🌞 Piece of Mind
Some people fight for a better future—others fight to keep the past in power. Last week, we watched a Black woman with two engineering degrees and 30+ years of experience get grilled by a politician with zero HR expertise about why diversity matters. The fight over DEI isn’t about merit—it’s about control.
More on that below. Let’s get to work.
🎁 Exclusive for Paid Subscribers: The Leadership Playbook for High
Go upgrade and you will get the goods!
📌 Today’s Quick To-Dos
✅ Brain-dump your biggest tasks, then pick only THREE priorities.
✅ Send a check-in message to someone who is doing what you dream of doing. Even if tehy are ‘famous’
✅ Remove one unnecessary meeting from your calendar.
📊 This Week in Shambles (Top News in Work, Tech & Culture)
📉 Layoffs keep rolling in:
GrubHub slashes 23% of its workforce—because clearly, “efficiency” = fewer employees.
Autodesk cuts 9% of its workforce as the economy shifts.
Government workers brace for more job cuts amid federal restructuring.
🖥️ Tech Shakeups:
Microsoft is shutting down Skype (remember that app?).
Amazon is beefing up its Temu rival—watch out, online shopping is getting cutthroat.
Google co-founder says remote work is dead—is he right?
🔌 The Internet Just Broke (Again):
Microsoft Outlook suffered a massive outage—email hoarders, take this as your sign to clean up your inbox.
💰 Rich Get Richer:
CEOs are raking in record bonuses—again. Workers? Still waiting on that cost-of-living raise.
🤖 AI Takes Over Hiring:
AI-generated résumés are outsmarting hiring managers—the job market is now a game of real or robot?
🖥️ Ctrl+Z (A Quick Fix for Chaos)
Too many browser tabs open? Bookmark the “must-revisit” ones and close the rest. Your brain will thank you.
🌀 Chaos Theory
🎤 The Manufactured War on DEI: Why It’s About Power, Not Performance.
Last week, Texas Rep. Brian Harrison grilled L’Oreal Stepney, Chair of the Texas Water Development Board, over her agency’s hiring practices. Stepney—a Black woman with two engineering degrees and 30+ years of experience—had to defend her right to lead not because of her qualifications, but because of her race.
This isn’t about fairness. This is about power—who gets to have it and who gets to keep it. The attack on DEI is a smokescreen for keeping gatekeepers in charge. And if you think it won’t affect you, think again.
🎭 The People Puzzles Mindset: 8 Steps to Stop Giving a F*ck
If you’re done overthinking, tired of seeking permission, and ready to move through life with confidence—this is your framework. No fluff. No apologies. Just action.
Perspective Shift: People Aren’t Thinking About You As Much As You Think
➡ Example: I used to hesitate before sharing my opinions in big meetings. Then I realized—most people are too caught up in their own insecurities to even notice mine. So I stopped overanalyzing and started owning the space I walked into.You are not an extra in someone else’s movie. Act like the main character.
Perception Check: Show Up Like You Own the Room
➡ Example: When I first started in Talent Acquisition, I felt like I had to prove I belonged. Then I decided: what if I just assumed I belonged? The moment I started carrying myself with confidence, others followed suit.Clarity isn’t optional; it’s your competitive edge.
Take Up Space: Confidence Is an Action, Not a Feeling
➡ Example: I wasn’t always comfortable on stage. But I walked up there, spoke with authority, and let my actions build my confidence. The more I did it, the more natural it became.Confidence isn’t about waiting until you feel ready. It’s about moving forward even when you’re not.
Why You Care (and How to Stop): Your Survival Doesn’t Depend on Their Approval
➡ Example: The first time I got pushback for challenging the status quo in recruiting, I took it personally. But then I realized—people resist change, not me. My work wasn’t about making people comfortable; it was about making an impact.You don’t need validation. You need results.
Rewire Your Mind: Drop What Doesn’t Matter, Act on What Does
➡ Example: Every time I find myself hesitating, I ask: Will this matter in a year? If not, I let it go. If yes, I move—no explanations, no apologies. This has saved me so much mental energy.If it won’t matter in a year, it doesn’t deserve your energy today.
Stop Playing by Society’s Script: Success Isn’t One-Size-Fits-All
➡ Example: I built a career at the intersection of HR tech, DEI, and talent strategy—a lane most people don’t even realize exists. I didn’t follow a traditional path. I built my own.Traditional success is overrated. Define your own damn metrics!!
Get Obsessed with What Lights You Up: Passion Drowns Out Opinions
➡ Example: The moment I started pouring my energy into People Puzzles, outside opinions stopped mattering. Passion replaces doubt. The work speaks louder than the critics.When you’re building something you beleive in, distractions disappear.
Think Bigger Than Yourself: Your Legacy > Their Opinions
➡ Example: When I feel insecure, I zoom out. Will this doubt even register in five years? Probably not. But the work I create—the systems I build, the people I help—will.
Your future self is watching. Make her proud.
Final Thought: You Don’t Need Permission to Live Boldly. You Just Need to Decide To.
Drop a 🔥 if this hit home. What step do you need to work on the most? Let’s talk.