💁‍♀️ + 🗄️ = 💘

I recently came to a shocking realization: I’m obsessed with filing cabinets.

Tall ones. Short ones. Wide ones. Skinny ones!

How did I figure this out, you ask (assuming you’re still here, lol)?

I don’t have a filing cabinet. I have NEVER had a filing cabinet. And yet I’m constantly shopping for one. But the “perfect” one? Forever out of reach.

Too expensive. Too small. Too industrial. Too impractical.

You get the dilemma.

“So what does this have to do with work, Jennifer? GET TO THE POINT.”

Fair question.

Why am I so fascinated — obsessed, if you ask my husband — with the idea of filing paperwork?

Let me take you on a journey…

I’m maybe 8 or 9. My dad was a truck driver for most of my childhood, but there was this brief window when he worked for a “nice” trucking company and sometimes had office shifts. On a few of my visits, he’d let me… file paperwork.

I was jazzed. Organizing is one of my core skills.

Busy work? A dream. Matching files to a folder? A breeze!

I took it so seriously, too — as if I was in any position to be making critical business decisions, lol.

And honestly? That memory makes me realize I’ve loved filing cabinets my whole life — even if it’s mostly the idea of them.

So, I continue my quest in search of the perfect cabinet. Maybe that’s exactly the point: it’s less about the cabinet itself and more about chasing that little spark of order and satisfaction.

Funny how our weird little work habits have roots somewhere — like an 8-year-old seriously filing papers — and how those early sparks sneak into the way we work, what we care about, and yes, even the oddly specific things that make a job feel satisfying. 🫶

Jen

White collar jobs could disappear, thanks to AI, leaving Gen X hanging in the balance.

Researchers who studied boomers who lost jobs in 2008 found two paths: some landed softly with pensions, severance, and family support, while others faced long-term unemployment, financial strain, and even home loss. Gen Xers, with smaller savings, less homeownership, higher debt, and fewer long-term benefits, are at higher risk of a “hard fall” if layoffs hit.

Targeted retraining programs could help, but the authors also suggest a universal basic income to bridge the gap for older workers too young for Social Security.

Cities across the U.S. have already tested smaller versions, and evidence from other countries suggests it improves both well-being and the chance of finding work.

Read more here.

The hottest job markets aren’t San Francisco or Seattle. Smaller metros like St. Joseph, Mo., Beckley, W.Va., and Anchorage are seeing massive job growth, thanks largely to health care and leisure/hospitality.

Meanwhile, big tech-heavy cities are cooling off. San Francisco job listings dropped 37%, Seattle 35%, and D.C. 24%, reflecting layoffs, hiring freezes, and government cutbacks.

The takeaway: the job market, like real estate, is all about location. If you’re hunting for opportunities, it might be time to think smaller — and maybe smarter.

Read more here.

Turns out, even CEOs aren’t safe. Regardless of how “successful” a company is, CEO turnover is climbing, with 12.5% of S&P 500 leaders stepping down in 2025. Boards are swapping top seats like it’s a seasonal trend, proving succession planning is no longer about crisis — long-winded stories or endless lists of past roles that bury your actual value. Golden rule: show, don’t tell. Read more here.

Need a pick-me-up? The Peptoc Hotline, run by students at West Side Elementary in rural Healdsburg, CA, serves pre-recorded pep talks, life advice, and pure joy — ranging from kindergarteners’ motivational messages to children laughing with delight.

I first found out about this hotline from journalist and storyteller Josh White who called the hotline and filmed his reaction.

If you’ve ever needed a reminder that humans (and kids) are awesome, this hotline delivers.

And yes, you can help keep it going — donations are tax-deductible. Call 707-873-7862 (707-8PEPTOC) for your daily dose of cheer.

You can watch Josh’s video here. Visit the Peptoc Hotline website here. 🤓