First Thing Monday #1

Good morning! And welcome to the inaugural post of First Thing Monday! FTM is a hub for news, resources, and trends to help Millennial and Gen-Z leaders make better decisions and build lasting careers. You’ll also find useful insights for founders, CEOs, and entrepreneurs, but we’re really focused on folks who are working their way up a corporate ladder at a business that is not their own (yet).

I’m Jon Cochran, a consumer goods executive with 15 years of experience leading sales, marketing, and product development teams and working with brands like J.Crew, Hilton, and Mattel. I want to provide resources to help you take control of your career and maximize your satisfaction in the workplace.

⏰ Things to read before your first meeting:

• 50 Most Annoying Business Phrases of 2023 (Inc Magazine): Bandwidth and Double-click top my list.

• Can you guess the Gen Z email signs-offs? (Indy100): I’ve yet to see this in action, but sign off however you want. Just don’t greet me with, “Hey Jon!” As my dad always said, “Don’t talk to me like some kid on the playground!” But seriously, we live in a society, people!

• A third of LGBTQ+ workers are looking for new job with a more inclusive employer (HRDive): Seems like all the DEI work in 2020-2021 was mostly for the straight, white, cis-gender people and it hasn’t done much to improve the way the rest of us feel.

• From Rage Applying to Grumpy Staying: The boomer boss guide to gen Z work lingo (SmartCompany): I wish a boomer would engage me about the current employer economy!

📖 Things to consider this week:

• For yourself: Check in with your body. Any aches or pains? When was the last time you got your eyes checked? Do something for your body this week—make that appointment, schedule that massage, take a mid-day nap!

• For your boss: Is your company currently engaged with any consultants? Ask your boss how they think things are going with the consultant(s). You can learn more about the company and its investment when you understand how they use (or don’t use) what they learn from consultants.

• For your direct report(s): Has everyone taken some PTO this year? Check in with those who haven’t and get something on the schedule. Too many of us forget to take time off and then make up stories about why we don’t take the time we’ve earned. And guess what: you’re not impressing anyone by sacrificing your work/life balance. Make sure your team is using their PTO and that YOU manage the schedule to make sure everything gets covered while folks are out.

• For your co-workers: Ask them if they are going to see any concerts this summer. Geez oh pete, everyone is on tour so the answer is likely yes. You can learn a lot about a person through their musical tastes. It also helps to not always talk about work!

⚡️ And one last thing…

• Reflect on those difficult workplace relationships and interactions. Remember when Bailey popped off at you in front of everyone during the All Company Zoom last week? Ugh. But also her mom is sick and she’s had to take more time off recently to deal with that. And don’t forget, YOU didn’t update Bailey’s spreadsheet like she asked. Forget about last week’s Zoom; remember to check in with Bailey and see how she’s doing.

See you next week!

Jon