Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product. // Eleanor Roosevelt
+ What comes after ambition?
+ This Maggy London button-slit dress is gorgeous and affordable.
+ An app to help you clean out the photos on your iPhone.
+ This Freeman foot peel spray gives you baby soft feet in a flash.
+ Stop saying ‘yes’ when you want to say ‘no.’
+ LOFT has some lovely fall pieces. This burgundy wrap dress is fabulous.
+ How Girlboss became a sexist putdown instead of an aspiration.
+ Professional Look. High-waisted knit pants + Modern floral top + Black cardigan
+ 5 Ways to Take Better Breaks During the Workday.
+ This electric makeup brush cleaner is as great as advertised.
+ The make-ahead appetizers you’re next party needs.
+ Influencers are obsessed with Courtney Grow’s collection for Dillard’s.
+ Are these the best ways to close an e-mail?
+ This Gin Rummy playing card set is too cute for words.
+ Mozilla ranks the privacy (or lack thereof) for period-tracking apps.
+ This flirty City Chic fit-and-flare dress comes in plus or misses.
+ 18 Films Every Woman Should See At Least Once.
Cup of Jo recently asked her readers to answer one question: What are you an expert at?
She wasn’t necessarily talking about your profession or your area of study. She wanted to know what things big and small you consider yourself expert in.
For example, I am excellent at giving gifts people love. I hold onto tiny kernels of information and turn those into holiday/birthday surprises. I’m also expert at cleaning up my house in a real hurry because company is coming in five-minutes. And let’s not forget the extreme (verging on unjustifiable) level of pride I take in getting through the airport security line efficiently and quickly.
So what unexpected things are you expert at? It could be something tied to your career, a hobby, a movie you’ve seen 1,000x, or something else you take pride in. Leave your area of expertise in the comments.
{the floral bouquet photo is found here; this post contains affiliate links that may generate commission for the author}
Hey Belle —it looks like the link for the GirlBoss article is the link for the photo app.
Thanks for flagging. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/aug/21/girlboss-used-to-suggest-role-model-sexist-putdown?tpcc=nlbroadsheet
I’m an expert organizer! Both my boss and coworkers have referred to me as the most organized person they’ve ever met. I’ve also had a few people seek me out to organize their workspace. I usually decline since I think good organization requires a personal understanding/connection to the items (what works for me may not work for you). And, more importantly, you have to be willing to toss or donate anything you haven’t touched in two years!
I also take pride in how objective I’m able to be (something my own therapist has recognized). Friends, family, and coworkers come to me for an “honest opinion” since I’m able to politely tell them if they’re in the wrong or if they’re justifiably upset with a situation.
Airport security is no joke. BUT airports are my happy place (IDK why, have had some major trauma in them). The chi just flows with me. But there are practical skills and I could be an airport whisperer if that were ever to be a job you could have.
I‘m an expert at operating laundry machines in foreign countries, including in languages I don’t speak and different alphabet (hello Greek air bnb).I am also an expert at finding ingredients in foreign supermarkets.
Laundry. Stains, smells, brightness, care labels, you name it. It’s as if there is a 1950s housewife inside my corporate climber body.
Party planning. Dinner party, birthday party, holiday party, cocktail party, all the parties. I think I have a knack for designing a cohesive feeling event without to make an event a little bit special.
I am an expert at networking and connecting people. You’re looking for X? Oh, let me connect you to Susan. I am very good at making all walks of people feel comfortable and that makes networking so much fun for me. I also love helping people succeed or get what they need to I naturally want to connect them, whether it’s for a job, a therapist, a painter, a babysitter, whatever. I gotchu and if I don’t have a person, I can connect you to another person who knows a person.
Two questions:
1. Have you used the makeup brush cleaner?
2. Any apps who help clean out emails? Mine is way too full and I know how to clean it out page by page but ….overwhelming
Unroll.me!
The cleaner just arrived today. I will try it and report back.
Echoing the 1950s housewife theme in an otherwise career focused lady, I bake amazing cookies. I got it from my mama!
I am an expert PDF maker. At one point I had a job where I was required to put together 100 – 200 page PDFs for printing. I got really good at slotting everything into the place it belonged and combining multiple documents from multiple sources.
I would love, love to be an expert in this skill!
I am especially good at planning vacation travel on a budget. In fact, I am in the process of starting a “side hustle” helping others do the same.
I’m an excellent includer. I am very good at making people feel heard, comfortable and included in meetings and social work settings. I am great at making the person who is a little awkward and has no one to talk to at the required work happy hour bloom. I actually realized this through the gallup strengthfinders assessment, it’s a great tool to learn more about yourself!
Loved the ambition article. “We are waking up to the fact that our jobs are never going to love us back.” That feel like a thump in my chest. I resonate with that so much. I’m sitting with the fact that maybe it’s ok to be satisfied with my level of success. Another quote that really resonated, “climbing the corporate ladder does not interest me like it used to. A title, a bump in pay—it’s not satisfying.” (Yes I realize I am representing a very privileged POV, this is my personal experience.)
+500 for Gallup StrengthsFinder. It revealed some strength insights that initially surprised me, but ultimately prompted some good reflection and some, “Oh, so that’s when/why I–.” Really transformative thing for me and my career.
Also echoing your sentiments on the article.
I am an expert hype girl. Someone poo-poo your worth? I got you and am here to point out all your amazing qualities. You got into the law school of your dreams? I’m here to celebrate you! You just need to vent about life? I’m here to listen as long as you need and hype you up to the right place. Even though I am a total introvert, the one on one hype girl seems to be a skill that comes naturally to me.
I make a really good stir fry. I am excellent at choosing paint colors. And I’m great with spreadsheets. I can make people who hate camping start loving it.