The Weather Outside Is Frightful, So Stay Inside and Plan Your Empire

Welcome to GetBullish! This article is more than ten years old. It originally ran on a now-defunct website called The Gloss, where Bullish got its start, or its sister site The Grindstone. Everything here was written by humans, not AI (why would you want to read something no one could be bothered to write?) For more recent posts by Jen D., try the GetBullish Blog.

December is traditionally the laziest time of the year—most people are off work, in their pajamas, and drinking/eating something with the syllable “nog” in it. (Does anyone really drink eggnog?)

Let’s step it up. Here’s a roundup of get-it-done columns.

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Work, Work, and Then Work Some More

The hustle culture bros got one thing right: momentum matters. But they missed the memo about working smart instead of just working yourself into an early grave. The key isn’t grinding 24/7—it’s making sure your effort compounds instead of just exhausting you. Think of it as career compound interest: every skill you build, every connection you make, every project you complete should pay dividends long after you’ve moved on to the next thing.

ABW: Always be working. But not necessarily for your boss. More like for your future self. On that score, see…

Bullish: Maybe Work-Life Balance Means You Should Work MORE
Bullish: Use The Holidays To Get Ahead (While Sitting On Your Mom’s Couch)
Bullish: Screw New Year’s Resolutions – Try Designing Your Career
Bullish: How To Whip Your Life, Finances, And Brain Into Shape For Entrepreneurship

Start A Business

The biggest lie about entrepreneurship is that you need a perfect plan, unlimited funding, and a garage in Silicon Valley. Most successful businesses started with someone who was slightly annoyed by how badly something was being done and decided to do it better. The barrier to entry has never been lower—you can literally start selling something online before your coffee gets cold.

You can start a business in the time it takes for the New Years’ ball to drop, pretty much.

Bullish: You Can Start A Business By Tuesday
Bullish: Starting A Business When You’re Broke (Or Making Money During The Great Recession)

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‘Tis The Season

Holiday spirit shouldn’t just mean consuming more calories and buying more stuff. It’s actually the perfect time to think about legacy—what mark you want to leave on the world beyond your credit card statements. Plus, people are generally in a better mood during the holidays, which makes it easier to have conversations about collaboration, mentorship, or just spreading some genuine goodwill that isn’t motivated by year-end performance reviews.

Don’t be a Scrooge – spread some Bullish cheer!

Bullish: How To Use Your Career To Make The World A Better Place
Bullish: Gratitude Is Nice, But Don’t Let It Keep You From Action

Maybe You Do Need A Break After All

Here’s a radical thought: sometimes the most productive thing you can do is absolutely nothing. Burnout isn’t a badge of honor—it’s a warning sign that you’ve been running your engine too hot for too long. Real rest isn’t scrolling through your phone or binge-watching shows; it’s actually disconnecting and letting your brain defragment like an old computer. You’ll be amazed what ideas surface when you stop cramming new information into your skull every waking moment.

There’s no shame in taking a few days to relax if you really need it! A statutory holiday is the perfect time to save yourself from burnout and recharge for the year ahead.

Bullish Life: Achieve Goals And Glory By Recreating Like A Total F**ing Badass
Bullish: How To Avoid Burnout And Not Becoming A Brain-Eating Zombie, Part One and Two
Managing Energy & Staying Productive

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Author Bio: Jennifer Dziura

Jennifer Dziura founded GetBullish in the 2010s to provide a feminist take on careers, entrepreneurship, and boldly managing personal and professional relationships. Since then, the blog has spawned a gift store offering thousands of items, including hundreds designed by Jen herself. Jen studied philosophy at Dartmouth College, later received a masters degree in education, and is a former standup comedian and adult spelling bee host. She has spoken at Yale, Harvard, and many other universities and conferences and organized six Bullish Conferences. She lives in Brooklyn and writes from a planty corner of the GetBullish warehouse.

Jennifer Dziura