The Bloom Report Vol 24 [Bloomology] 🌹🌹🌹

Bare Minimum Bae 💅🏾

I wanted to share the mindset that I’m approaching my job with and were I’m at with maintaining a job while building a side hustle.

Full transparency, some people will choose to quit their jobs with no plan and that may work for them (I’ve done it before myself). Right now, I need a more strategic approach and quitting my job right now isn’t the move. I’m focused on the slow grind of building my personal brand and building my side hustle feels like the non-violent and least disruptive approach.

Listen, this adulting, these expenses, and inflation are super aggressive.

So I’ve decided to be a bare minimum bae at work and be a superstar, employee of the year for myself, in my business. I can do this because I know what I’m good at and I know what I’m great at. I know what my superpowers are and I have enough self-awareness and discernment to know when the work I’m producing is at a level five for me but a level ten for my manager and team. That’s where I’m at. I’m at a level five. That’s it and that’s all.

Now to do this you have to be really in tune with self-validation, not needing your validation from anyone. Approach with caution…..

❌ You won’t get any gold stars

❌ You won’t have people telling you that you’re doing an amazing job in standup or team meetings

❌ You won’t be invited to all the leadership and vision meetings

❌ You won’t be in promotion conversations

Because you’re doing the strategic bare minimum to fund whatever you’re devoted to outside of your job.

Let me introduce you to The Strategic Minimum: Thriving in Your Job by Doing Less, Not More

I was reading a recent Forbes article by Joseph Liu and he talked about quitting your job versus perservering. He highlights the benefits of walking away when a situation no longer serves you, which I generally agree with, but I thought sharing a different perspective would be helpful if you don’t want to hand in that two-week notice just yet.

What is the bare minimum bae strategy?

Instead of quitting or burning yourself out chasing a carrot, chasing a title, chasing a promotion when what’s on the other side may not be worth the chase, the strategic minimum advocates for an intentional approach to effort and energy. It's about identifying the minimum amount of effort required to maintain your current position and pay while freeing up your mental and emotional capacity to pursue other passions or opportunities.

Here's how the strategic bare minimum can benefit you:

✅Reduced stress and burnout: By focusing on the bare minimum required, you can free yourself from the pressure of exceeding expectations and avoid unnecessary stress. We all know that these companies like to move the goalpost on Black women. This leads to improved mental and physical well-being. We

✅ Increased productivity and focus: By delegating or eliminating non-essential tasks, you can dedicate your energy to the activities that really matter to you and achieve the goals that matter to you. This makes sure you’re climbing the right ladder.

✅ Enhanced creativity and exploration: The time and energy saved through the strategic bare minimum can be used to explore new interests, develop your skills in nonwork-related areas, build your personal brand, or even pour time and energy into your side hustle or business.

✅ Improved work-life balance: By setting healthy boundaries and saying no to additional responsibilities ( you won’t get on the employee of the month list), you can create a more sustainable work-life balance and enjoy greater personal fulfillment and freedom.

Keep reading if you want to try my bare minimum strategy: 👇🏾

💎Identify the non-negotiables:** What are the essential tasks and mandatory responsibilities that come with your position? Focus your efforts on ensuring these are completed effectively and on time. Make sure they don’t need to follow up with you and don’t do anymore or any less.

💎Delegate or eliminate Can any of your tasks be delegated to teammates or interns? Can any processes be streamlined or automated?

💎Set clear boundaries:** Communicate your priorities and workload to your manager and colleagues, and politely and strategically decline requests that fall outside of your defined responsibilities.

💎Track your time:** Use time-tracking tools to identify areas where you can optimize your workflow and eliminate time-wasting activities.

💎Prioritize self-care:** Ensure your mental and physical well-being by taking breaks, exercising, and engaging in activities you enjoy outside of work. Recognize when you’re on empty at work and in life and do what you need to do to get back to yourself and ground yourself. Don’t wait until you’re on”E” to take care of yourself.

The strategic bare minimum is not about slacking off, coasting by, or doing a bad job with poor quality work. It's about being intentional and calculated with your effort and prioritizing your own well-being and career aspirations above your employer. This approach can help you find a balance between achieving your personal goals and maintaining a healthy, fulfilling life.

Remember, walking away is not the only option. Make sure to create space for personal growth and exploration.

Cheers to the weekend love!

Jeneba