OG Tuesday Issue #253

📜 Claude’s constitution is a fascinating peek into how AI makes decisions.

📈 This report makes the case for investing in women-led VC funds.

👩‍💼 First-time manager? Start here before your next 1:1.

💪 Becoming more assertive doesn’t mean being aggressive.

You finally get a break in your schedule. No meetings. No deadlines breathing down your neck.

The question is: now what?

If you’re like most high-performing women, your instinct might be to either (a) fill it with busywork or (b) freeze and scroll, guilt-tripping yourself the whole time. Neither is helping you.

Here’s what to do instead:

🧠 Get intentional: Think of open time like financial capital. The most successful knowledge workers treat time as something to invest, not just spend. That doesn’t mean you need to pack every second, but rather, plan ahead for what this time is for. Thinking time? Deep work? Rest? Pick a purpose.

📌 Block it off: Literally. Hold your free time like it’s a standing meeting…because it is! Call it “CEO time,” “deep work,” or “recalibration” and don’t let anyone (including yourself) hijack it.

💡 Use it for high-value, low-pressure work: Update your templates, research tools you’ve bookmarked, clean up that doc you’ve been avoiding. You’re still being productive without draining your brainpower. Need inspo? Here are 11 ways to spend office downtime from starting a journal to finally making that playlist.

😌 Or…take the break: We’re conditioned to believe that open time should be “earned.” But downtime is a productivity tool. It fuels creativity, prevents burnout, and ironically, helps you work smarter when you log back in.

Not sure where to start? Pick one of these:

• Brain-dump your stressors into a journal
• Move your body (walk, stretch, dance; whatever works)
• Skim that article you’ve had open for 6 days
• Do a 5-minute calendar audit to prep for tomorrow
• Step outside and actually take your break

Bonus tip: If the idea of free time makes you anxious, you’re not alone. But overloading your schedule as a coping mechanism isn’t the flex you think it is. Creating and protecting white space is a leadership skill. It signals you know what matters (and that includes you).

Tired of explaining the same process for the 12th time? Let AI take it from here.

Guidde is a GPT-powered tool that turns any task into a polished, step-by-step video guide, complete with voiceover, visuals, and call to action.

Perfect for onboarding, internal processes, or “how do I do that again?” questions.

Here’s what it can do:

• 📎 Easily embed or share anywhere (Slack, Notion, email—you name it)
• 🎨 Turn boring docs into sleek, scroll-stopping video walkthroughs
• ⏱️ Save hours by creating guides 11x faster

Just hit “record” on the browser extension, and Guidde takes care of the rest.

Bonus: It’s 100% free.

👉 Try Guidde today

A reader wrote to us with this biggest challenge: “Getting my manager to actually prioritize my career development.”

The short answer? You’ll probably have to prioritize it first.

Many managers say they support growth, but few will carve out time for it unless you take the lead. That means scheduling a separate meeting, not tacking it onto your weekly 1:1, and being clear about the purpose:

“I’d love to set aside time to talk about my career goals and how I can grow here. Would next week work for a 45-minute convo?”

Before that meeting, take time to reflect on three things:

1. What success looks like for you (promotion, more autonomy, a lateral move?)
2. What you’re already great at (with examples ideally tied to company goals)
3. What you want to learn or stretch into (and how it helps the team, not just you)

Managers are more likely to support your growth if they see how it aligns with team objectives. For example, pitching a stretch project that builds your leadership skills and supports an upcoming initiative shows foresight (and value).

But what if they keep brushing you off?

That could be a signal of deeper issues. Some managers hold employees back—intentionally or not—because they’re insecure, overwhelmed, or simply not invested. If this sounds familiar, start documenting everything: your asks, their responses (or lack thereof), and missed opportunities. This gives you clarity and leverage if you need to escalate or explore other paths.

You can also expand your support system. Find a mentor in another department. Join cross-functional projects to raise your visibility. Seek feedback outside your manager.

It’s not always fair, but waiting for someone else to drive your growth will leave you stuck in place. Set the direction, share the plan, and invite your manager along. Whether they get on board or not, you’ll still be moving forward.

If paying your team across multiple countries means chasing vendors, double-checking taxes, and crossing your fingers every pay cycle, it’s time for a better way.

Multiplier lets you handle multi-country payroll in one streamlined platform. It’s accurate, compliant, and actually easy to use.

💸 With Multiplier, you can:

• Pay teams in 100+ countries and currencies
• Stay 100% compliant with local tax laws
• Save time (and headaches) with faster payroll cycles
• Get help when you need it with 24/7 expert support
• Skip the “gotcha” fees

You’ll also get clear reporting, automatic adjustments for time off and expenses, and a better experience for your people.

Your team gets paid right. You get your time back.

👀 See how it works (no credit card required).

“If they ask you to take an opportunity to work on a new project or task, say yes! This could be your chance to new roles, networking, development, learnings, and promotions. Don’t be afraid. You’ve got this.”

— Sam T. (Senior Finance Manager)

🧠 Lose weight (and keep it off) with a plan that’s rooted in psychology and built just for you.

💌 Your life’s already good on paper. This newsletter helps it feel that way, too.

💸 Gut check that offer before saying yes.

💔 When Breath Becomes Air is a gut-punch of a memoir you won’t forget.

• Del Monte Electric Co. is hiring for a Senior Project Manager (Dublin, CA).
• CJ Logistics is hiring for a Human Resources Manager (New Century, KS).
• Sunkist Growers is hiring for an Executive Assistant To Chief Executive Officer (Santa Clarita, CA).
• STRUCTURAL is hiring for a Senior Project Manager (Salt Lake City, UT).
• ROCS Grad Staffing is hiring for an Administrative Coordinator (Gaithersburg, MD).

⭐ View more jobs here >

⭐️ Answer to the riddle.

👉 See all of July’s OG Tuesday Riddles.

✨ P.S. Want more inspiration and positivity to kick off your week? Sign up for our Motivational Monday texts (U.S. only).

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