The Pick Me Up is a Monday morning newsletter filled with advice, personal stories, and tips to help you get out of bed and jumpstart your week.
Greetings, friend! It’s me, Jen Glantz. I’m writing this to you from a little rocking chair in the corner of my apartment.
All I can see outside my window are the crowns of buildings. But I choose to see more.
Today, I saw a cloud the shape of a lion. Last night, I watched a tree shed some of its dried up leaves.
Right now, the sun is hitting the side of a white building and it looks like it’s covered it pixie dust. Likely, just dust, because (hello!!) we’re in Brooklyn, but still.
I look out the window a lot.
Because it reminds me to stop trying to look so far ahead.
It begs me to pay attention to what is in front of me - right now, right here.
It’s Monday and you might be eager to see into the future.
How the heck is Tuesday going to go?
Who knows?
So instead, stay still for a little longer. Look at what is around you. Pretend it’s magic. Make it dance. Find what’s sparkling. Before it blows away.
In this issue: Good advice from a robot, last-minute mother’s day gifts, life advice on why sending (3) follow-up emails is golden.
Why you’re getting this: I'm Jen Glantz and this is The Pick-Me-Up newsletter. I've been sending it every Monday, for 8-years, to thousands of awesome humans, just like you. Thank you for letting this email live in in your inbox. It truly makes my heart explode with joy.
Instant Pick Me Ups
🍪: Set a boundary for yourself this week. What’s one thing you’re not going to do and can you challenge yourself to stick to that boundary? I’m not the best at this, but I’m trying to be better. Now that I have a baby, boundary setting is a must. I have to have limits around how much I make myself available to others with work (emails, phone calls, etc.) and in my personal life (having visitors over, helping friends, etc.). Instead of setting firm, unbreakable, boundaries, I just set one per week and try to stick to it. It helps build self-confidence and strength.
📚: The title of this book caught my attention so I grabbed a copy and I’m loving it so far - it’s a combo of heartfelt, inspirational, and the kind of page turner that makes you think deeply about your life.
🎧: This is my pick-me-up song of the week. I love all of her music but this song is really making me bop around my apartment feeling like a superhero.
One thing about me is that I’m awful at saying goodbye.
At first, people who love me find this charming.
But soon after, they label me “annoying”.
I don’t blame them.
I’m the type of person who dreads ending a conversation.
So I don’t.
Instead, I ask 15 unimportant follow-up questions.
The conversation has evaporated. The coffee cup is starting to disintegrate. The person has yawned.
But there I am, enthusiastically, saying: tell me more about that!
When Adam and I first started dating, he would pick up the phone and call me.
And when the call was about to end, instead of saying: okay, well, I’ll talk to you later.
I would just hang up.
I didn’t want to say goodbye to him, then, or even now.
I’m not just like this with people. I’m like this with everything.
There are plastic containers lining the walls of my parent’s garage with stuff I have held onto over the years: a pile of letters I wrote my parents from summer camp begging for them to come get me (they didn’t…), an unopened pack of milky pens (do you remember milky pens!!), yearbooks every single year that I went to school.
There are parts of my business as an entrepreneur & content creator that I dislike doing, that aren’t working, that I should have given up on ages ago, but yet, I don’t.
Everyone tells me: JEN! Just end the convo! Just toss out the dried up milky pens already. Just ditch the business stuff!
But I don’t listen to advice from humans.
So I figured maybe I’d listen to robots instead.
I asked ChatGPT for help saying goodbye.
Here’s what it coached me to do:
Saying goodbye can be difficult, but there are some things you can do to make it easier:
Express your gratitude: Take a moment to express your appreciation for the time you've spent together, and the positive impact the person has had on your life. Let them know that you are grateful for the memories you've shared and the lessons you've learned from them.
Be honest: If you're feeling sad or emotional about the goodbye, it's okay to express those feelings. Honesty can help you process your emotions and make the goodbye feel more meaningful.
Offer well wishes: Wish the person well in their future endeavors, and let them know that you will be rooting for them from afar. Encourage them to stay in touch and keep you updated on their life.
Keep it simple: Sometimes less is more when it comes to goodbyes. A simple "goodbye" or "take care" can be just as effective as a long, drawn-out speech.
To be honest, I found that advice to be really good. Tough on the heart, but smart to follow.
I’m inside a bubble right now as a new mom where I have to get better at saying goodbye, especially to the stuff that’s taking up too much time.
I’m a powerhouse at beginnings. But I’m no good at endings.
And if you’re like me, then maybe you need to hear this, from ChatGPT:
Remember that goodbyes are a natural part of life, and while they may be difficult, they also provide opportunities for growth and new experiences.
Ps. if you’re like WTF is ChatGPT? I’ve got your back. It’s an AI chatbox where you can ask anything and receive a detailed reply. It’s also free. I’m not promoting it or anything - I literally only used it once for this newsletter! But here’s where you can check it out.
Random Pick-Me-Ups
Business: How a Craigslist ad helped me start my business
Mom Stuff: How being a new mom can make you feel super invisible
Life Hack: Send (3) follow-up emails. Here’s why.
Tools: If you want to up your email game - this is what I use.
Last-minute gifts for a mother figure in your life
👍 A bunch of uncommon gifts for the people you love
👍A sweet little bracelet that goes with anything
👍A fun mug/coffee cup
👍A fun necklace - I love the gold one
Ps. Let’s work together - here’s how:
👏1:1 coaching: I specialize in working with people who want to switch careers, start their own business, improve their personal brand, or are feeling lost in life. Book a session and let’s work together this month.
👏Courses: Want a quick pick-me-up? I offer a handful of digital courses that include videos, assignments, and real-time personalized feedback from me along the way. Check them out here - the most popular one is the personal branding course.
👏Company workshops & speaking: I offer company workshops and conference keynotes on topics that include personal branding, social media trends, storytelling, and more. I’ve worked with Google, Apple, HBO, ESPN, and more. Learn more here.
Advertise: Want to showcase your business or brand in one of my newsletters or on my social media? Let’s chat about open opportunities.
+ Random:
Books // Card Game // Bridesmaid for Hire // Scared to Be a Mom // Shop
Thank you Jen for the advice about staying present & looking at what's in front of you rather than looking too far ahead. Great advice I appreciate you !!