Teaches Designing Your Career

CONTENTS

03 15
MEET YOUR INSTRUCTOR: MAKE YOUR
ELAINE WELTEROTH MIND MAP
A by-the-numbers look at Elaine’s
one-of-a-kind career path
16
ASSIGNMENT

09 MAP OUT YOUR

DESIGNING YOUR ULTIMATE CAREER
CAREER BLUEPRINT
Three exercises to help you craft
your dream opportunities 19
HOW TO TELL A STORY
11 WITH YOUR RÉSUMÉ
Weave a narrative that shows growth,
DISCOVER YOUR overcoming obstacles, and alignment with
ZONE OF GENIUS a company’s mission and goals

12 20
ASSIGNMENT ASSIGNMENT

FIND YOUR ZONES MOCK RÉSUMÉ

13 21
CREATE YOUR THE ART OF THE
LANE LIST INFORMATIONAL
INTERVIEW
Meeting up with people whose careers you
14 admire can be the gateway to mentorship, new
ASSIGNMENT opportunities, and industry insight
PICK YOUR LANES

1
 22 31
ASSIGNMENT ASSIGNMENT

TAKE SOME MEETINGS CREATE

OPPORTUNITIES
23 FOR JOY
9 TIPS FOR NAILING
A JOB INTERVIEW 33
Here are some best practices for HOW TO MAKE A
landing that dream job
CAREER PIVOT
Knowing when—and how—to embrace
27 change can make all the difference

HOW TO GET THE MOST

OUT OF A MENTORSHIP 35
The best mentor-mentee relationships SELLING YOURSELF
are symbiotic
How to overcome anxiety
around self-promotion

28
ASSIGNMENT
38
CREATE MENTORSHIP HOW TO BUILD
GOALS YOUR TEAM
A flowchart for discovering what kind of support

29 you may need and which roles to hire

ADVICE FOR GETTING

OUT OF A RUT
Whether you’re stuck in your
professional life or your personal one,
here's how to find your flow

2
MEET YOUR INSTRUCTOR:

ELAINE
WELTEROTH
A B Y-T H E - N U M B E R S L O O K AT E L A I N E ’ S
O N E - O F -A- K I N D C A R E E R PAT H

In less than 15 years, Elaine Welteroth has stepped into more career roles
and garnered more professional accomplishments than many people do in a
lifetime. She’s an award-winning editor and journalist, a New York Times–
bestselling author, and a television host—and she was tapped as the cultural
ambassador for Michelle Obama’s When We All Vote initiative. Get to know
Elaine better by familiarizing yourself with some of the biggest milestones,
viral moments, and impactful aspects of her career (cont. on page 5)

3
4
 29
The age at which Elaine was
appointed editor in chief of
Teen Vogue (prior to that, she
served as the American
magazine’s beauty director, the
first Black woman to hold that
role). At the time, she was the
youngest person to be named
editor in chief in the 100-plus-
year history of publishing giant
Condé Nast, and she was only
the second Black person to
hold the position.

535
The percentage by which
subscriptions at Teen Vogue
increased, year over year,
during Elaine’s tenure.

5
 668 +
THOUSAND+
The number of followers
(and counting) that Elaine
352
The number of pages in More
Than Enough: Claiming Space
has on Instagram. for Who You Are (No Matter
What They Say), Elaine’s New
York Times–bestselling
autobiography, which came
out in 2019.

104
The production code
for “Starboy,” an episode
of the American television
sitcom Grown-ish
that Elaine cowrote
in 2018.

6
 94560
The zip code for Newark,
California, the East Bay town
where Elaine grew up.

2
Approximate number of hours it
takes to drive from Newark,
California, to Sacramento,
COUNTLESS
The number of times Elaine
admits to reaching out to the
office of legendary American
California, where Elaine
editor, author, and media
attended college at California
personality Harriette Cole at
State University, Sacramento.
Ebony magazine when Elaine
While there, she earned a
was hoping to land an internship.
bachelor’s degree in
She ultimately succeeded and
communication studies.
went on to work as the
magazine’s beauty and style
editor for more than three years.
To this day, Elaine cites Cole as a
major mentor figure and the one
who gave her the opportunity
that kick-started her career.

7
 17
The season that first featured
Elaine as a judge on Project
Runway, the American fashion
design/competition television
series. She returned to appear
on the show’s following
seasons as well.
2020
The year Elaine joined The Talk,
a daytime talk show on the
American broadcast network
CBS, as a cohost. It was also the
year that Elaine won an NAACP
Image Award, presented by the
U.S.-based National Association
for the Advancement of Colored
People, in the category of
Outstanding Literary Work, for
More Than Enough: Claiming
Space for Who You Are (No
Matter What They Say).
8
DESIGNING YOUR

CAREER
BLUEPRINT

While the twists and turns in your career may

sometimes feel like the result of luck, it’s helpful
to remember the old adage that “luck is what
happens when preparation meets opportunity.”
Elaine has three exercises that will help prepare
you for when opportunity strikes: uncovering
your Zone of Genius, creating your Lane List,
and making your Mind Map

9
10
 D E S I G N I N G YO U R CA R E E R B LU E P R I N T

DISCOVER YOUR
ZONE OF GENIUS
For Elaine, one of the most critical tools in your career-building arsenal
is your Zone of Genius. It’s “that sweet spot at the intersection of
your passions, your talents, your skills, and your values,” she says.
“I define your Zone of Genius as that which only you can do like
nobody else. It’s almost as unique to you as your fingerprint. And I try
to spend as much time as I can in my life operating from there.”

11 
 IGNMEN
SS T
A

Find Your Zones

Fill out answers to Elaine’s questions below
to uncover your Zone of Genius.

P I L L A R 1 : PA S S I O N P I L L A R 2 : TA L E N T

“W hat is that thing that “W hat gifts do you naturally
you could do all night, for possess?”
free, if somebody let you?”
(If you have trouble listing your talents, ask a
friend or loved one to write down a list of things
that they think you’re good at.)

PILLAR 3: SKILLS P I L L A R 4 : VA L U E S

“W hat are those skills that “W hat matters more to
you’ve had to learn along you than money? Now ask
your journey—the things that yourself, ‘Why?’ ”
often require training and
repetition and that sometimes
can be cultivated from survival
mechanisms?”

12
 D E S I G N I N G YO U R CA R E E R B LU E P R I N T

CREATE YOUR
LANE LIST
When Elaine looked at the career of her future mentor,
American magazine editor and writer Harriette Cole, she identified
several lanes—“industries or different spaces,” Elaine says—that
Cole ran in: magazines, books, radio, TV, and consulting,
among others.

13 
 IGNMEN
SS T
A

Pick Your Lanes

As you start thinking about your long-term career goals, jot down a list of all of
the lanes you want to explore. If you have trouble coming up with the various
industries or spaces, take a cue from Elaine and think about people whose
careers you admire. See if you can break down their lives and careers into
different lanes, and then use that Lane List as a jumping-off point for yourself.

LANE 8
LANE 1

LANE 2 LANE 9

LANE 3 LANE 10

LANE 4 LANE 11

LANE 5 LANE 12

LANE 6
LANE 13

LANE 7
LANE 14

14
 D E S I G N I N G YO U R CA R E E R B LU E P R I N T

MAKE YOUR
MIND MAP
Elaine first learned about the concept of a Mind Map from
American supermodel Tyra Banks, who, she recalls, had a chart filled
with “little circles [representing] all the different industries that
Tyra wanted to build businesses in. And, over time, Tyra refined
and refined and refined her Mind Map until each of those circles
represented actual companies.”

15 
 IGNMEN
SS T
A

Map Out Your Ultimate Career

As Elaine points out, your Mind Map can keep evolving. “It’s something that
you can come back to again and again,” she says. “I update my Mind Map each
time I’m making a big decision about what’s next. And so should you.” Create
a Mind Map of your own in four simple steps that incorporate your Zone
of Genius and Lane List (you can use the template on page 17 as a guide).

S T E P 1 : D I S C OV E R YO U R N U C L E U S STEP 2: VISUALIZE
YO U R L A N E L I S T
“Your Mind Map starts with your
why,” Elaine says. “That should “T he next step is to go back
be the nucleus—your purpose to that list of spaces you
needs to be at the very center want to play in and make it
and needs to be the throughline visual,” Elaine says. “Take
that connects all of these each of your [industry]
divergent projects, ideas, and buckets and draw circles
industries.” around them.”

S T E P 3 : R U M I N AT E O N S T E P 4 : U T I L I Z E YO U R
DESIRED PROJECTS ZONE OF GENIUS

“Connect each bucket circle “Within each project, job, or

to a smaller circle that more gig, write down which of your
precisely describes the type pillars—passions, values,
of project you’re aiming talents, or skills—this role hits. It
for—a specific project, could be all of them or just one.”
job, or gig,” Elaine says.
“Remember: Sometimes
these circles might connect
to more than one bucket.”
16
 SAMPLE MIND MAP
PILLAR PILLAR
PILLAR
PILLAR PILLAR

GIG GIG

JOB JOB

BUCKET BUCKET
PROJECT PROJECT

PILLAR PILLAR PILLAR PILLAR

PURPOSE
PILLAR PILLAR

PROJECT PROJECT
BUCKET BUCKET

JOB JOB
GIG GIG

PILLAR PILLAR PILLAR PILLAR PILLAR

17 
18
 HOW TO TELL A STORY WITH
YOUR RÉSUMÉ
W E AV E A N A R R AT I V E T H AT S H O W S G R O W T H , O V E R C O M I N G O B S TA C L E S ,
A N D A L I G N M E N T W I T H A C O M PA N Y ’ S M I S S I O N A N D G OA L S

R ésumés: They can make or break whether

you land an interview and, ultimately, if you get
the job. While fundamentally a résumé is meant
to depict your professional and academic history and
achievements in the strongest possible light, it can also be
a critical tool for telling a compelling story that connects
your background with a company’s mission statement and
its objectives for the role you’re interested in.
When you hear the word story, it’s easy to think a com-
pany wants to know your life story from beginning to end.
Spoiler alert: It doesn’t. Rather, your résumé needs to
share concrete examples of past projects, accomplish-
ments, and growth that collectively create a narrative that
positions you as the ideal candidate for a job.
ALIGN YOUR OBJECTIVES
Many résumés include either an “objectives” or “summary”
statement that sketches out your overarching career goals

19 
 IGNMEN
SS

T
and outlines your major skills and experience. This can be a
great opportunity to position your objectives so that they Mock Résumé
complement the organization’s mission and the qualifica-
tions of the particular role. Using one of the career paths you discovered
Let’s say you’re applying for a job as the director of after making your Mind Map, create a mock
communications at a nonprofit whose mission is teaching résumé, telling a story that portrays your goals,
young kids how to code. If you have 10 years of experience your achievements, and what you would be able
working in communications roles at nonprofits and tech to accomplish in the role. Use the template
companies, be sure to mention that you’ve spent ample below, and include examples from past
time working in both industries. Consider also adding a experiences to incorporate into your story.
line or two about your career goals and how they may re-
late to topics like coding, technology, early childhood edu-
cation, STEM, and other themes that could align with the
company’s values and goals for the role.
Résumé
SHOW GROWTH
NAME:
Besides highlighting your promotions and the accrual of
additional responsibilities over the years, an effective ré-
sumé will explain how you’ve contributed to the growth of CONTACT:
the companies for which you’ve worked. In a line or two
beneath each job title you’ve held, share real-life examples PORTFOLIO:
of how you specifically benefited the company. For exam-
ple, if you worked in online publishing as a writer, high- SUMMARY:
light an impressive metric about how much online traffic
your articles generated. Or if you worked in social media SKILLS:
marketing, pull out some key figures showcasing how
many followers joined the brand’s channels during your EXPERIENCE:
tenure or how much money was generated in sales via
your social media posts.
EDUCATION:

ILLUSTRATE HOW YOU

OVERCAME OBSTACLES
While a résumé is not an appropriate place to include any
intra-workplace conflicts you may have experienced or
proprietary information about obstacles the company
faced, it can be a good chance to point out any industry-
wide problems or hindrances and how you contributed to
the company’s ability to push past them. Let’s say you
worked in sales for a beverage company that introduced a
new product into a market saturated with similar ones.
You could share how, over time, you helped the company
not only break into the market but also increase its share
of it. Experiences like these indicate to a future employer
that you are both capable of doing the work the role re-
quires and able to contribute to the bigger picture: the
company’s future success.
VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATIONS:
ADDRESS THE ROLE’S REQUIREMENTS
Although the core of your résumé will likely remain the
same no matter what role you apply for, you should avoid a
one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, carefully look over the
qualifications and skills a company lists alongside a job
description and try to sprinkle examples of them through-
out your résumé. For instance, if a role requires superb
writing skills, try to weave in some concrete examples of
projects you worked on that involved lots of writing.

20
 THE ART OF THE
INFORMATIONAL
INTERVIEW
M E E T I N G U P W I T H P EO P L E W H O S E CA R E E R S YO U
A D M I R E C A N B E T H E G AT E WAY T O M E N T O R S H I P,
NEW OPPORTUNITIES, AND INDUSTRY INSIGHT
E laine admits that her tactics for meeting
American magazine editor and writer Harriette
Cole—repeatedly calling Cole’s office until she
landed an informational interview—may not be right for
every situation. But Elaine stresses the importance of
reaching out to the people whose careers you admire and
whose wisdom you seek. Whether it’s with a potential
mentor, a future boss, or a peer in your field, an informa-
tional interview—a low-stakes conversation that usually
delves into someone’s career history or provides insights
into their field of work—can be critical.
It can be intimidating to reach out to someone cold,
especially a very seasoned leader in your field. But as
Elaine points out, “people love talking about them-
selves,” and most people have 15 minutes to spare. On
the day of the meeting, come prepared. “Do your home-
work,” Elaine says. Make sure you know what role your
conversation partner holds at their current company and
you’re up to speed on what they’ve accomplished over
the course of their career. And have an idea of what
you’re hoping to get out of the conversation (other than a
job). As Elaine says, “Be prepared for that question that
will come up, which is, ‘Now, what can I do for you? How
21 
can I help?’ When that question comes, be prepared with
an answer. Be specific with what it is you’re looking for.”
To help you get started on your networking path, here is
a guide to seeking out, reaching out, and taking out peers,
mentors, or industry leaders during the informational in-
terview process.
MAKE A LIST
Write down the names of people whose careers you admire,
whose skills you value, and whose insights you seek. While
you don’t necessarily have to decide whether each person on
your list is a future peer, boss, mentor, or something else, it’s a
good idea to have those thoughts in the back of your mind.
ARRANGE AN INTRODUCTION (IF YOU CAN)
Even if you don’t know the people on your list personally,
there’s a chance you may have a friend, former colleague,
or classmate in common. If so, get in touch with that mu-
tual contact and ask if they would make an introduction. If
you don’t have any mutual contacts, that’s okay, too. Most
people have 15 minutes to spare, even for someone they’ve
never met—particularly if you offer to meet them at a time
and place at their convenience.
START DIGGING
Sometimes the hardest part of the informational inter-
view process is simply finding someone’s contact infor-
mation (especially if you’re reaching out cold). LinkedIn,
billed as the “world’s largest professional network,” is a
widely used platform for making business connections,
but many professionals, particularly those at the top of
their fields, may not check the site or their inbox very of-
ten. So while a message on LinkedIn is often the easiest
and least intrusive mode of communication, you’ll want
to have some backup options in the event that you don’t
get a response. If you know the name of the person’s
company, see if the company has a website with contact
information available. You might also check the person’s
social media accounts—many people (particularly jour-
nalists) put their contact information in their Twitter or
Instagram bios. In most cases, a bit of pointed Googling
can help you get where you want to go.
GET IN TOUCH
Send a succinct email (or LinkedIn message) to the per-
son you’re trying to reach, asking them if they would be
interested in grabbing coffee and sharing their thoughts
about their career trajectory, industry, or skill set. If they
don’t have time to meet in person, suggest a short phone
call or Zoom meeting instead. Keep your email respectful
and brief. If you don’t hear back after one email, don’t be
discouraged. These are people whose inboxes are likely
flooded with missives from colleagues, clients, and other
people like you who might be hoping to have coffee with
them. After waiting for at least three days, feel free to
send a follow-up email.
HOMEWORK TIME
Before your meeting, do your research. Learn about the
person’s career history, background, and major accom-
plishments. Come up with a few specific questions you
want to ask them, and determine what your ultimate “ask”
will be at the end of the meeting. Do you want them to in-
troduce you to people in their network for more informa-
tional interviews? Share some helpful resources? Keep
you in mind for future opportunities? Whatever it is,
Elaine says, make it specific and actionable. Arriving to the
meeting with concrete questions and “asks” conveys that
you are not only taking the conversation seriously but that
you are also respectful of the person's time.
COFFEE DATE
When the big day arrives, make sure you’re dressed pro-
fessionally (in most cases, it’s not necessary to show up in
a suit, but it’s a good idea to avoid T-shirts and flip-flops).
Come prepared with copies of your résumé and, if applica-
ble, a portfolio of work in case the person you’re meeting
with asks to see some samples of what you do. Arrive at
the meeting place a few minutes early so you have a mo-
ment to collect yourself, scout a table, and get situated be-
fore the other person arrives. When they do, be sure to of-
fer to treat them to coffee as a courtesy and to thank them
for their time. (They may decline, which is okay; it’s the
gesture and sign of respect that counts.) As your conversa-
tion progresses, you should be thinking about your ask,
but don’t be tethered to your questions or a script. Be
present, listen actively, and let the conversation flow as
naturally as possible.
FOLLOW UP
After the meeting is over, send a short email to the per-
son thanking them again for their time, their guidance,
and whatever they’ve agreed or offered to do to help.
Hopefully this may be the start of an ongoing correspon-
dence, but even if it fizzles, ending the experience on a
positive note will always leave the door open to getting
back in touch later on.
IGNMEN
SS
A
Take Some
Meetings
Follow the steps outlined on pages 21 and 22
and set up two or three informational
interviews. Be prepared with concrete asks, and
keep notes on how the conversations went and
what takeaways may have resulted.
22
23 
9 TIPS
FOR NAILING
A JOB INTERVIEW
N O W T H AT YO U ’ V E L E A R N E D H O W T O H AV E A N E F F E C T I V E
I N F O R M AT I O N A L I N T E R V I E W ( S E E PA G E 2 1 ) , H E R E A R E
S O M E B E S T P R A C T I C E S F O R W H E N A J O B I S AT S TA K E

Dress appropriately
Do your Do your best to dress in a way
that matches your perception

research of the company culture. For

instance, a suit might be
appropriate for an interview at a
While most of the interview questions will law firm but would be awkwardly
be about you, some will surely be about how formal for an interview at a
you might fit into the organization and its
company culture. A simple internet search
beer distributor.
on the company you’re applying to can
equip you with information you need to
make a great first impression. Make sure
you fully understand the job description
of the position for which you’re being
interviewed, and be prepared for some
version of the question “Why do you want
to work here?”

24
 Bring
materials
Bring a few copies of your résumé with
you to the interview, even if you’ve already
submitted one digitally. If applicable to
the role you’re interviewing for, bringing
a portfolio of your work is a good idea, too.
If you’re interviewing virtually, offer to send
any materials the recruiter or interviewer
might need after the fact.
Remember that body
language matters
You communicate a lot in the way
you carry yourself. When you sit
up straight and make eye contact,
you convey confidence. When
you lean forward, you communi-
cate interest in the person talking
to you. But when you look down,
mumble, or fidget, it suggests a
lack of full engagement.
25 
Speak respectfully
about your current job
(or previous job)
Even if you can’t wait to leave your
current employer, you should
speak about them diplomatically.
One of the biggest interview mis-
takes occurs when a candidate is
certain they have the job and
starts trashing the supervisor
from their last job. That can leave
a terrible impression, so stay
respectful and professional
no matter what.
Be honest
Nobody is perfect, and the person inter-
viewing you understands that you’re human,
just like anyone else. One of the more com-
mon interview questions involves asking a
candidate to name their greatest weak-
nesses. If you’re asked this, be honest—but
also be wary of naming a weakness that
suggests you don’t work well with others or
can’t conform to company culture. If those
are legitimate issues you face, you’ll need to
work on improving them before you go out
for job interviews.
 Always assume
there are
other candidates
In most economic environ-
ments, open job positions
attract many candidates. When

Be prepared you leave the room (or the virtual

meeting), it’s possible someone

to ask
will be on deck to interview right
after you. Even if you’re
interviewing for your dream job

your own and believe you would be a

perfect match, you must think

questions of yourself as competing with

others. Do everything you can
to be extra prepared.
The last question your interviewer might
pose could be something like “Do you have
any questions for me?” If you’re given the
opportunity, seize it. Come with a list of
questions that you’d like to pose if
prompted, or jot a few down as you chat.
These questions shouldn’t be geared
toward picking the company apart; they
should show sincere interest in the
company, its business model, and the
potential job offer in front of you.

Follow up
afterward
If you want to make a lasting impression,
dash off a quick thank-you note via email.
A few sentences will be plenty. The mere
act of sending the message shows that
you care and that you appreciate the
consideration.

26
 HOW TO GET THE MOST
OUT OF A
MENTORSHIP
THE BEST MENTOR-MENTEE
R E L AT I O N S H I P S A R E S Y M B I O T I C

O ne of the biggest mistakes people make in

their relationship with a mentor is thinking
that, as the mentee, they are the only one who
should be benefiting from the exchange. Instead, as Elaine
shares, “the best mentor relationships are symbiotic. It’s
not just take, take, take, take. It’s about, What can I give?
How can I serve? How can I help? And from that place, you
build an organic relationship built on trust and mutual re-
spect, and you earn somebody’s investment in you.”
The simple truth is that being mentored is a skill. It’s not
one that’s difficult to master, but it does require taking an
active role. It’s important when seeking out a mentor that
you have clear goals and expectations for the relationship.
And it’s also important to be realistic. While you may envi-
sion yourself meeting or talking with your mentor every
week, it could often be once a month or even once a year.
Mentorship is a slow and gradual process. Good mentees
recognize this and are willing to commit to the relationship,
knowing that while they may see some immediate benefits,
the real payoff happens over years—not days.
It’s also important to realize that while you may typical-
ly envision a mentor as being older, wiser, and more expe-
rienced, there’s a lot of value to be had from peer-to-peer
mentorship. “Don’t just look up. Look around,” Elaine
says. “There’s a wealth of support, inspiration, and collab-
oration right around you within the network that you’ve
already cultivated within your peer set.” As she puts it,
these “people who are in the struggle with you, that are

27 
figuring out how to do what’s never been done right along-
side you,” are sometimes the ones who can offer the best
advice. Moreover, “the people that you meet early on in
your career may be the ones that you grow with, from as-
sistant level to director to executive and beyond,” Elaine
says. “So do not underestimate the power of relation-
ship-building right where you are. Show up for the people
around you. Be generous with your time and your energy if
there is a true connection with someone.”
Whether you’re looking to be mentored by a peer or a
leader in your industry, here are three tips to ensure that
the relationship is a success.
BE PROACTIVE
It is not your mentor’s responsibility to schedule meetings
with you or to find out if you followed their advice. In-
stead, it’s up to you to be on top of those details and make
sure that you’re getting the most out of the relationship.
When you do find time to meet, be mindful of the fact that
your mentor is sharing their time with you, and consider
creating an agenda of topics to discuss or questions you
want to ask. It will show that you’re taking the relationship
seriously and that you’re also committed to its growth.
getting to know your mentor, especially if it is a new rela-
tionship. This is your opportunity to be a sponge, and ask-
ing thoughtful questions can be a determining factor in
how beneficial your mentorship actually is. The questions
don’t have to be strictly related to your career, either. Ask-
ing about their college experience, the biggest challenges
they’ve faced in their career, or the best advice they’ve
ever received can all be illuminating opportunities to grow
your connection.
PROVIDE VALUE
Elaine points out that some of the most successful
mentor-mentee relationships are “symbiotic.” To that end,
mentees should seek out opportunities to provide value to
their mentors. Sometimes the smallest things can have a
huge impact, and learning about your mentor’s interests or
staying attuned to instances in which they express various
needs can create chances for you to give back to the rela-
tionship. This could be anything from sending your men-
tor a relevant article based on a recent discussion, helping
them out with technology needs if they aren’t tech savvy,
or sharing insight about a topic when they may need a dif-
ferent perspective.

ASK QUESTIONS
Your interactions with your mentor don’t need to be a
game of 20 questions, but you should be inquisitive when

IGNMEN
SS
A

Create Mentorship Goals

Identify the top five hopes you have for a mentor-mentee relationship and jot them down in a
notebook or elsewhere. Now, identify the top five things that you could offer to that same relationship,
whether it’s a special skill, talent, personality trait, or even a hobby.

28
ADVICE FOR GETTING
OUT OF A RUT
W H E T H E R YO U ’ R E S T U C K I N YO U R P R O F E S S I O N A L
L I F E O R YO U R P E R S O N A L O N E , H E R E ' S H OW TO F I N D
YO U R F LOW

29 
I f you find yourself feeling stuck in your career
or relationships, you’re not alone. Often this rut is a
symptom of burnout—maybe you’ve been firing on
all cylinders for so long that you’re depleted and have lost
your ability to find creative inspiration, motivation, or ful-
fillment. Elaine remembers a point in her life when she
“was experiencing burnout without even knowing it.”
After embarking on her career in media with a mantra to
“bite off more than you can chew, and chew it as fast as you
can” (a quote from, of all places, the 1986 Australian oddball
comedy film Crocodile Dundee), she says that years of hav-
ing that mentality of “grind it out” and “say yes to every-
thing to prove your value” eventually took a toll on her body,
her mental health, and her relationships. “I was experienc-
ing anxiety, but I had no idea,” Elaine remembers. But “I
was neglecting other parts of my self-development. And the
thing is, if you want to build a sustainable business, you
have to be a sustainable person.”
A series of mental and behavioral shifts helped Elaine
get out of her rut, overcome burnout, and launch a new
chapter of her career far beyond what she ever dreamed
of. Like Elaine, you, too, have the power within yourself
to get unstuck. Here are some tricks to try when you need
to help yourself out of a rut.
MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH JOY
Sometimes the rut you’re in can simply be a feeling of being
overwhelmed. You may be asking yourself why you need a
break when you need to make progress on a task, but some-
times unplugging for a bit can be just what you need to re-
charge your batteries. Elaine recalls the advice her friend,
the author Priya Parker, gave her to “make an appointment
with joy.” “Literally put an appointment on your Google cal-
endar…and when that invite pops up, treat it like you would
any other meeting,” Elaine explains. “Show up on time,
don’t skip it, don’t cancel it last minute. Be there, and be
present for that invitation to experience joy in the moment.”
The things that bring each of us joy are personal, so
take a moment and think about what delights you, fulfills
you, or energizes you. It could be reading a good book,
having a solo dance party, going for a jog, talking to your
mom, baking some cookies—anything. For Elaine, some
of her joy appointments involved waterfalls and pizza.
“When I was writing my book, I employed this [joy ap-
pointment technique], and it was game-changing. One
time, I was like, ‘I wanna go find a waterfall,’ and I found a
freakin’ waterfall. Another time, I was like, ‘I really want
pizza.’ I went and ate a whole-ass pizza by myself with my
partner.” And guess what? According to Elaine, these joy
appointments “resulted in increased productivity like no
one’s business,” a finding in line with a study conducted at
George Mason University in Virginia that found taking
breaks can improve your attention and performance.
FIND COMPASSION FOR YOURSELF
Self-acceptance can go a long way toward improving our
mental outlook and happiness, but for many of us, it’s not
something that happens overnight. One of the best ways
to kick-start your journey toward self-acceptance is by
adopting compassion and grace toward yourself, your
flaws, and even your past mistakes. We all suffer from neg-
ative thoughts and self-defeating impulses from time to
time, but instead of dwelling on what we did wrong or
could have done differently, we should adopt an outlook
that says we did the best we could given our circumstanc-
es. This mental shift can, over time, lead to a healthier and
happier relationship with ourselves, one that propels us
forward and helps us find contentment.
LIGHTEN YOUR LOAD
Are you stuck? Or are you trying to be everything for ev-
eryone else but yourself? Sometimes the best way to get
“unstuck” is to remove items from your plate that don’t
serve you, don’t concern you, or that you didn’t add to
your plate to begin with! Delegation can be one of the
most important tools for your mental health.
TALK TO SOMEONE
If you feel like you’ve been in a rut (creative or otherwise)
for an extended period, it may be time to talk to someone
30
 “IF YOU WANT
TO BUILD A
professionally to help you through it. This could be a ther-
SUSTAINABLE
apist, a life coach, or a career coach who can help you with
strategies for improving your mental health.
BUSINESS, YOU
FIND YOUR RHYTHM HAVE TO BE
Sometimes the only way to get out of a rut is by doing
things differently. Elaine recalls a quote she heard in a A SUSTAINABLE
PERSON.”
meditation class: “When the music changes, so must
your dance.” As she explains, the expression “reminds us
of our obligation to quiet our mind enough to be able to
feel the rhythm of our lives. And when the rhythm of — ELAINE
your life is changing, so must your dance—your actions,
your decisions. If you stay in the same place too long and
you overstay your welcome, whether in a job or a rela-
tionship that is no longer serving you, the consequences
could be detrimental. At some point it becomes scarier to
stay where you are and to stunt your development and
evolution than it is to take a bet on yourself and go into ing around a bit aimlessly. Choose any activity that can help
the unknown, where you can continue to blossom and loosen up your mind and, in doing so, allow you to become
grow into the person you were meant to be.” cognizant of the beat accompanying your life. The more of-
So, create space in your life to tap into that rhythm—to ten you can tap into that rhythm, the more likely you are to
sit still with your thoughts, to allow your mind to wander. notice when it changes. The next step is stopping to listen—
That might look like taking a walk, meditating, or even driv- and taking a chance to try a new set of moves.

IGNMEN
SS
A

Create Opportunities
for Joy
Open a journal and spend at least 10 minutes describing your perfect day. It doesn’t have to include spending
money or even leaving the house—it just has to include any number of things that make you happy (sights,
sounds, smells, relationships). Next, think about how you can incorporate some of those things into your daily
life. Start blocking off time on your calendar—on your computer, your phone, a date book, however you keep
appointments—and schedule time for joy. When the time comes, don’t flake and don’t cancel.

31 
32
HOW TO MAKE A
CAREER PIVOT
K N O W I N G W H E N —A N D H O W —T O E M B R A C E
CHANGE CAN MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE
M aking a career switch can feel daunting—
especially if nothing is “wrong,” per se, at
your current job. But your work life doesn’t
have to be falling apart for a pivot to be in order. Perhaps
you’ve simply stopped learning in your current position.
Or maybe there’s no upward mobility. Or maybe your day-
to-day tasks feel less than inspiring. In other words, as
Elaine puts it more concretely, it may be time to move on
from your current job when you’ve “reached the point of
diminishing returns.”
You’ve surely encountered moments in your career when
you’ve felt burned out and ready to quit, but it’s not neces-
sarily the right choice to move on every time you struggle.
Instead, as Elaine explains, you should ask yourself a series
of questions to discover whether you’ve reached that point
of diminishing returns or if there’s still room for you to grow
in your current role. She says that you should ask yourself
things like, “Is there something that I have yet to learn? Is
there a skill that I’m still honing here that I’m going to need
in my next chapter? Is there a financial goal that I have yet
33 
to hit? Is there another raise, another promotion, that I real-
ly feel is important to add to my résumé?” If the answer to
any of these questions is “yes,” then you may want to stick
it out a little while longer. But if the answer is “no,” it might
be time to embrace a career pivot.
Elaine’s first major pivot occurred when she left her role
as editor in chief of Teen Vogue to pursue freelance writing,
speaking, and television hosting opportunities. It wasn’t a
decision she made lightly, and it took some encouragement
from her friend, the American filmmaker Ava DuVernay, be-
fore she felt ready to explore a new path. “It’s really import-
ant that we acknowledge how scary it is to walk away from
a known entity and an identity that has been defined by a
particular role within a company,” Elaine says.
She vacillated quite a bit about leaving Teen Vogue, but
after talking to DuVernay, that uncertainty “evaporated in
an instant,” Elaine says. DuVernay saw something in her
“that no one had validated,” Elaine explains. “And she af-
firmed me in this really fragile, pivotal moment, when I
needed to be reminded of my own courage and of all the
life and goodness that exist on the other side of fear.”
Elaine’s decision to leave Teen Vogue propelled her to
new achievements and career milestones: She became the
author of a New York Times–bestselling book, the cohost
of the daytime talk show The Talk on American broadcast
network CBS, and a judge on the American fashion design/
competition TV series Project Runway. But Elaine execut-
ed a successful pivot thanks to careful planning and smart
decisions she made along the way. Like her, you’ll want to
approach this decision thoughtfully and take steps ahead
of time to create a foundation for future success.
START WITH YOUR WHY
Your why should be centered on the larger idea of your
purpose—that is to say, the why behind what you do and
whom you do it for. Ask yourself, Why do I want this? Why
do I think this career pivot will make my life better? What
might the downsides or risks be?
DETERMINE IF YOU’VE REACHED THE
POINT OF DIMINISHING RETURNS
Are there still skills left for you to learn, promotions that
can still benefit your future growth, or financial goals you
still want to achieve?
a career pivot. In your case, it may be insight from a friend,
family member, mentor, therapist, or former colleague.
While you should be discreet when talking about plans to
change jobs or leave your company (and it’s often not a
good idea to speak to current colleagues, let alone your
boss, about these aims at all), speaking your goals, con-
cerns, and ideas out loud to others can be a valuable way
to gain clarity on your situation and hear feedback from
trusted sources about the next steps you should take.
TRY INCORPORATING SIDE HUSTLES
While certain jobs and companies may have restrictions
when it comes to pursuing outside work, if you’re in a po-
sition to freelance and have the time and bandwidth, side
hustles can be an easy way to test out a pivot before mak-
ing a total commitment. If you aren’t permitted to work on
freelance projects or don’t have time to do so, Elaine sug-
gests exploring whether there are side hustles—or, even,
entirely new roles—you can create for yourself at your
current company. Sometimes these internal side hustles
may become full-on internal pivots.

CREATE A FINANCIAL GAME PLAN

Change often comes with a degree of uncertainty and
risk, both of which can be mitigated by financial stability.
As Elaine says, it’s important to calculate your budget
and set targets for both the amount of money you want to
be making in the next chapter of your career as well as

“I NEEDED
the amount of money you’ll want to save before you leave
your current job. This latter figure—your financial cush-
ion—will support you in your transition and is particu-
larly critical if you are planning to go freelance. Once you
have your targets in sight, start researching how much
income it will be possible to make in your next role or
TO BE
with your next freelance projects. If you’re unsure, Elaine
suggests that you reach out to people in the industry for REMINDED
OF MY OWN
informational interviews (see page 21) to get a better
sense of how lucrative certain spaces may be.

SURROUND YOURSELF WITH

A “BOARD OF ADVISERS”
In Elaine’s case, it was invaluable advice from the Ameri-
COURAGE.”
can filmmaker Ava DuVernay that compelled her to make — ELAINE

34
SELLING
YOURSELF
HOW TO OVERCOME ANXIETY
AROUND SELF-PROMOTION

35 
“I always say that the future is freelance,” Elaine
says. Already, she explains, “over a third of Ameri-
can workers are freelancers, a number even higher
for younger generations…and freelancers represent over
a trillion dollars of the U.S. economy.” If you’re already a
freelancer, chances are you rely on social media plat-
forms like Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Tik-
Tok, and Pinterest to spread the word about your work,
seek out new clients, and grow your brand and business-
es. But even if you’re employed full-time by a company,
social media can be an important tool for sharing news,
achievements, and ideas—and might lead to new job op-
portunities.
If you don’t feel at home using social media, self-pro-
motion can feel boastful, uncomfortable, or impolite. On
top of that, when you share yourself and your work with
the public, you face the potential to be criticized, rejected,
or devalued.
Among many common fears you may have are things like
“I’m not good enough,” “the work is not perfect,” “I don’t
have anything valuable to share.” These concerns may be
compounded by feelings of “impostor syndrome,” experi-
ences with microaggressions, challenges with code-switch-
ing, or environments in which you’re F.O.D.—an acronym
for First. Only. Different. that was coined by American TV
writer and creator Shonda Rhimes (see page 37).
In reality, though, self-promotion—whether via social
media or in person at conferences, panels, or networking
events—is an absolutely critical component of career
building, particularly for freelancers and small business
owners. Your challenge, therefore, is finding the courage to
take a risk, push past your fears, and put yourself and your
work out there. These tips can get you started.
CREATE A SOCIAL MEDIA
PROMOTION CALENDAR
While you may take a spontaneous approach to posting
life events on social media, there’s real value in having a
plan when it comes to work-related content. Think about
the different projects, milestones, or conversational top-
ics you’ll want to share in the next month, and map out a
schedule for when (and on which platform) you’ll share
what. Elaine is a big fan of pre-planning and recom-
mends using a grid planner for Instagram (consider apps
like Loomly, Planoly, and Hopper HQ). Using a grid plan-
ner can give you more time to be thoughtful about your
posts, and the very act of planning your promotion
schedule may also help alleviate any anxieties around it.
(In fact, a 2011 study by American psychologist and self-
help author Robert Epstein surveyed research partici-
pants about stress and their management techniques.
Epstein found that the most effective tool for reducing
stress was—you guessed it—planning ahead.)
TRY SOME POSITIVE AND
INTENTIONAL SELF-TALK
Often the most biting criticism we receive comes from
ourselves. Negative self-talk—which, as described by
sports psychologists who study the phenomenon in ath-
letes, is often spontaneous—can be blunted with inten-
tional positive self-talk that focuses on affirmations. One
way to put this idea into practice is to reframe negative
thoughts in a more self-affirming way. For instance, let’s
say you’re a recent college graduate newly pursuing a
career as a freelance graphic designer. You’ve created
your own logo, and you’re thinking about posting it to
Instagram as a way to spread the word about your design
practice and find clients. But the first thought that pops
into your brain is, “This logo looks amateurish. People
will laugh at it.” Take a second to acknowledge the
thought, and then reframe it. Maybe you say to yourself,
“I’m still starting out, but I worked hard on this logo.
This is an opportunity to share my work with more
people and to hear feedback that may make my work
even stronger.”
RETURN TO YOUR ZONE OF GENIUS
Think back to your four Zone of Genius pillars (see page
12)—passions, talents, skills, and values—whenever you
need to uplift yourself. Taking a step back, looking at the
bigger picture, and reminding yourself of why you got
into the work you do will reinforce the sense of a lon-
ger-term purpose behind your career, one that may allow
you to overcome short-term doubts or anxieties.
BE HUMBLE IN THE FACE
OF (JUSTIFIABLE) CRITICISM
If the “worst” happens and you share something that
leads to a barrage of legitimate criticism—or, even worse,
gets you “canceled”—follow Elaine’s advice and be hum-
ble. Listen to what the feedback is, acknowledge the im-
pact of your actions (and not just your intention), apolo-
36
gize if appropriate, and reflect on ways you can learn ton on the social media platforms that offer it. You might
from your mistake. Educate yourself about any blind also consider disabling commenting on platforms that
spots that may have led to the mistake to help you avoid permit it (Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube all have
the same pitfalls in the future. settings that allow you to turn commenting off).

DON’T BE AFRAID OF THE “BLOCK” BUTTON

There may be times when you’ll face valid criticism, and
there may be other times when you’ll be on the receiving
end of irrational insults. For those latter situations, it’s
often best not to engage and instead use the “block” but-

ELAINE’S
60-SECOND GLOSSARY Quick definitions of four important terms that will likely
crop up over the course of your career

C O D E- SW I TC H I N G : I M P O STO R SY N D R O M E :
“Using different voices in different social contexts because “It’s that nagging feeling that you’re not enough, even when
you don’t feel comfortable expressing your authentic self.” all evidence points to the contrary.”

F. O . D . :
M I C R OAG G R E S S I O N S :
“Shonda Rhimes defined this term F.O.D.—or First. Only. Dif-
ferent.—in her book Year of Yes. She described F.O.D. as this “These are those little slights that, whether intentional or un-
tribe of people who are first in their field or in their family to intentional, can make people from underrepresented com-
do what they’re doing, the only one who looks like them in munities feel othered, inferior, or just plain shitty.”
the room and/or just plain old different.”

37 
 HOW TO BUILD
YOUR TEAM
When you’re ready to expand your team, Elaine suggests that you “identify where
the blind spots are and be intentional about hiring for them.” If you’re unsure of where
to start, follow this flowchart to discover what kind of support you may need

Do you run your own

small business?

YES NO

Do you need help with taxes or Do you need help with Are you an independent
paying vendors? scheduling? contractor or consultant?

YES NO YES NO YES NO

Do you need help running social Do you need help designing

Do you work for a company or
media accounts for your marketing materials, graphics,
organization?
business? branding, logos, or decks?

YES NO YES NO YES NO

Do you need help writing press

releases, marketing materials,
decks, or pitches? If you're all
set with the
team you
YES NO
have or
content to
keep flying
solo, take
some time
Consider Consider Consider
Consider to figure
hiring an hiring a Consider hiring an
hiring a out your
accountant social hiring a assistant or
graphic Zone of
or part-time media copywriter virtual
designer Genius (see
bookkeeper manager assistant
page 12)

38
 “I HOPE YOU FEEL
THAT YOU CAN
GO OUT AND DO
ANYTHING THAT
YOU’VE DREAMED
OF…AND BE THE
BOSS OF YOUR
OWN LIFE.
I PROMISE
YOU: YOU
GOT THIS.”
39 
40
 CREDITS
“TEEN VOGUE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
ELAINE WELTEROTH IS LEAVING CONDÉ NAST”
By Amanda Arnold for The Cut and Vox Media, LLC. Published January 11, 2018

VARIOUS CONDÉ NAST MATERIAL

Content made available courtesy of Teen Vogue © 2021 Condé Nast

PROJECT RUNWAY IMAGE

Courtesy Fremantle

GROWN-ISH IMAGE
Courtesy ABC Signature

FOOTAGE FROM THE TALK

Courtesy CBS Studios

41