Never Stop Learning (Issue #25)
Final week of advocating for your career and a reader exclusive offer!
A quick thank you
As we close out February, I want to take a moment to say thank you—for being here, for reading, for engaging, and for being part of balanced.boss and Newleaf.
When I started this, my goal was to create a space for leaders, professionals, and entrepreneurs to find clarity, growth, and balance in their careers. Over the past 25 newsletters, I’ve shared insights, strategies, and challenges, but what’s made this truly special is you!
Your feedback, your stories, and your willingness to show up for yourself.
If anything from these emails has sparked an idea, encouraged a shift, or helped you take action, I’d love to hear about it.
And if there’s something you want to see more of, let me know, I’m always listening.
Here’s to the next chapter of growth, leadership, and creating impact together.
With so much gratitude,
Colleen
Let the career advocacy journey continue
If you’ve been following along we are in the final week of the 4 week series on being an advocate for your career. The last three weeks we focused on setting goals, gathering data (accomplishments & skills), communication and how to find mentors that align with your values.
If you haven’t check out the post in this monthly series, read below ↓
Week 1: https://balancedboss.substack.com/p/career-advocacy-week1
Week 2: https://balancedboss.substack.com/p/career-advocacy-week2
Week 3: https://balancedboss.substack.com/p/career-advocacy-week3
📰 Hello, AMA!
Q: “I’ve been reading your weekly email and I know I should be advocating for my career, but I am struggling with knowing where to start. I don’t want to come across as pushy or bragging. How can I do this in a way that feels natural to me?”
A: This is such a common challenge! Career advocacy isn’t about being the loudest in the room or constantly selling yourself—it’s about clearly communicating your value, being intentional about your growth, and building the right relationships.
Start small:
✅ Clarify what you want. Are you looking for a promotion? More stretch projects? Better alignment with your strengths? Knowing your goal helps you advocate with purpose.
✅ Keep a wins journal. Regularly track your contributions, successes, and impact. It makes it easier to share your value in conversations.
✅ Have proactive career conversations. Don’t wait for annual reviews, ever! Schedule check-ins with your manager to discuss progress and opportunities.
✅ Support others. Career advocacy isn’t just about self-promotion; it’s about lifting others, too.
Think of it as owning your career narrative rather than waiting for someone else to define it for you.
↳ Week 4 Exercise: Advocating for your Career
"The future depends on what you do today." — Mahatma Gandhi
Your career path doesn’t stop once you reach a goal, it’s an ongoing process.
One that requires a plan for continuous learning and career development. From strategies to stay adaptable, to expanding your skills, all of this will help set you up for long-term success.
Reminder, your growth is in your hands
The best career advice I ever got? Never stop learning.
Every job, every challenge, every setback—it all teaches you something. But growth doesn’t happen by accident.
You have to be intentional.
If you want more opportunities, more impact, and more fulfillment in your career, you have to:
Invest in learning new skills
Seek feedback and mentorship
Push yourself beyond your comfort zone (!!)
Here’s a few steps to get you started on a learning and development plan:
Step 1: List skills, courses or experiences you need to reach your goals.
Step 2: Identify resources (books, podcasts, courses, certifications) to learn from.
Step 3: Lean on your mentors and network to identify more opportunities.
Exclusive early access for balanced.boss readers!
If you've been following along these past four weeks, I hope you've been able to apply the career advocacy steps. But if you’re looking for more structure and guidance, I have something for you!
Introducing the Own Your Career Workbook—designed to help you take charge, have the tough conversations (hello, raise!), and grow with confidence.
This workbook walks you through the 5 key steps of advocating for your career:
✅ Clarifying your goals
✅ Building your case
✅ Communicating effectively
✅ Finding mentors and advocates
✅ Continued growth & learning
What’s included?
🔹 Own Your Career Workbook – A complete step-by-step guide
🔹 Career Advocacy Checklist – A 1-page quick reference
🔹 Promotion & Raise Scripts – Confidence-boosting conversation guides
🔹 Weekly Career Progress Tracker – A helpful Notion template to stay on track
👉 Now Available: Own Your Career Workbook
How do you handle constructive criticism and feedback?
Criticism, even when it’s constructive, can bring up a variety of emotions and reactions. By understanding the patterns of how we process and respond to feedback, we can gain valuable insights into ourselves and take steps to grow. Use this guide to reflect on your tendencies and behaviors when faced with criticism, based on the cognitive appraisal system and psychological research.
Wellness Corner
Sharing another of my favorite quick mouth-watering (and hydrating) drink recipes:
Hydrate with Citrus Mint-Infused Water 🍊
Add slices of orange, lemon, or grapefruit to your water for a refreshing twist. Citrus fruits are packed with vitamin C and antioxidants, making your hydration routine even healthier!
Ingredients:
1 orange, thinly sliced
1 lemon, thinly sliced
½ lime, thinly sliced
4-5 fresh mint leaves
4 cups cold water
Ice cubes (optional)
Instructions:
Add the citrus slices and mint leaves to a large pitcher.
Pour in the cold water and stir gently.
Let it infuse in the fridge for at least 30 minutes (or overnight for a stronger flavor).
Serve over ice and enjoy a refreshing, vitamin-packed drink!
Tip: Add a splash of coconut water for extra hydration or a drizzle of honey for a touch of sweetness.
📢 You’re not alone
One of the best things about the Hello, AMA! and the balanced.boss newlsetter is that they remind us that we’re all navigating similar challenges.
I’ve heard from so many of you saying, “This question hit home” or “I thought I was the only one struggling with this.”
If you’re facing a challenge in your career, chances are, someone else is too. So don’t keep it to yourself—speak up! Send me a message, drop a comment, or reply to this email with your question.
I’ll feature it (anonymously) in an upcoming newsletter—because your challenges, insights, and wins deserve space here.
Until next time, stay well.
𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒂𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒅.𝒃𝒐𝒔𝒔 𝒕𝒆𝒂𝒎