How theSkimm cofounders combat burnout and imposter syndrome

How theSkimm cofounders combat burnout and imposter syndromeHow theSkimm cofounders combat burnout and imposter syndromeDanielle Weisberg and Carly Zakin launched theSkimm newsletter in 2012 from the couch of their West Village apartment with only $4,000 to their names. Since then, theSkimm brand has added an app, an expanded website, and now, a book. On June 10, in the same city that it all began, the cofounders kicked off the How to Skimm Your Life Night Out book tour.The night out consisted of one hilarious conversation with model Ashley Graham. Ladders was there to catch all the specific, real, and pointed advice that every Millennial and Gen Zer needs to hear.Danielle Weisberg and Carly Zakin delete their email appWeisberg and Zakin are Millennial entrepreneurs, so obviously theyre pretty much constantly tied to their emails, but notlage on vacations. When theSkimm cofounders take a break, they really take a break. From everything.Much to Grahams disbelief (and slight appall), Z akin admitted that she simply deletes her email app from her phone while on vacation and even sometimes on weekends.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreIts so amazing, Zakin said. The people that you work with have your phone number, so if its something where you need to be reached, youre still reachable.The cofounders admit that they were completely burnt out the first two years that they launched theSkimm, but dont regret one second of it. In fact, they encourage entrepreneurs to work through it.We had to do that, it was on us, Weisberg said. This was something that we were creating.But in this time of feeling like you always need to be busy to feel important, Weisberg urges you to learn the difference between working hard for an outcome and working hard to fill an agenda.Recognize that there are times where its going to be like that in your careerthere are going to be moments wh ere you have to put everything you have into that, Weisberg said. Then there are moments where you feel like its a trend, or you feel like being busy equates to success.Additionally, the cofounders have made sure that theSkimm team doesnt get burnt out like they did during those first couple of years, encouraging team members to take one hour a week to go to therapy, do yoga, or take action on something else theyve been putting off.We talk about how taking one hour out of each week can make a big difference and its really not that important, youre not missing anything with that amount of time, Zakin said.Danielle Weisberg and Carly Zakin role-play before big meetings for theSkimmAgain, Weisberg and Zakin shocked Graham by admitting that they use role-playing to get ready for big meetings.Weisberg and Zakin will imagine scenarios and have conversations as other people in order to prepare for certain comments.When it comes to imposter syndrome, its a struggle the women have dealt with every step of the way.There is not a day that goes by that we dont have imposter syndrome, Zakin said. Wed never had a board meeting beforewed never had employees before, we never even had direct reports before this.Another way the women prepare for big meetings, especially meetings about money, is by creating scripts for themselves.We prefer to negotiate on the phone because well keep a script that shows what well say and it helps us, Zakin said. Its a confidence booster and it allows us to stay on point and not fall into traps.Finally, this was a practice Graham could relate to.Thats funny you make a script because I make a script, too, Graham said. I write out what I wantI even write out sentences that I know I want to say.Zakin and Weisberg agreed that having a partner throughout the whole project has made all the difference when it comes to imposter syndrome.Thankfully theres the two of us, Zakin said. We both dont freak out at the same time.You might also enjoyNew neuroscienc e reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people