Subscribe | Unsubscribe | Weekender Mar 14, 2026

🤔 Brainteaser of the day: In what year was International Women's Day first celebrated?

Click here to see the answer.

✅ Today's Checklist:

• Thania needs your advice

• The Olivia Dean track to dance to in the kitchen

• Pet of the week: Meet Ernie

🗓️ Thurs 3/19: Q1 is almost over. Is your year going how you planned? Learn the goal-setting system that actually works for Q2 and beyond. Save your seat here.

QUICK LINKS

📅 Are your 1:1s productive or just polite? It might be time to rethink whether they still earn a calendar slot.

👉 Easy ways to show your team some Tax Day love.

📱 Your phone affects your mood more than you think, and wellness tech is only making it more complicated.

🔥 More women are calling out emotional labor at work and why it drains so much energy.

RELATIONSHIPS

My Best Friend's Mom Is Dying. I Don't Know What to Do.

One of my favorite things about writing for TA is the community. The subscribers. You.

I genuinely love reading your comments and feedback, and that this space feels like a two-way conversation.

So in the spirit of honesty, today's article isn't about giving advice, it's about asking for it.

Because today I'm feeling a little lost, deeply sad, and incredibly empathetic for someone I love.

One of my dearest best friends, Mary*, just told me that her mom's breast cancer is terminal. We only found out about the stage 4 diagnosis about two weeks ago.

Hearing that the cancer has spread to her liver has been devastating.

And I say we because Mary is like family to me, and her mom's treatment feels personal to me too.

Just recently, we were talking about the plan to tackle the breast cancer. We were discussing her mom's wishes to have both breasts removed during surgery.

Now, suddenly, the conversation has shifted to a terminal diagnosis.

Her breasts aren't even the issue anymore. The focus is simply keeping her alive.

That kind of emotional whiplash is hard to process.

I don't know how to offer support.

This is heartbreaking and painful and sad in a way that feels bigger than the normal playbook we're all taught.

You know the typical advice:

Don't ask "what can I do?"—just show up and do something.

So I've tried.

I offered to drive down and visit her today. She said it wasn't necessary.

I offered to watch the kids so she could have a full day to just be in bed and feel whatever she needed to feel. She told me she already got to do that yesterday.

I could send flowers, but that feels small.

I could research every medical or holistic treatment that exists, but that feels like overstepping.

Mary and I have very similar personalities and approaches to life. We've always had an awareness that our parents won't be here forever. We've talked about it before.

We've both tried to be intentional about spending time with them, cherishing them, appreciating them.

We always knew that one day our parents would face hard moments, and we assumed we'd be there for each other when that happened.

But as I read her texts this morning breaking the news, I realized something.

I feel incredibly unprepared.

I don't have a lot of experience with cancer. I don't have a lot of experience supporting someone whose loved one is going through something like this.

Normally, I'm the one in the driver's seat taking care of my own sick loved ones.

I know that role.

But being the sub-supporter—the person standing beside the person who is carrying the real weight—feels unfamiliar.

I'm a do-er. I like to take action. I like to help.

Right now I feel a little useless.

But I know there has to be something meaningful I can do.

So I'm turning to you.

Those of you who have cared for a dying parent.

Those of you who have gone through cancer.

Those of you who have supported someone you love through it.

• What helped?

• What did you wish someone had done for you?

• What support actually mattered?

I would truly love to hear from you.

Sincerely,

A best friend who is incredibly sad for her best friend.

MEANINGFUL RECOGNITION

Culture Is Built in the Smallest Gestures

Culture isn't built during the annual all-hands. It shows up in the small moments.

Like when someone's had a rough week and their effort doesn't go unnoticed.

Not with another pizza party. Not with generic swag.

But with something that actually feels thoughtful.

Maybe, it's the stone diffuser that makes their desk feel like a deep breath.

The Turkish blanket that upgrades their WFH setup.

The insulated mug that becomes their daily sidekick

The blue light glasses that help them survive back-to-back meetings.

The sticky notes book where their best ideas start.

Or the scrub joggers that say, we see how hard you work.

None of these things are huge, but they signal something important: someone's paying attention.

And those small signals? They're what shape a culture people actually want to be part of.

Make someone's day.

STAFF PICKS

📚 Read: The Pilgrimage by Paulo Coelho

Less "self-help," more soul-nudge. A story about discipline, doubt, and what happens when you commit to the path even when you don't feel ready, with little takeaways that stick in your head long after you close the book.

🎧 Listen: So Easy (To Fall In Love) by Olivia Dean

We were already obsessed with her entire album, but this track is the cherry on top. It carries that airy, nostalgic, romantic-but-still-fun feeling that makes you want to dance around your kitchen while you're cooking. Blast it if you're in love, flirting with the idea of love, or just in a good mood and refusing to apologize for it.

📺 Watch: TURN: Washington's Spies (Netflix)

A surprisingly bingeable mix of spycraft, war politics, and messy human loyalties, all set during the American Revolution. It's the kind of show that makes history feel less like a textbook and more like high-stakes strategy with real consequences.

BUSINESS SYSTEMS

Your Business Is Leaking Money, Time, and Sanity. Here's the Patch.

Most businesses don't fail dramatically. They bleed out slowly. A missed follow-up here. A lost receipt there. A project that drifted two weeks off course before anyone noticed. A social post that never went out. A form submission that fell into a black hole.

By the time you notice, the damage is done.

Here is what an unorganized business actually costs you. Deals lost because data lived in someone's inbox. Projects derailed because accountability was "assumed." Thousands in expenses untracked until the auditor asks questions. A social media presence so inconsistent your audience forgot you existed. Teams working hard in completely opposite directions.

This is not a people problem. This is a systems problem.

Zoho Projects puts deadlines, ownership, and progress in plain sight so excuses disappear and results show up.

Zoho Expense turns receipt chaos into automated, audit-ready reports your finance team will actually thank you for.

Zoho Social transforms sporadic posting into a disciplined, data-driven content strategy that keeps your brand visible and relevant.

Zoho Forms captures clean, structured data from day one so nothing gets lost in translation.

And the entire Zoho Business platform connects every moving part so your tools work as one engine, not five separate machines fighting each other.

Clarity. Accountability. Momentum.

That is what a connected business feels like.

👉 Start free today and join over 100 million businesses running smarter on Zoho.

JUST FOR FUN

COMMUNITY

🗓️ Upcoming Events

• REPLAY: Think Like a Leader: 3 Strategic Frameworks to Build Your Power

• Wed 3/18 @ 11AM PT: Co-working Session (SGS Only* | Join the waitlist)

• Thurs 3/19 @ 9AM PT: How to Set (and Achieve) Quarterly Goals with Clarity and Confidence

• Fri 3/27 @ 10AM PT: Automation Workshop (SGS Only* | Join the waitlist)

• On Demand: 2026 Compliance Predictions Companies Can't Afford to Ignore

  
  

* Smart Girl Society is our private community for women who want deeper conversations, accountability, and tools that actually make life easier. Join the waitlist to get in the next round.

🐶 Pet of the Week: Meet Ernie

Ernie is a 13-year-old Dachshund-Beagle. He has diabetes and lost his eyesight a year ago, but hasn't lost his ability to materialize exactly where you are about to put your foot. Ernie is solar powered, requiring him to bask in the sun as much as possible. He is a happy, content little dog who spends most of his time indoors in an incubator (a basket with a heating pad and blankets) or in a lap (also with blankets).

🐾 Got a cute fur baby? Submit them to be our pet of the week in an upcoming issue.

💼 Browse our job board here.

SPILL THE TEA

Our Weekly Work Horoscope March 16-22, 2026

Dive deeper at Eume.

Productivity forecast: 🟩- peak, 🟨- steady, 🟦- creative, 🟧- slow, 🟥- low

♈️ ARIES: The Green Light. One More Time. Your week arrives with a massive surge of momentum. The fog is lifting and your authority is clicking into place. People are starting to see you as the engine of the team. That bold idea they said was too much. It's time. Start building it this week. Your confidence is the only permission you need. By Friday, the narrative shifts entirely in your favor. This is your moment.

M🟨T🟧W🟧T🟩F🟩

♉️ TAURUS: Quiet Brilliance. Some of your best work is happening behind closed doors right now. Your public standing is high, so use this visibility. You don't need to shout to be heard. A quiet, calculated suggestion in a meeting this week carries more weight than a grand speech. You've been learning new skills rapidly. It's time to integrate them into your daily workflow. Trust that your quiet contributions are making a loud impact.

M🟧T🟧W🟧T🟧F🟧

♊️ GEMINI: Your Moment Arrived. You are standing at the summit of your professional life right now. This is not the time for modesty. An old connection opens a surprising new door. Follow that thread. Your vision for what's next is crystal clear. Pitch that big idea you've been holding onto before Friday. People are looking to you for leadership, so give them a direction to follow. Your clarity is your greatest strength this week.

M🟨T🟧W🟧T🟧F🟧

♋️ CANCER: The Big Picture. You are finally seeing the whole board, not just the next move. This week brings a rare opportunity to reshape your role into what you want it to be. If you see a better way to structure a project, propose it. Your colleagues are more receptive than you think. A conversation about shared resources could unlock the funding you need. Write down your biggest professional goal. You are ready to launch it.

M🟧T🟦 W🟦 T🟨F🟧

♌️ LEO: Build It Big. You've been doing the heavy lifting in private, and the results are ready for a public debut. Your ability to see the big picture is your greatest asset. Others are looking for a clear roadmap, and you have it. Use the mid-week momentum to pitch an idea that felt too bold a month ago. Clear out one major task from your list to make room for a new, more significant responsibility.

M🟨T🟧W🟧T🟩F🟩

♍️ VIRGO: The Right Ally. Your power this week lies in your partnerships. The solo approach has served its purpose, but collaboration is how you scale now. Look for the person who balances your precision with a broader vision. A negotiation that has been stalled gets a breakthrough by Friday. Use this shift to secure a more permanent seat at the table. Don't just do the work; make sure the right people see you doing it.

M🟧T🟨W🟧T🟧F🟧

♎️ LIBRA: The Director's Chair. Your daily grit is translating into high-level recognition. This week, trade your 'doer' hat for a 'director' one. Stop sweating the small stuff in your inbox and focus on the two or three decisions only you can make. A difficult colleague might suddenly become an ally, helping you push a stalled project forward. When an offer comes, look at the title, not just the pay. You are ready for the upgrade.

M🟩T🟧W🟧T🟨F🟩

♏️ SCORPIO: Good Instincts Only. Your creative engine is roaring to life. This is not a week for following the manual; it's for rewriting it. Your unique perspective is exactly what the team needs. Don't filter your ideas to fit in. The more original your suggestion, the more traction it will get. Keep a notebook handy for a 'lightbulb' moment late in the week. It could change your entire strategy for the better. Your intensity is your advantage.

M🟩T🟦W🟦T🟩F🟩

♐️ SAGITTARIUS: The Sweet Spot. You are finding your rhythm. After moving so fast, this week is about securing your foundations. Fix one small, nagging leak in your daily workflow. It will make a bigger difference than you expect. Mid-week brings a surge of creative energy. Use it to solve a lingering branding problem. The spotlight is shifting to your output, not just your presence. Prepare for a faster, more focused pace to begin this weekend.

M🟨T🟧W🟧T🟨F🟨

♑️ CAPRICORN: Trust That Feeling. Your professional partnerships are your greatest asset right now. You don't have to carry every project alone. Reach out to one trusted collaborator and ask for their help. It will lighten the load more than you know. The energy shifts dramatically on Friday, and your voice regains its power and precision. This weekend is the perfect time to write that big proposal you've been planning. A new momentum is building.

M 🟨T🟩W🟩T🟩F🟨

♒️ AQUARIUS: Know Your Worth. This week centers on your worth and your wallet. Before you push for approvals, take a moment. Audit your recent performance and build a case for yourself based on hard data. Your efficiency is your secret weapon, so track it. By the weekend, your communication style becomes more assertive and clear. You will find it easier to say 'no' to projects that undervalue your time. Focus on the bottom line. It's time.

M🟩T🟨W🟨T🟩F🟩

♓️ PISCES: The Setup Pays Off. The world is ready to see what you've been building. The heavy fog that has been hanging over your career finally lifts this week. Use this new clarity to launch a personal project you've been holding back. Your energy will skyrocket as the week closes, making you feel more direct and decisive. Stop waiting for the perfect moment. Your instincts are sharper than you're giving yourself credit for right now.

M🟩T🟦W🟦T🟩F🟩

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