TechMae | The Real Cost of Being a People Pleaser at Work “Saying ‘yes’ at work to make everyone else comfortable is just you saying ‘no’ to your own peace, your time, and your money.” Listen, I see you. You’re the first one to volunteer for the extra project nobody wants. You stay late to help a coworker who’s “swamped” (but is really just bad at managing their time). You say “it’s fine!” when your boss adds one more thing to your plate,

“You don’t need a $200,000 degree to land a remote job that pays more than your parents’ first house.” Listen, I know exactly what you’re scrolling for. You’re in your dorm room or your childhood bedroom, staring at a tuition bill or a soul-crushing retail schedule, and you need an exit plan that doesn’t involve four more years of debt. You need real remote jobs that pay real money. And everyone is telling you it’s impossible without a degree. They’re lying to you.

“I stopped trying to be the perfect candidate and started trying to be the solution. That’s the only reason I got the job.” Listen, I know you’re over there stressing about your next job interview. You’ve probably rewritten your answers a hundred times, picked out an outfit, and are still convinced you’re going to blank when they ask “tell me about yourself.” I get it. I’ve been there. The sweaty palms, the voice cracking, the feeling that everyone else has some secret handbook

“They sell you the dream of being your own boss. They don’t tell you about the 2 AM panic attacks when payroll is due and your biggest client ghosts you.” Listen, sis. You’ve seen the highlight reel. The “I quit my 9-5” TikTok, the aesthetic co-working space pics, the “six figures in six months” course ads. It looks like freedom. And it can be. But the real story of entrepreneurship, the one your favorite influencer isn’t posting at 3 PM on a Tuesday,

“Your LinkedIn profile isn’t a digital resume. It’s a 24/7 networking event where you’re the guest of honor.” Listen, I know what you’re thinking. LinkedIn is that cringey place where your uncle posts motivational quotes and recruiters slide into your DMs with weirdly formal messages. You scroll past it for the 100th time in your app folder, thinking it’s for people with “Senior Vice President” in their bio. Not for the girl who’s juggling a part-time job, finals, and trying to figure out

“You don’t need a computer science degree to build a tech career. You need a laptop, Wi-Fi, and the audacity to believe you belong here.” Listen, I see you. You’re scrolling LinkedIn, seeing everyone with “Software Engineer” in their bio, and you feel like you missed the memo. Like there’s some secret club for this whole tech career thing and you don’t have the password. You’re probably thinking you need a fancy degree, a genius-level IQ, or to have been coding since you

“You’re not crazy. That comment *was* weird. And you’re not being ‘too sensitive’ for noticing it.” Listen, sis. You just landed your first real job or internship. You’re trying to be professional, make a good impression, and get your bag. Then it happens. A coworker asks you, “So, where are you *really* from?” after you’ve already said you’re from Atlanta. Or your manager says, “You’re so articulate!” like it’s a shocking surprise. Or you’re the only woman in the meeting and someone says,

“Networking isn’t about collecting business cards. It’s about finding your future work bestie, the one who’ll slide into your DMs with the job link before it’s even posted.” Listen, I know the word networking makes you want to roll your eyes and close the tab. It sounds like a room full of people in stiff blazers handing out LinkedIn QR codes and talking in corporate jargon. You’re picturing that awkward career fair where you have to pretend to be passionate about “synergistic paradigms”

“You don’t have to be a genius coder to build the future. You just have to be the person who asks, ‘But what about the people using it?’” Listen, when you hear “ai careers,” you probably picture some guy in a hoodie typing furiously in a dark room. Or maybe you think you need a PhD in computer science just to get in the door. Girl, I need you to delete that whole image from your brain right now. The real, high-paying, world-changing

“Your side hustle is making real money now. It’s time to stop treating it like a hobby and start protecting yourself. An LLC is your first boss move.” Listen, I see you. You’re selling custom press-ons in your dorm room, doing freelance graphic design between classes, or coaching people on social media. You’re getting Venmo payments and it’s starting to feel… real. But the idea of starting an LLC sounds like something for a 40-year-old man in a suit, not for you. Girl,

“Your business plan isn’t a 50-page thesis for your professor. It’s a one-page cheat sheet for your future self.” Listen, I know what you’re thinking. A business plan? That sounds like something you do in a stuffy suit after you’ve already made your first million. It feels corporate, boring, and honestly, like a whole weekend killer. But what if I told you that the right kind of business plan is the exact opposite? It’s the thing that gets your side hustle out of

“Your first client doesn’t care about your degree. They care if you can solve their problem.” Listen, I know you’re scrolling through LinkedIn seeing people talk about their “freelancing journey” and it feels like a whole other universe. Like, you’re over here trying to figure out your tuition payment or if your roommate is ever going to buy toilet paper, and they’re talking about passive income from Bali. It’s a lot. But here’s the real tea: starting your freelancing side hustle with zero

“Your side hustle isn’t just for extra cash. It’s your first draft of an empire. And sis, you’re the author.” Listen, I see you. You’re selling bracelets on Etsy, managing socials for a local boutique, or tutoring on the side. You’re reading every side hustle book you can find, trying to crack the code. But let’s be real for a second. Most of that advice feels like it was written for someone else—someone with a trust fund and no student loans. You’re not

“The money you don’t ask for is the money you work for free.” Listen, I know you’re staring at that job offer or thinking about your annual review and your stomach is in knots. The idea of salary negotiation feels like you’re about to be rude, greedy, or worse… get the offer taken away. I’ve been there, sis. I’ve literally practiced the conversation in my bathroom mirror, voice shaking. But here’s the real talk: not negotiating your salary is leaving money on the

“You’re scrolling through LinkedIn, seeing people land these ‘cyber’ jobs making $80K right out of school, and you’re wondering… what do they know that I don’t?” Listen, I see you. You’re trying to figure out your next move—maybe you’re in college drowning in tuition debt, or you’re in a first job that’s paying you in “experience” and stress. You keep hearing about tech money, but it feels like a secret club with a password you don’t have. Girl, let me put you on