How to cosplay as a CEO

This is a picture of my desk at my first job. I love nearly everything about it - the photos of friends and family, the tulips, the name tag. What I don’t love is the travel mug.

“Success is not for the lazy.”

Yes, indeed. I bought this mug while at university, in a season where I was already doing a lot. I was a full-time student, I was interning, I was applying for jobs, and I was keeping a busy social calendar in order to enjoy my final months of “adulthood lite.” Following that season, I moved to D.C., where I was working full-time AND getting my master’s full time (while also learning how to network, experiencing the sunday scaries for the first time, etc.)

I know everything is easier in your early twenties but, wow - exhausting.

So looking back, was this desk-side reminder “not to be lazy” necessary? No. Laziness wasn’t the issue. And I bet it’s not your issue either (as I don’t think you’d be here reading about how to do nicer work if it was!)

But the constant, somewhat shameful reminder worked. I regularly pulled 12 hour days and worked every weekend to get through my program and keep my job. I even replaced the easier desk job with one at a startup.

Through it all, I believed I was on my way to conquering laziness and into being successful. I was leaning in. I was a girlboss. My favorite position was also CEO (or would be soon).