OG Tuesday Issue #259

✨ Map out your career vision (without the cheesy mission statement vibes).

🕵️‍♀️ First-round interviews? Already handled. Let AI take the lead on screening so you can focus on hiring the best.

🛍️ Shop smarter with this de-influencing trick.

☕️ Celebrate National Coffee Day with gift boxes your team will actually perk up for.

Q4 has a way of sneaking up. Suddenly, you’re staring at the last stretch of the year, juggling team priorities, company targets, and your own career goals. The question isn’t what to do—it’s what actually matters most.

Here’s how to make AI your ally in cutting through the noise and locking in the right goals (without spiraling into 47 competing to-do lists).

Step 1: Start with a brain dump

Prompt: “Act like a no-BS coach. Ask me 10 questions to surface everything on my plate for Q4 — projects, meetings, fire drills, and even personal goals I’m secretly stressed about. Keep pushing until it’s all out.”

Expect AI to ask things like: “What projects would make your boss say you crushed Q4?” or “Which tasks drain you but never move the needle?”

Step 2: Zoom out to the company view

Prompt: “Pretend you’re my company’s Chief Strategy Officer. What 3 priorities would matter most in Q4 for a [your industry] org to hit year-end results?”

This keeps you aligned with the big picture, not just busywork.

Step 3: Find the overlap

Prompt: “Here’s my full Q4 list [paste list]. Compare it with those company priorities. Highlight 5 goals that deliver the most impact and visibility.”

Step 4: Pressure-test the list

Prompt: “For each of these 5 goals, label them: Must-Do (direct company impact) or Optional (nice-to-have, but no fallout if delayed).”

Instant clarity filter.

Step 5: Map the quarter

Prompt: “Turn my 3 Must-Do goals into a 12-week Q4 roadmap. Break into weekly milestones. Add red flags I should watch for (like scope creep, delays, or losing exec buy-in).”

Why this works:

AI isn’t here to replace your instincts, it’s here to ask the questions you’re too overloaded to ask yourself. The result: fewer distractions, more alignment, and a roadmap that actually gets done.

🗓️ Want more? Back by popular demand, our AI Master Class is live Sept 11 @ 9AM PT / 12PM ET. We’ll share 3 updated power plays to help you land a $10K+ raise and reclaim 10+ hours a week. Only 2,000 seats live. Save your spot here.

We tend to picture “great leadership” as bold speeches, brilliant ideas, or having all the answers. But real leadership? It often looks a lot quieter—and a lot more human.

It’s:

• Giving clarity when everything feels chaotic
• Building trust through follow-through
• Empowering your team instead of micromanaging
• Leading with curiosity, not control

Here’s the truth: most people don’t struggle to lead because they lack talent. They struggle because they’re stuck in reactive mode—buried in busywork, putting out fires, and too overwhelmed to think beyond the next task.

But great leaders know how to protect their energy—and their time.

Here’s how they do it (and how you can too):

📌 They prioritize clarity over control.

Instead of micromanaging, they create workflows that keep everyone on the same page. That might look like a monday.com board for visibility or Smartsheet for those Excel-loving teams.

⏳ They treat time like a shared resource.

Managing schedules, shifts, and hours across teams needs structure. When I Work makes time tracking and scheduling feel less like herding cats.

🧾 They remove friction, especially around admin.

Hiring, payroll, and compliance shouldn’t eat up half your week. Platforms like Paychex and Deel simplify the back office so your energy goes where it matters: your people.

📈 They lead with numbers without getting buried in them.

Ramp keeps budgets in check and spending transparent. You don’t need to be a CFO to spot what’s working (and what’s not).

🤝 They build systems that scale relationships, not just revenue.

A CRM like Close doesn’t just track deals—it helps teams stay consistent, responsive, and on top of what matters most: follow-through.

When your workflows are dialed in, you can show up as the calm, confident, empowering leader your team deserves.

And the best part? You don’t have to do it alone.

TA reader Andrea recently wrote us with this challenge: “Understanding and learning office politics — and how to avoid having them used on me.”

Office politics isn’t a game you can opt out of, it’s the background noise of every workplace. But that doesn’t mean you have to be played. Think of it less like manipulation and more like a field guide: know the terrain, watch for traps, and use strategy that protects your integrity.

Spot the common plays

Politics usually shows up in repeatable patterns: credit thieves who swoop in on your work, gossip hounds who stir the pot, and quiet saboteurs who undercut progress. The antidote? Update your manager directly so your contributions are clear, keep gossip interactions short and neutral, and document repeat offenders so you’ve got receipts if you need them.

Use scripts

• Credit theft: “Glad you’re excited about this. I actually started drafting it last week. Let me share what I’ve pulled together.”
• Gossip: “I’d rather not weigh in. I’m focused on [project] right now.”
• Undermining: “I hear your concern. Here’s the data that supports my approach.”

Protect your time

Politics often looks like “urgent” extra asks. Push back with: “Happy to help. Here’s what’s already on my plate. Which should shift?”

Upgrade your strategy

• Map the terrain quietly. Notice who speaks first in meetings, who influences decisions before they happen, and how information flows. These patterns tell you where the real power sits.
• Lean into relationships, not manipulation. Being trusted and visible goes further than maneuvering. Genuine alliances are the real currency, and they’re built on reciprocity. Amplify others so they’ll do the same for you.
• Pre-wire big moments. Before a meeting, align with one or two stakeholders so you’re not blindsided when decisions land.
• Play for status, not power. Influence doesn’t come from being the loudest voice. It comes from being the person others respect and want on their side.
• Use EQ as your armor. Emotional intelligence is your best defense: know your own triggers so they can’t be used against you, and learn to read the room (even on Slack).
• Stay anchored in values. You can’t sit out office politics, but you can decide what lines you won’t cross. Protecting your integrity is how you keep both your reputation and your peace.

Micro-habits to Stay Ahead

• End each week with a quick log of contributions so your wins never get lost.
• Once a month, publicly credit a peer. Allies are gold in politics.
• Find one safe sounding board outside your chain of command to reality-check situations.

Playing smart doesn’t mean being shady. It means seeing the moves before they hit you, setting boundaries that stick, and holding your ground with confidence.

Creatine isn’t just for athletes—it’s brain fuel.

A recent Alzheimer’s pilot study found creatine can raise brain levels in just 8 weeks, improving memory, reasoning, and attention. Translation: it’s the edge you need when your plate is overflowing.

That’s why we trust Momentous Creatine. It’s made with Creapure®️ (99.9% pure, NSF-certified, and third-party tested), so you know exactly what’s going into your body. No fillers. No junk. Just clean, effective fuel.

One daily scoop helps you operate sharper, steadier, and stronger (no matter how much is on your plate).

✨ What our team says:

• Joanna (Co-Founder): “It mixes seamlessly into my coffee or smoothies, and beyond better recovery, I’ve noticed a subtle lift in energy too.”
• Cameron (Ops): “I’ve used Momentous for 2 years. It’s a real difference from the cheap stuff — clean, effective, and trustworthy.”

👉 Try Momentous Creatine and get a discount with code THEASSIST at checkout.

“Always self review. Each week, each month: What went well? What didn’t? what kept me, if anything, from meeting goals or moving the rocks that led toward them. What can I change this week, this month to get better traction in those areas. Who, that I work with stood out? How can I show them appreciation?”

— Sylvia J. (Operations Director)

🎨 Virtual backdrops that turn Zoom into a gallery.

💻 Portable monitor extender that makes two screens anywhere.

💸 Money Pickle matches you with a professional financial advisor in 2 minutes flat.

👁️ The eyelash curler Joanna and Thania won’t travel without.

• CAREERXCHANGE®, Inc. is hiring for a Talent Acquisition Manager (Miami, FL).
• Kaye/Bassman International is hiring for an Information Technology Specialist (Plano, TX).
• Aquent Talent is hiring for a Content Production Specialist (Boston, MA).
• Robert Walters is hiring for a Human Resources Coordinator (New York, NY).
• Optomi is hiring for a Product Manager (Hybrid).

⭐️ Answer to the riddle.

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