Fran Hauser’s Glorious Things

Remember when work was interesting and fun? The Enterprising Fran Hauser—writer, speaker, and startup maven—never forgot! The author of The Myth of the Nice Girl and the upcoming Embrace Your Work, Love Your Career (preorder now!), shares these pearls of inspiration with you.

1. Ashley Longshore's outrageous, pop culture-inspired art is the gift that keeps on giving. She's a New Orleans- based mixed-media artist and entrepreneur I was luckyenough to be introduced to 10 years ago. Her confidence in herself, and passion for the causes she cares about, radiates in any room she enters. You can't hold back a smile when you see a Longshore piece—they tend to feature neon colors, glitter paint, iconic public figures and quippy social commentary. I have one of them hanging in my office, and it's a constant reminder of her empowered approach to art and life.

2. Author Maggie Smith went viral on Twitter when she was going through a divorce and started posting daily notes of encouragement to herself—reminders, every day, to keep going. Keep Moving: Notes on Loss, Creativity and Change expands upon that. It's a collection of quotes and essays centered around the idea of loss and change as opportunities for growth and personal transformation. And it's a moving and a quick read, perfect for the bedside table. Each quote is a little gift.

3. Corporate Natalie is a social media gem. Her content playfully pokes fun at the hard realities of corporate life. When I feel overwhelmed trying to balance writing, speaking, and just having fun, her videos are the dose of humor I need to take a step back and not take it all so seriously.