By 9 years old, I knew I wanted to be a writer. By 18, I’d finished my first manuscript. …

No matter what’s going on in your life, this mentality puts the ball back in your court. — Last Friday around 4:00 p.m., I got a message on Slack. It was from the founder of a company that had just recruited me three months prior: “Hey Maria. I know you’re OOO for jury duty today, but can you hop on this call for a team meeting? Thanks.” I…

I’ve always envied people in industries like mathematics and programming, and for one reason: in those fields, there’s generally a right answer, and there’s a wrong one. For the rest of us — specifically those in creative industries — all of our work is left up to interpretation. Some people…

My day job entails answering e-mails, attending team meetings, and writing articles. If it sounds like your typical 9-to-5, that’s because it is — all except for one slight detail: I work from home 100% of the time, and yes, more often than not, I’m in yoga pants and a…

Exactly a decade ago, I was sitting in my high-school guidance counselor’s office for a mandatory meeting about college. When she asked where I was in the process, I told her I’d already applied to four schools. I’d also already decided on a major: English. “Are you planning on being…