The Paul Hastings law firm slide about ways of working started an earthquake with endless aftershocks. The conversation is still going about Big Law demands such as, “You’re in the big leagues, which is a privilege. Act like it,” and “Clients expect everything to be done perfectly and delivered yesterday.” These non-negotiables may seem like a late-night show skit writer dreamed them up, but they’re for real.
Members of the old guard applauded the 24/7, no exceptions, no excuses mindset. However, there was one surprise dissenter: The staff of Paul Hastings. They quickly distanced themselves from the leak, stating that “the views expressed do not reflect the views of the firm or its partners.”
It’s easy to dismiss this story as the behavior of an impulsive associate. But there’s a universal lesson: Replace pursuing burnout with a capital B with using every ounce of energy to manage your career. Let’s meet someone who can help you prepare.
Acclaimed make-up artist Bobbi Brown was at a crossroads after selling Bobbi Brown Cosmetics and ending a wellness partnership with Walmart. So, she started posting how-to videos with her best pro tips for kicks.
Her genuine approach hit a chord and went viral. Brown encouraged others to do the same, saying, “I think a lot of people and brands think too much. They study what everyone else is doing and try to do that instead of just what’s right for you, what is right for the brand, what is really putting the brand forward in the most authentic way.”
Part of the success of her new company Jones Road is helping women of all ages feel great about themselves. And that includes having a rewarding career. She recommends, “Always be practical—don’t just run away and start all over. What can you afford to do? If you can’t afford to leave your job, think about what you can do while you still have it to start the next chapter. Sometimes that’s just thinking and ideating. Other times, it’s reading and seeing what is available.”
In the May series, Grownupify Your Work Skills, we’re discussing how you can use work skills techniques to become wise and empowered. Do you want to know a secret about the next chapter of your career? You’re the best possible counselor, coach, and decider—not your favorite mentor, kindest friend or family member, or your most enthusiastic manager.
That’s the lesson Bobbi Brown learned. She was the best caretaker of her values, interests, and financial goals. But getting to the next step also required grit to consistently experiment on TikTok, rather than waiting until she had the perfect business plan.
Likewise, you can manage your next chapter by building and expanding core skills. Adding diverse competencies is a much better game than squeezing yourself into a single job title or someone else’s perception of success. Like Bobbi Brown, it’s ok to say you want to do something kinda, sorta like you’ve done before, but not exactly. That discovery is what makes the journey fun.
Here are three ways to change daydreaming into a plan:
Being a grown-up shouldn’t feel like wrestling your career to the ground like a scuffle in “Naked and Afraid”! So, set aside worn-out games of burnout and hustle culture. Seize raw opportunities by cultivating marketable skills.