

One of the events I’m most excited to share with you this week is a virtual webinar that’s all about understanding how our childhood affects who we are and the decisions we make today.

We’ve known for decades that experiences in childhood stick with us—Adverse Childhood Effects (ACEs) are linked to an increased risk of substance abuse, heart disease, obesity, and stroke later in life. On the other hand, preschool attendance has been linked to positive long-term effects on self-control and self-esteem.

Almost every guest on the Edvolution Podcast talks about their childhood. Their stories show that while our childhood experiences aren’t destiny, they do influence how we think and react to different situations. If that’s ringing a bell in your mind, I’d encourage you to check out the webinar below:

• Understand How Your Childhood Impacts Life, Work, and Business

June 9th, 3:00 p.m. PDT

Your inner 10 year old can support you in creating your future or they can create real blocks and barriers to stepping into your purpose and power. Whether you are negotiating for a new job, a higher salary or creating your own business, it is imperative that you understand how your inner board of directors is impacting your success. Spoiler alert- we all have them. RSVP here.

• Quarantine Immunity Boosts w/ Bri

June 5th, 9:00 a.m. PDT

Learn how to boost your immunity with BodiedByBri, a NASM-Certified Personal Trainer and Precision Nutrition Certified Coach. If you want to participate along with us-grab some ginger, turmeric, clementines, red pepper, and carrots. We will cover lots of things so be ready to ask questions and take notes! RSVP here.

• COVID Cooking w/ Shaun

June 8th, 9:00 a.m. PDT

Join us for this special session with Atlanta WeWork Food Labs member and CEO of LVNGBook, Shaun Chavis. Shaun will be showing and telling us the very few products you need to cook easy and healthy lunches at home. RSVP here.

• 5 Tips for Networking in Place

June 8th, 11:00 a.m. PDT

Alana Muller, Master Networker, will share an overview of her concept, Coffee Lunch Coffee – an accessible, relevant, immediately actionable approach to professional networking for those interested in connecting with others, getting involved in their communities, seeking to advance their careers or looking to build social relationships. You will leave with five immediately actionable tips for networking in place. RSVP here.

😎 FUN THINGS TO BRIGHTEN YOUR DAY

I believe it’s always important to stay positive and encourage positivity.

For instance, you’ve probably seen photo after photo of looters and protesters clashing with police—that’s what the media tends to share because it’s dramatic and people can’t look away. That’s what gets clicks. But peaceful protests, like these, rarely get as much attention, even when they make up the lion’s share of the demonstrations.

I urge you not to give in to the negativity that you may see on social media and in the news. Share love and positivity instead of negativity and fear.

Headspace has made many of his meditation collections free during this time, and is completely free for healthcare workers and anyone in LA.

If you’re into animation, check out Guillermo Del Toro’s “Tales of Arcadia” series on Netflix. He has two parallel series called Trollhunters and 3Below that intertwine with each other. They’re awesome.

If you’re into documentaries, check out a free streaming of Grey Gardens, which critics ranked as the 9th best documentary of all time.

I feel like everyone is learning how to make sourdough bread… if you want to join in on the fun, check out this video tutorial!

⭐ FINAL THOUGHTS

I want to leave you with some resources that are relevant to what’s been happening in our country.

First, I’d like to share this document that’s compiled resources related to the protests. It has contact information for legal counsel across the country, information on where to donate, and tips for protestors.

Next, if you’re not sure where to begin educating yourself or how to be an ally, then check out this Justice in June doc. It’s got everything you need to get started.

I’m also sharing with you one of the best breakdowns I’ve read about why the protests over the past nine days have been so widespread across the country.

In it, Anthony Pompliano clearly outlines the three types of privilege that have driven the protests. One is obviously racial privilege, but it’s important to understand that there’s more at stake here, as well. Economics and power are inextricably linked to racial discrimination in this country, and understanding that is one of the first steps toward real change. I’d highly recommend you read it if you have a few minutes.

Finally, I know it’s been a draining week for everyone, whether you’ve been participating in the protests, posting on social media, or just watching everything unfold online.

I have experienced a wide range of emotions all week: confusion, hope, sadness, joy, despair, frustration, and love. I’ve also felt a lot of guilt for not knowing the “right” way to take action and being confused. But as I’ve reflected on my emotions, I’ve recognized that the best thing I can do is educate myself. It is not simply asking our communities, “how can I help?” but instead, doing our own research and identifying ways to help. I’m doing that for myself, and I’m here to help you do that if you’re feeling similarly.

As always, feel free to reply and let me know what’s on your mind.

Stay safe, and be kind to yourself + others,

Shireen

p.s. Just a reminder to share the love and send this newsletter to anyone you think might need it. And if you haven’t yet, add shireen@substack.com or just reply to this email to keep the next editions from winding up in your spam.

Thinking Well

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