Thanks, Erin.

Let’s get started:

"Do you have a work routine?”

I wake up before my kids so I can have a few moments of peace and quiet to sip my coffee and answer LinkedIn comments. I start work at 9 a.m. sharp by checking my daily Asana tasks; I organize tasks by do today/do this week/do this month/do later. I break for a 3-mile walk with my husband at lunchtime, then finish up anywhere between 4-7 p.m., depending on my kids' activity schedule.

"What do you wish you'd known about your work when you first started?”

Putting your head down and grinding in silence might make your boss happy, but it won't help you rise up within a company or significantly increase your earnings. You have to toot your own horn, awkward as it might feel. Share what you're working on, what you've accomplished, and how you're impacting the business—not just with your team, but also outside your "sphere of influence." Push yourself to do things that make you uncomfortable sooner rather than later. That's where growth happens.

“What did your biggest professional failure teach you?”

I co-owned a gold buying business in my 20s. We hosted gold buying parties where we'd pay cash for gold on the spot then resell that gold to a corporate smelter. We made a few thousand dollars profit per party. The business was a gold mine, pun intended. But instead of leaning in, I got scared and sold the business (for way less than it was worth). Knowing what I know now, I wish I would have leaned in. Don't let fear hold you back.

“Has anything helped you shorten your craft's learning curve?”

For more than a decade, I worked in environments that stunted my potential. Eventually, I landed at a company where every employee and leader had a growth mindset and an incredible work ethic. I was pushed outside my comfort zone and challenged to perform at the top of my game—but encouraged and supported. The environment was exactly what I needed to propel my career to the next level. If you feel like you're in the "wrong place," it might be time for an environment change.

“Do you have a book recommendation?”

"Winners Wake Up at 4:30 A.M.: The Science of How We Can All Become Rich by Being Less Pathetic." No, I'm totally kidding. That's a fake title from a New Yorker article.

“Any parting piece of advice?”

There are seasons for grinding and seasons for resting. I'm about to have my third child; right now, I don't think about scaling my business—I think about scaling BACK. I want less stress and more peace of mind.

Money is great, don't get me wrong, but time is the most precious commodity.

Don't work your life away chasing some arbitrary income target. Find the balance that allows you to live well and travel while not working yourself to death. Life's too short.

subscribe

Micro-Interview: Erin Balsa, Marketer