May
2023

Things to Know Before Making a Transition to Start-Up

categories: Career, General Career Advice, Welcome to The Real World

So you got an amazing job offer. At a start-up. No biggie. After all, a start-up is just a company that is just beginning to grow, right? Here are a few things to consider before transitioning to that start-up.

Job Security

Firstly, what is the job security like? Start-ups are noted for randomly closing. However this isn’t always the case. Of course if you’re leaving a stable job or if you’re a new graduate you want that assurance that your job is safe. Do your research on the company and the industry beforehand to get an idea of how secure your job is.

Are Your Values Aligned?

As someone who had grown distant from my former company because of misaligned values, this one was a biggie for me. Start-ups are full of chaos. This is made up for when you and the company have the same or similiar values. This also helps get you through the 3AM work (see below).

Little to No Structure

Start-ups lack the formal processes that an established company has. You might hate or love this depending on the type of person you are. Of course you can be the person to bring in the structure and processes but that depends on how willing everyone else around you is to change.

Weird Work Hours

Start-ups can sometimes be go-go-go ALL THE TIME. This is my favourite part because I tend to be widely awake in the middle of the night so I’m fine to work then but this does take its toll on you if you have a family.

Anything Under the Sun is Possible

Whereas a corporate role would have red tape or you’re limited in your specific department, in a start-up you could do anything and most likely will be doing more than a few things. In my role as a Content Writer in a start-up, I wrote content, edited content, wrote copy and even weighed in on a few internal branding and Customer Care scenarios because of my corporate background.

Would you ever consider working for a start-up? Have you ever worked for a start-up? What are your thoughts? Let me know below.


Apr
2023

Book Review: We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

categories: Books, Reviews

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I have so many mixed feelings about this book. Where do I even start?
“We Were Liars” has always been a really hyped book.
Which is why it took me so many years before I finally picked it up.
Whenever I asked fans of the book to explain to me what it was about, they never could. So I had this theory in my head that it was just a bad book with lots of fans.
No, it is not.
This is a YA mystery set in Summer with a bunch of privileged teens. Every Summer, a wealthy family gathers on their private island to spend time with each other.
Until one Summer where there’s an accident that changes everything.
What happened in the accident? Why won’t anyone talk about it? Why are they pretending like nothing has changed when everything has changed?
These are questions that can only be answered by reading this book.
This was a really well-written book that I couldn’t put down. This book tore my heart to pieces but I eagerly picked up “Family of Liars”. I loved spending time on the island with this family and couldn’t wait to go back.



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Apr
2023

5 Must-Read Personal Finance Books

categories: Books

Personal Finance is not a topic we learn in school. However it is a vital skill to learn especially as you grow older and start to earn an income. Here are the books that I consider essential reading if you want to learn more about personal finance.

1. “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” by Robert Kiyosaki

Still a classic (and for good reason). “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” takes a look at the differences in thinking between “rich” and “poor” people. This was a book that was both educational and entertaining. I actually read this at 8 (interestingly enough, I was forced to read this by a wealthy relative). I don’t know if I understood what I was reading at the time but I picked this book up a few months ago and could definitely relate to it. In my job I have seen both “rich” and “poor” and this book definitely highlights the different ways both groups see the world

2. “I Will Teach You to Be Rich” by Ramit Sethi

This is another good book that offers a practical and no-nonsense approach to personal finance. Sethi covers a range of topics, from managing credit card debt to negotiating a salary increase, and provides actionable advice for building wealth and living a rich life.

3. “Managing Your Money Like a F#cking Grown up” by Sam Beckbessinger

This book is like sitting down with a friend to discuss your finances. I loved it! Beckbessinger offers a practical but funny guide to managing your money as an adult. Immediately after reading this, I had to start implementing her tips and I definitely saw a difference in my finances.

4.”The Latte Factor” by David Bach

This book changed my life. I know we all know that you cannot save money just by skipping a latte but this book made me really think about what was important to me when it came to my money. “The Latte Factor” looks at the importance of prioritizing spending and investing in oneself, rather than frivolous daily purchases. It doesn’t just look at money as money. It looks at what financial freedom means to you.

5.”The Total Money Makeover” by Dave Ramsey

I finished this book in one go. “The Total Money Makeover” offers actionable advice to help you get your finances in order. Ramsey teaches readers about his “baby steps” approach to financial success, which includes strategies such as creating a budget, building an emergency fund, and paying off debt.

Reading these personal finance books can help you develop the knowledge and skills you need to achieve your financial goals. Whether you’re looking to build wealth, pay off debt, or simply improve your financial literacy, these books are a great place to start.


Apr
2023

Book Review: When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill

categories: Books, Reviews

When Women Were Dragons: A Novel by Kelly Barnhill

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I am so so SO EMBARRASSED by how long it took me to pick up this book especially since I was drawn in from the second I opened it.
I received a review copy of “When Women Were Dragons” from Jonathan Ball Publishers. Unfortunately, I only got around to reading it now.
I have a really short attention span but this was the first book I tried not to put down (I say “tried” because I am old and eventually had to put it down to sleep…but I was up at 4AM the next morning to continue reading.

“When Women Were Dragons” tells the story of a mass “Dragoning”- an event where women started transforming into dragons. Society dealt with this in a very predictable way- they pretended it never happened.
The main character, Alex tells the story of her childhood and how the Dragoning affected her family and their lives.
What I really loved about this book was that it read like a coming-of-age book mixed with a documentary on how female problems were avoided simply because they were female problems.
This was a really well-written book that I enjoyed immensely. It brought out many intense emotions inside me. I was annoyed, I cried, I wanted to scream (but I didn’t- obedient females don’t do that after all).

I LOVED THIS BOOK! I LOVED THIS WORLDBUILDING! This book needs to be required reading in schools. I have never felt more seen in my life.


Mar
2023

Book Review: The Maid by Nita Prose

categories: Books, Reviews

The Maid by Nita Prose

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I’ve wanted to read this book for a while but it was nothing like I imagined.
Molly the Maid is a kind, cheerful lady who is always ready to help those around her. But when she finds a dead body in one of the rooms she’s cleaning, Molly doesn’t realize that she is in danger.
While this book made it clear that Molly is different, it annoyed me that she didn’t realize at first that she would be considered a suspect for murder.
There were a few times I had to put the book down and just scream.
Basically this is a story about a kind-hearted soul who is just too optimistic to realize that there are bad things and bad people in the world. (Kinda felt like I could relate).
This was a really heartwarming read once I got past being mad at Molly. I have never had a mystery novel leaving me feeling all warm and gooey but this one did. I especially enjoyed the little twist at the end. It seemed overdone but by that time I was craving a little drama.
This isn’t the book for you if you’re looking for a hardcore thriller or suspense novel. But if you have a few hours to kill and want to escape into a book, I definitely suggest this one.
I was not expecting to grow attached to Molly but I did.



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Mar
2023

Book Review: Why Not Me by Mindy Kaling?

categories: Books, Reviews

Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I don’t know how but I keep forgetting how hilarious Mindy Kaling is. I have had this book on my shelf for a really long time and picked it up because I kept stumbling across quotes from it.
I am not usually a big nonfiction fan (especially if the book is written by a celebrity) but this was a really funny and well-written book.
Mindy shares bits and pieces of her life as well as relatable and sage advice. It was like sitting down to chat with a friend.
This was a great read that I strongly recommend to anyone who is a fan of Mindy Kaling. I will definitely be tracking down her other books next.



View all my reviews


Feb
2023

On Rage-Applying for All the Jobs

categories: Uncategorized

Ah yes, rage-applying. I remember it like it was yesterday. It was the year 20xy (I am not specifying the year because I am very public with my life and you can easily investigate where I worked) and I had an absolutely horrible team leader.

She was incompetent. She was rude. She shouted at the staff and made them cry. But the head of the department had chosen her for the role of team leader (despite her lack of experience) and now she was my problem.

My former manager- the team leader’s direct manager- noticed a change in me and asked me about it. I explained to her what was going on. She was sympathetic…to a point. And then she told me that my team leader was my team leader and my options were either to support her or leave.

I was still relatively young in my career so the first thing I did was cry. I couldn’t believe that it was okay that our team leader was an awful human simply because she had the right connections. EVERYONE could see her making the staff cry and no one cared? She wasn’t even good at her job!

But nonetheless, I knew what I had to do. I had to get out. There was clearly no place for me in this department.

Desperate and full of hurt and anger, I started applying to every job that came my way. And that was when my life changed.

I was called for Marketing roles, Copywriter roles, Recruitment roles and even a really memorable Teaching Administrator role (it was clear that the guy had no intention of hiring me but their campus looked amazing). It was a major confidence boost. Although I wasn’t getting the jobs, I loved that so many amazing companies considered me. It was then that I began to think about what I called “My Exit Plan”.

I had always loved the idea of working in Marketing. Marketing was the only subject that made me feel the same way I felt for writing.

So I decided to try a Marketing short course to see if that spark was still there. It was.

And that was how I found my way into Marketing. Kinda. Well it’s a bit more than that but rage-applying was the first step.

So if you feel like you need to rage-apply for all the jobs. Go for it. You never know where you might end up.


Feb
2023

Book Review: Nothing More to Tell by Karen M McManus

categories: Books, Reviews

Nothing More to Tell by Karen M. McManus

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I received a review copy of this book from Penguin Books South Africa. “Nothing More to Tell” is the story of aspiring journalist, Brynn. Brynn scores an internship at a true crime show. She is also moving back to her old high school, Saint Ambrose. While she isn’t thrilled to be returning, she uses the opportunity to solve the murder of her favourite teacher, Mr Larkin.
But as Brynn digs deeper into the mystery of Mr Larkin’s death, she starts to realize that everyone around her has secrets of their own.
I love Karen McManus books and this was no different. However this was difficult for me to read simply because my attention span isn’t what it used to be (which bummed me out). The book itself was enjoyable and I couldn’t stop reading. However towards the end the plot got a little twisted and it just seemed like everything was happening for shock value.
I had already figured out what happened to Mr Larkin earlier in the book. I just kept reading for the drama (and oh was there DRAMA!)
All in all I am giving this one 5 stars because it’s been a while since I pushed through my TikTok attention span for a book.



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Jan
2023

Book Review: Booked on a Feeling by Jayci Lee

categories: Books, Reviews

Booked on a Feeling by Jayci Lee

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I love this series so much so obviously I had to get my hands on this book.
However what I didn’t take into consideration was the fact that friends to lovers isn’t a trope I usually enjoy.
Nonetheless this was a sweet read and as always, I loved seeing characters from previous books.
“Booked on a Feeling” follows ambitious lawyer Lizzy and her best friend Jack.
Jack and Lizzy have been friends since they were kids. What Lizzy doesn’t know is that Jack has always had a crush on her. When severe burnout leads to Lizzy running away to Jack’s hometown, Lizzy starts to see Jack in a completely new light and she starts to develop feelings for him as well.
This was a really cute small town romance that I enjoyed- just not as much as I enjoyed the other books in this series



View all my reviews


Jan
2023

2023 Life Update: You Can’t Spell Iron Without I

categories: Uncategorized

Was it only 5 months ago that I did one of these posts and mentioned how burnt out I was? (Yes, yes it was). Well quick recap for the new year.

Eventually I got a new job that was better aligned to my long-term career goals (boy does that sentence sound stuffy. Nothing in my entire life prepared me for having to explain my new role as a content writer. Which is why I still haven’t explained it to many people. I just pretend like nothing has happened. If you know me personally and you’ve read this post, please keep it to yourself).

Anyway, I was two days into my new job when I realized that I might be part of the problem. I had trouble taking breaks and disconnecting from work. I had automatically assumed that with a new job I would have better balance. And I did. I just didn’t know how to handle it. The role was remote so why shouldn’t I be available 24/7?

About two weeks into the new job, I realized I didn’t feel too good. I was still tired all the time, my chest hurt and I had trouble breathing. I passed this off as anxiety. Eventually my dad caught a cold and by then I thought maybe I had covid.

Fast forward to 27th December-aka the public holiday our President so kindly granted us- and I had a weird pins and needle sensation in my feet that wouldn’t go away. I didn’t know how to describe it but I knew it felt wrong. Desperate for help, I begged my parents to take me to the emergency room. I say “begged” because I could tell my mother didn’t think this was a big enough issue (I mean 3 ear infections in one year and I get why she didn’t believe me but it still hurt).

We went to the ER and two hours later I had my answer. I was anemic. I cannot explain to you the level of disappointment I had (and still have) in my body.

It’s been two weeks and I finally feel a little more normal. My GP says my iron levels are not low enough for me to be suffering with light-headedness, fatigue and tingly feet. However today is my first normal day in a long while and I have been consuming tons of iron (far more than I should have).

All this is to say I am not so sure what burnout is anymore. The first time I thought I was burnt out, I had covid. The second time, I’m thinking was the anemia.

How am I actually going to know when burnout really hits?

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