Hey Get Free Fam,

Greetings from 30,000 feet somewhere over Missouri. Can we take a moment to give thanks for a solid in-flight WiFi situation that not only works but is also FREE? I rarely fly JetBlue, but I'm pretty impressed so far. That said, I'm deducting points for the name of today's plane: Taking a Menta Health Day. For a solid 30 minutes I was convinced JetBlue was flying through the air with a glaring typo (GASP!) Turns out, all of their plane names are some play on "mint" as part of their Mint Experience marketing. Yea, I don't know about this one. Maybe stick with the good WiFi. ✈️

Before we dig in, some questions and comments from the GFFs. A reminder: yes, this is a newsletter, but this is also a community of folks trying to Get Free when life is life-ing. We're 9 months in (can you believe it?!) and this is as much about all of you sharing your wisdom and your questions as it is about me sharing my Get Free journey and musings in hopes it can help someone else. So, please share! Email [email protected] or hit reply if you're reading this in your inbox. Send along your Get Free wins!

In Issue 38 we started a conversation about money: When Dollars Make No Cents. That issue started with me and a $200 parking fine, all because I didn't pay it on time. However, guess I'm not the only one, as a number of you reached out saying you, too, have been caught playing the "I'll do it later" game. As GFF Amelia wrote:

If you've got an outstanding money task, set it in motion TODAY! Stateside folks, Tax Day is around the corner. Don’t wait!

Another email came in from GFF Simone with an insight about money and supporting others. She wrote:

Speaking with some GFFs in real life, I know this is something many are experiencing in different ways, and there's data to back it up. According to the 2025 AARP Caregiving in the US report:

The report also notes that half of caregivers report negative financial strain which tracks with what Simone shared.

Let's talk about this. If you're caring for parents, family members or friends, how is this impacting you and your Get Free journey? How are you navigating supporting others while living life the way you'd like to? Are you getting the support YOU need?

This is a subject we’ll tackle in the upcoming Get Free Conversation Series. We’re jumping out of the newsletter and diving into community as we tackle some of these real issues at the intersection of work and life. Sign up for info by clicking the logo below, and if you have an idea for a conversation, let me know! [email protected]

We're talking about keeping it real. Here's the example.

Recently I joined a fantastic group of women entrepreneurs and others figuring out their next move (will write more another time, but for now, check out The Riveter) and the first step was introducing yourself. Simple enough, right? Wrong. The way I AGONIZED over what to say, I'll be honest, I surprised myself. I have no lack of words, especially when I'm writing them down, but in this instance I didn't know what to say. Two days later (48 whole hours!) I made myself sit down and write something that sounded suitably fitting for the platform, matched the energy of all the brilliant introductions, and had a sprinkle of my signature funny tone while letting folks know I mean business. It was decent, and hopefully made a good first impression, but it didn't feel ... like me. Nor did it reflect where I am today, or why I joined the organization.

Well: a very dear friend of mine is also in this group. And because she loves me, she called me out the way we do when we smell the faint whiff of internalized BS. "Yea, I read your intro," she said. And that was it.

Damn.

What followed was a conversation about a) the pressure we always feel to present as strong, ready, and like we have it all together when we enter a new environment. But (and more importantly) b) why join an organization designed to help you figure it out, if you’re going to act like you already have it figured out? Let’s be for real.

Here's the truth: We do not have it figured out, friends.

We 👏🏿Do 👏🏿 Not👏🏿 Have 👏🏿It 👏🏿 Figured 👏🏿Out.

But because of this curated world of apparent excellence at every corner, we dare not say these words, or keep it a buck and just say: "I don't know what I'm doing. But I'm willing to learn."

The Get Free Guide is FREE for all readers. As we build up ways to support this growing community, every now and then you’ll see ads. Every click really helps - no pressure to sign up for what is being offered; clicking through still adds a few pennies to the coffers! But I will say: I Hate It Here is GREAT content for HR professionals and anyone navigating the workplace. Check it out!

The best HR advice comes from people who’ve been in the trenches.

That’s what this newsletter delivers.

I Hate it Here is your insider’s guide to surviving and thriving in HR, from someone who’s been there. It’s not about theory or buzzwords — it’s about practical, real-world advice for navigating everything from tricky managers to messy policies.

Every newsletter is written by Hebba Youssef — a Chief People Officer who’s seen it all and is here to share what actually works (and what doesn’t). We’re talking real talk, real strategies, and real support — all with a side of humor to keep you sane.

Because HR shouldn’t feel like a thankless job. And you shouldn’t feel alone in it.

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Whether out of necessity or because the stage of life calls for it, we will find ourselves being a newbie, or not having all the answers. Call it a pivot, a reimagining, or a fresh direction, there will come a time when we have to approach things differently and the old way of doing things will go away completely or need a radical shift. This could be divorce, layoff, a health scare - literally anything.

Let me offer a real world example. My 30 year work life got me to this point and I'm so grateful. But the industry I joined as an enthusiastic 20-something no longer exists. We barely had email back then! What worked in the late ‘90s doesn't work now. And, I hate to say it, but what works now may not be enough to get me or others in the industry through another decade. We all have to think and move differently. We have to identify differently. We have to describe our work and worth differently. Yea, I don't have this part figured out and I need to stop acting like I do. Getting free means being really honest.

Go back and look at your script.

Script, you say? Yes, script. It's the line or the narrative we all carry about ourselves, specifically around our work identities. Here's an example. For me: I'm a content executive driven by audience needs and the happiness of my teams. My value? I'm a connector and a strategic thinker. I say the quiet things out loud without fear. My why? When people are informed, they are powerful.

As I sit at the intersection of work identities, most of this still holds, but there's a big AND. This AND is the new part of the script I need to figure out, and you probably do too.

Start with who and where you are now.

If you're in the midst of a pivot or a shift in your work identity:

Write all of this down and share with a trusted friend. What are the words that stand out? That’s the start of a new script.

One person I recommend reaching out to is Christabel Nsiah-Buadi from YPP. She runs a fantastic program called Close Your Narrative Gap that addresses some of these points. (Full disclosure: I'm in the midst of Christabel's three-week program right now. My brain hurts in the best way!) Sign up for her newsletter to get details on her next cohort. Well worth the time.

Say out loud: "I'm figuring it out." Sometimes we just need to say the thing so we can be free of it. It's OK if you're figuring it out. We all are, and that's why we're here!

What are you trying to figure out? Want to talk about it and figure out a plan? The Get Free Sessions are coming. Join the waitlist or email [email protected] for more details!

It's Spring Break and I'm downing tools for the week to get some fresh air and rejuvenation. I'll be back with a new Get Free on April 3. Drop an email in the meantime, and if you're enjoying this newsletter, go back and read some past issues and share with a friend so we can all Get Free!

🚀Get Your Life: Things to read, listen to, enjoy🚀

📚What I’m reading: I'm not an audiobook person, but I started listening to James Clear's Atomic Habits on a whim. Oof. Talk about having a narrative. I won't spoil it, but the book has a brutal and unexpected opening, one he really owns and allowed to shape his life. If you have a Spotify account, it's free to listen.

🎧What’s on the pod: Candice Brathwaite is back! I absolutely loved Closet Confessions, and now she's transitioned to Conversations with Candice. She is a REAL one when it comes to themes of getting free and building a life you love. Well worth a watch!

🎵 Soundtrack for the week: Stumbled into this beautiful duet, ThunderWave, featuring Willow (Will and Jada's baby) and Thundercat. Absolutely stunning. Willow is such an example of what it means to be free. She is her own person, forging her own path separate from her parents. Love that!

✨ If you’ve got a recommendation drop me a line. ✨

If you got something out of this issue of The Get Free Guide, give us a follow or a shout out on Instagram and share the love with a friend. We don’t gatekeep around here!

See you on April 3!