✍️ Navigating Chaos

I’ve pivoted so much since 2019 that some days I feel like a f*cking fidget spinner. During one of these pivots (and me posting all my feelings about it on Instagram), my college friend - Anil - made a random introduction to one of his friends from grad school: Solon Teal. Solon and I chatted casually over Zoom one day and we couldn’t stop jamming about jobs, the pandemic, startups, community building, and how we both felt - sometimes - like we were spinning. We scheduled another chat…and then another…and after a few virtual hangs, we decided to write an article together.

Here, we share 4 combined truths and our stories behind them as we’ve navigated chaos through our 20s and early 30s. 

READ OUR BLOG POST NOW ➡️ Millennial Real Talk: Navigating Chaos. Please like, share, comment, and repost if you like it!

📈 Brands & Strategy

We’re currently in “The Summer Slump.” What’s that? The end of Q2 and start of Q3 when revenue is typically low for consumer brands. No major holidays or sales, and so brands are scrambling to get some $$ in the door.

As a brand owner, I feel that pain. BUT - enter - Amazon Prime Day: the corporate monolith that makes terrible things even more terrible. Prime Day is a made up holiday that promotes overconsumption. And since it began in 2015, other companies like Target and Walmart create rival sales. All of this creates a pressurized effect on manufacturers worldwide; a second “holiday” that makes factories produce cheap goods with bad labor practices.

Here’s a great read on the topic that is still relevant: You’re Getting Screwed On Amazon Prime Day.

A few brands I love, and that you can support instead of Prime Day:

• Seek Refuge, a woman, minority owned business that sells streetwear and is donating 30% of profits to refugee aid instead of slashing prices for Prime Day

• For Days, my favorite thing about this brand is that they’ll send you a “Take Back Bag” for $20 in which you can recycle old clothes/fabric, and then they’ll send you a $20 credit to shop with them (they have second hand clothing too!)

📚 Currently Reading

Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo - I borrowed this from a friend MONTHS ago and somehow I could not get into it for a long time. Last weekend I finally picked it up again and once I got through the first 10 pages…wow, I cannot put it down. It’s beautiful.

It speaks to poverty, abuse, sexuality, fame, and love. So many nuggets in here I wish I could share but here’s just one little one for you -

“She always made sure the bad was outweighed by so much good. I...well, I didn't do that for her. I made it fifty-fifty. Which is about the cruelest thing you can do to someone you love, give them just enough good to make them stick through a hell of a lot of bad.” 💔💔💔

Ok obviously this is romantic but also makes me think of toxic work cultures…#amiright?

Don’t Forget Your Perk

As an early supporter of my work, I’d love to offer you a complimentary leadership coaching session. 1 hour completely dedicated to defining your goals, obstacles, and how to get to them. Whether you’re feeling complacent at work, experiencing the same problem over and over, or trying to accomplish something that feels out of reach, we can work through it together using tools, frameworks, and a little storytelling.

Thanks for reading and see you next week ✨

Arshiya

arthurgarros

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