Two years ago, I left the comfort of my W-2 job and jumped headfirst into startup life. After five years as a founding employee, I took an exciting offer from a promising company—only to get laid off within a year. Then came another job, another layoff. It felt like a pattern I didn't sign up for.
That string of instability led me to do what so many women end up doing after corporate burnout—I started something of my own. First, it was my marketing company supporting female entrepreneurs and small businesses. Then I became a contributor here at
The Assist. And most recently, I found myself deep in the world of
Learning and Employment Records (LERs), a niche sector in HR that's working to connect employers and skilled workers through blockchain-backed credentials.
At a conference, I met Robert. He was brilliant, warm, and a total opposite to my Enneagram 8, execute-at-all-costs energy. We hit it off, and a few months later, launched
Skills Scoop, a newsletter that breaks down LERs and workforce trends in language real people can understand.
We're only a few issues in, but I've already learned so much. Here are some lessons I'll carry with me:
1. A Good Business Partner is Gold Robert and I bring different strengths to the table—he's more tech-savvy and gentle, I'm more direct and operations-driven. Our values align, and when it came time to create our LLC and operating agreement, it was seamless. We built in exit clauses, ownership structure, and decision-making power to avoid future issues. It's like a prenup, but for business.
2. Your Past Prepares You The places I've worked, the layoffs I've experienced, and even the random hobbies I've picked up—everything has contributed to this moment. I've learned how to launch websites quickly, write newsletters, build systems, and communicate clearly because of my background. Nothing has been wasted.
3. Know Your Lane We split our responsibilities by what we're good at. I own content, operations, and strategy. Robert handles finances, and partnerships. The things we're both not great at? We tackle together until we can outsource. It's made the process smoother and more fun.
4. Relationships are Everything Networking has helped us find contributors, partners, and future collaborators. A few intentional DMs turned into Zoom calls that turned into working relationships. People are more willing to support you when they feel personally connected to your story.
5. Structure Prevents Burnout We mapped out our content calendar, revenue goals, and operations plan before we ever sent issue #1. We built a shared Notion dashboard to track tasks and hold each other accountable. That planning helped reduce chaos and overwhelm—especially helpful when you have ADHD like me.
6. Grit Pays Off We didn't secure all the sponsors we hoped for pre-launch, but we moved forward anyway. We're growing slowly, intentionally, and rooted in the belief that if the content is strong, the right partners will come.
Building Skills Scoop has been energizing. It's reminded me that no experience is wasted, and no path is linear. If you're thinking about starting something new, the best thing you can do is begin—messy, scrappy, and all in.
Thania (TA Content Mgr)
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