what i’ve been up to lately ( books, networking, & self-improvement- again!)
Bet you're dying to know how I spent my last week of East Coast summer. Funny you ask—because on the West Coast, our summer was already over. Which means I just wrapped up my first official week of fall. And besides staring at my inbox waiting for the recruiters to email me to set up interviews and my usual job-searching screen time, here’s what it looked like…
Bookclub Is Back
After an unintentional pause, my bookclub is finally back! Our first read was The Goddess of Warsaw. It’s a thrilling, fast-paced story about the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising and beyond—a must-read (or listen).
Networking IRL
Front to Back/ Left to Right: Kate Sargent, Joanne Shen, Paige Harazin-Masi, ME, Kasi Riley, Amanda Zeidman
I went to an East Bay networking event this week. What struck me most was the sunshine, good vibes & connection. Most attendees weren’t in my eCommerce—which made conversations surprisingly fascinating. There was definitely some “first-time-back” anxiety, which I totally get. My strategy: I hyped myself up, committed to just two hours, and reminded myself I can listen to or talk to anyone for that long. I actually did more listening then talking which is hard for me.
LinkedIn Visibility
I’ve been posting more on LinkedIn—working on being intentional and visible as a professional voice in my space. And, still working on what that space and voice is. The platform feels wide open right now, so I’m experimenting with content and connection. You can follow me over there too.
Self-Improvement - at it again
I realized something this week: I might be a self-improvement junkie. Between podcasts, books, workshops, and exercises, I’m always chasing the next spark of inspo for my evolution. Since April, I’ve :
Taken Erica Rietman’s Digital CEO Millionaire You course—I signed up for the business tips but stayed for the outfits, statement glasses, and the Mexico City apartment tour. Biggest takeaway? I can’t remember, but I did get myself a bigger journal to write in.
Joining Kate Sargent’s classes: The Core Collective (professional identity work) and The Launch Pad (consulting business foundations). I walked away with an updated LinkedIn profile, sharper resume, interview + pitch practice, and a supportive networking community.
I also listened to the book Pro Voice. The content was a bit “meh,” but I was reminded consistency is key. And, I did find some good exercises I’m testing out—I’ll report back if they stick.
Wishing you a wonderful long weekend. Keep an eye out for September’s Energetic Forecast: Maia’s Take—dropping September 1.
All my Leopard Print and Lipstick 💋,
d
PS: Let me know how you spent your last week of summer.
PPS: I also played Pickleball. What I missed was Mahjong, but don’t worry, I'm playing all day Monday and Tuesday night. 🀄️
