Brennan Hom

I recently started a new job, and I’m in that phase where I’m constantly bombarded with new and unfamiliar concepts, from company vocabulary to industry know-how. The learning curve is steep. At every meeting, I take furious notes, trying to soak in as much information as possible. For a while, I tried the bullet journal system of note-taking, in which you use icons to label the nature of every single bullet point you write down. While it’s a creative way to mark your thoughts, I found that it becomes difficult to quickly label all the different patterns when you’re faced with heaps of new information. People talk fast. Slides move from one to the next at lightning speed. You don’t have time for labels — you’re simply trying to keep up. During meetings, I realized that four things were happening in my mind: I was gaining new information. I was coming across things I wanted to gain further clarity or dig deeper on. I was coming up with ideas and insights. I was having strong feelings ab...

Based upon working remotely  since (wow, has it been that long?) 1996, here are five short, sweet emails  that I’ve found extraordinarily useful: 1. The Stall and Probe Problem:  Your boss suddenly and unexpected asks to meet with you. Dumb Move:  Immediately hop on the phone with the boss. Chances are you’ll be blindsided and thus less able to advance your own interest. Smart Move:  Find out what the boss wants and secure some time to think about it, so you’ll be prepared for the discussion. Example (customize as necessary): SUBJECT: Re: We need to talk I’m in a meeting with a customer but will be free in an hour. To ensure we have as productive a meeting as possible, could you give me an idea of the topics we’ll be discussing? 2. The Relationship Reviver Problem:  You need something from a contact you’ve neglected for several years. Dumb Move:  “Hey, long time no see. I hope you’re staying safe! Hey, I was wondering if you could do something for me…”...