SoFi Blog

It’s a very modern conundrum: How do you constantly achieve more, while often making do with less?

At work, do you find yourself needing to sell more widgets, create more content, get more users—but do it all with a smaller budget, less human power, less time?

In your personal life, you’re trying to see more friends, have more fun, buy the latest gadget, save more money—attempting to do it all with less free time, less savings once you’ve paid your bills, and less energy after worrying about how to juggle all the things.

So how the heck can you make it all work… and maybe even have some fun while doing it? How can you get more productive without completely burning out?

When it comes to your career development, it pays to take matters into your own hands. If you’re waiting for a manager or mentor to tell you exactly what you need to do in order to grow your skill set or get promoted, you could be waiting forever.

If you are thinking of getting a new job, changing industries, or have bigger ambitions than your current role, your boss may not even be that interested in helping you. No one knows you better than you know yourself.

Career development means more than just taking a class or going to a networking event—it’s thinking two (or more!) steps ahead for where you want to go and grow in your career, and what you need to learn or experience to get there.

Whether you’re just starting to think about getting pregnant, or you’re back at work after your second (or third!) baby, there’s no doubt about it: when it comes to family planning, there’s a lot to think about.

From what choices you should make in your career, to the changes you may need to make to your finances, you’ll want to do some research and start planning ahead as early as possible. There are no right or wrong answers to this whole parenting thing (seriously!)—there are only the best choices for you and your family.

Let’s start from the beginning: what should you prioritize when you’re first starting to think about welcoming a new addition to your life? Let’s break down some common questions about how bringing a baby into your life will impact both your finances and your career.

After a rough day at the office, have you ever wondered what it would take to be your own boss? As someone who’s been there, I have a few suggestions. It may sound great—no boss breathing down your neck or annoying co-workers to contend with—until you realize how much you relied on that steady paycheck and benefits.

First and foremost, you need something you can sell to others. That might be your time, in the form of expertise or services, or it could be a product that you make or resell. Or you could ditch the traditional 9-to-5 by joining the gig or sharing economies.

You’ll also need to think through lots of practicalities. What business model will allow you to make enough to cover all your expenses and still set aside some savings? Where do you work best? At home, in a coffee shop, at a coworking space? If your employer was previously providing health insurance, where will you get it now?

Being your own boss can be extremely rewarding, but it’s not without its own challenges . When you’re in charge, who’s going to cover for you when you get sick or want to take a vacation? Who’s going to provide matching contributions to your retirement fund?

There are many things to mull over and they may differ with each person and scenario. To get you thinking about how being your own boss might work for you, here are some things to consider from people who are making working for themselves work.

Being an adult is a state of mind. It doesn’t matter whether you know how to roast a chicken or how many towels to buy, as long as you know where to go to find the answers. (Hint: the internet is always a great place to start.)

Ready to join the ranks of competent, bill-paying adults but not sure how to do it? Part of adulting is learning as you go along, so congrats on taking the first steps in taking care of your own business. One place to start—your career. What’s more adult than holding down a job and positively thriving while doing it?

According to a Deloitte study, the average American with a full-time job spent just over nine hours a day at work or on work-related activities. When you consider a person’s career, that’s a lot of time spent at the office, so you might as well enjoy it.

In addition to spending the bulk of your waking hours at work, it’s also likely your main source of money and can have all kinds of other implications for your lifestyle now and in the future. So, taking the time to find a rewarding career can pay off in the long run.