Hi There,

January’s half gone, or has half to go—what’s your perspective on that? Guess it depends on how much you’ve accomplished so far this month. I’ve made a referral that closed, signed a contract to write a chapter for a book for marketing executives, and my company, Digital Brand Expressions, is getting lots of attention for the pioneering work we’re doing for a new kind of SEO, called Search AI Optimization (SAIO). Not a bad way to start the year!

What are your 2024 early successes? I’d love to hear them.

Thanks to everyone who completed my super-fast “Are You a Compassionate Leader” survey. Much appreciated, will share insights in a week or so.

Here are my shares for this week to help those choosing to lead with confidence and compassion stay informed, balanced, and spot on:

• No one likes having “those conversations” with underperforming employees. It helps to understand what may be going on with the person to better address the issues, and this article from American Express has some solid tips. If you want coaching on those challenging conversations, Michael Piperno has courses designed for you and the managers on your team to get directness, clarity, and positive action working for you.

• Glassdoor has a round up of the best places to work in 2024, according to data pulled from talent reviews. What do you see as the common factors among so many companies? I’m seeing a lot of: culture, colleagues, benefits that matter, and nods to the teams that make it all happen.

• What’s to become of shopping malls? Lots of them are being converted to residential properties. This story from The Wall Street Journal points to a growing trend of people wanting to be outside, so strip malls are gaining in popularity for retailers of all sizes.

Between demanding bosses, long hours, and heavy workloads, it is no surprise so many individuals feel stressed and overwhelmed by their jobs. According to the American Psychological Association (APA), almost 3 in 5 employees reported lack of interest, motivation, or energy due to work-related stress. Many people discount this stress as an accepted part of life, not realizing that they may be suffering from burnout. The physical traits of burnout are broad, similar to stress and other ailments. Common symptoms may include headaches, stomach discomfort, fatigue, changes in appetite, and little to no sleep. Emotional symptoms may involve a lack of motivation, feeling detached, and a sense of helplessness. In this blog, we will go over various causes of burnout and talk about solutions to overcome it.

Signs and Symptoms of Burnout

Stress and burnout have numerous similarities, but it’s important to distinguish between the two. Stress primarily affects the body physically, whereas burnout is more emotionally driven. It’s important to note that stress can lead to burnout. Over-engagement can give rise to stress, which, if left unchecked, can evolve into disengagement, resulting in burnout. Difficulty starting your workday and maintaining focus, or constantly saying “I don’t want to work today, “can be early signs of burnout. Similarly, if you find yourself struggling to start tasks or consistently lacking concentration, these could also be signs of burnout.

Changes in sleep patterns and low energy levels are also signs to look out for. While occasional fatigue is normal, chronic exhaustion throughout the day may be a sign of burnout. Unexplained physical symptoms such as headaches and stomach issues can be triggered by workplace stress, potentially leading to burnout.

Causes of Burnout

Burnout can be attributed to several job-related factors, including a lack of control. When faced with an overwhelming workload and unrealistic deadlines, your energy can quickly be used up. A chaotic work environment and a lack of recognition for your efforts can be equally draining and make you lose motivation. Additionally, a major contributor to burnout is an unhealthy work-life balance. A balance between work and personal life is essential for your overall well-being. A healthy work-life balance can enhance productivity, reduce the likelihood of falling ill, and improve time management.

How to Overcome & Prevent Burnout

The first step in overcoming burnout is acknowledging that solutions exist for these problems. Many of these solutions resemble those for managing stress:

• Engaging in relaxing hobbies or activities away from work.
• Seeking support from colleagues, friends, or family members.
• Prioritizing sufficient sleep and regular exercise is crucial, though it may not be easy to initiate such changes.

Think of it as a lifestyle adjustment rather than a quick fix.

Start small by taking short walks, eliminating unhealthy food choices such as soda (something small but easy), and gradually adjusting your bedtime. Reducing screen time, especially before sleep, can also help in creating a healthier routine.

Engaging in hobbies and activities that provide separation from work is a key strategy. It’s essential to carve out dedicated personal time. This separation can significantly reduce stress levels and, in turn, mitigate burnout.

Seeking social support is another effective means of preventing burnout. Talking about your issues can be surprisingly helpful. Having these conversations/outlets helps you gain perspective (especially when you hear yourself speaking out loud) and may even lead to solutions right away.

It’s helpful to discuss concerns with your coworkers because they more than likely have experienced what you’re going through at some point. However, it’s important to choose someone you can trust and remain professional.

At DBE, we are proactive about preventing burnout. Below are some of the ways we do that–maybe these can work for your team too:

• Flexible 9-5 – Our team generally starts and ends around 9am-5pm ET. Employees can start a little earlier or later depending on the day.
• Quick Errands – Appointments don’t count against PTO, as long as the time is made up.
• Breaks – Our CEO, Niki Fielding, encourages employees to take lunch and walking breaks.
• 3 o’clock Fridays – We started 3 o’clock Fridays one summer and never changed back. As long as your work is finished, you can head off to enjoy the weekend a little early.
• Zoomraderies – These are our weekly teambuilders – they range from guessing each other’s favorite hobby to cookie decorating. Learn more about these wonderfully fun ventures here.
• Birthdays Off – This is our favorite way to show appreciation to team members.
• Wellness Reimbursements – We use this to allow and encourage team members to stay active and healthy. It’s separate from our health insurance plan and each of us gets up to $500 per year reimbursed for activities that get us moving. Pool membership, new bike, tennis lessons–they are all reimbursable.
• Weekly Touch Bases with your Manager – This helps to make sure all team members get the opportunity to be heard and acknowledged. Here, you can have honest conversations about workload and any factors that may be affecting you

Why Are We Sharing?

We are sharing because it’s not only important for yourself to understand signs and symptoms of burnout, but it’s also important that you understand it for your colleagues. If you’re able to see the early signs of burnout that a coworker may be experiencing, you can find ways to help them reduce the factors causing them stress.

Avoiding burnout in the workplace keeps productivity high, fatigue low, improves communication and flow, reduces turnover, and generally makes for happier, healthier employees.

More Sources on Burnout

https://www.midwestern.edu/Documents-/Counseling%20Services/What%20is%20burnout.pdf

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/burnout/art-20046642

https://www.darlingdowns.health.qld.gov.au/about-us/our-stories/feature-articles/signs-you-might-be-experiencing-a-burnout-and-how-to-regain-balance-in-your-life

https://www.apa.org/monitor/2022/01/special-burnout-stress

Princeton, NJ (September 6, 2023)—Digital Brand Expressions, L.L.C. (DBE) announced that Cresilon, Inc., a biotech company with life-saving hemostatic gel technologies, has selected DBE as its digital marketing agency for search engine and social marketing for its VETIGEL® brand. The two companies started working together in June 2023.

“DBE has been a tremendous resource. They have gone above and beyond to enhance our social and search marketing through their suggestions and optimizations,” said Robert Laudadio, Director of Marketing at Cresilon, Inc.

“We have enjoyed working with the innovative team at Cresilon,” said Michael Farrell, Director of Paid Channels for DBE. “Our team is looking forward to driving further digital success with them.”

About Cresilon, Inc.

Cresilon^® is a Brooklyn-based biotechnology company that develops, manufactures, and markets hemostatic medical devices utilizing the company’s proprietary hydrogel technology. The company’s plant-based technology has revolutionized the current standard by stopping traumatic and surgical bleeds in seconds without the need for manual pressure. The company’s current and future product lines target veterinary, human trauma, and human surgical applications. Cresilon’s mission is to save lives. Learn more about Cresilon at http://www.cresilon.com.

About Digital Brand Expressions

DBE is an Omotenashi-driven, digital marketing agency helping organizations maximize their investments in search engine and social media marketing through project- and retainer-based consulting and program management services. For select and highly aligned clients, DBE provides expert configuration of Google Analytics and other success-tracking tools; integrated SEO, paid search, display, remarketing, paid social, social media marketing, and ideation/innovation via results analysis.

The agency’s reputation for results-enhancing strategies and program management services, along with its integrity and transparency have made it a sought-after solution for those knowledgeable about the complexities of marketing via search and social channels, earning DBE its “experts’ experts” tagline.

DBE’s clients include well-known brands in the consumer, B2B, manufacturing, media/publishing, financial services, and life sciences verticals, among others. The agency is headquartered in Princeton, NJ. To learn more, visit: https://www.digitalbrandexpressions.com/.

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Trademarks and registered trademarks contained herein remain the property of their respective owners.

Media Contacts:

Natalie Lorenzo

609-688-8558

NLorenzo@DigitalBrandExpressions.com

Princeton, NJ (February 6, 2023)—Digital Brand Expressions, L.L.C. (DBE) announced its CEO & President, Veronica “Niki” Fielding, is launching the Philadelphia chapter of The Connective, a virtual networking organization for highly engaged business development executives on March 21 of this year.

“I’ve been impressed with the caliber of the leadership of The Connective as well as with the members. I think it’s a combination of the expertise of the members in their respective areas and their shared, helping nature. When I refer someone from The Connective to people in my network, I’m confident I’m making a strong referral that will reflect well on me,” said Fielding.

“I’ve known Niki for three years now; she joined us back in early 2020. As we continue our planned expansion, knowing she’s going to head the Philadelphia chapter is exciting because she has a knack for creating win/win/win situations with her referrals and her energy is contagious,” said Joe Mindak, President and Founder of The Connective.

About The Connective

The Connective is an elite community of purpose-driven “Connectors,” subject matter experts, and entrepreneurs, united by the shared ambition to harness the power of social currency to open doors, create value, and do well for one another.

Powered by Nolodex, the most robust networking, referral management and payment software available, The Connective has grown to over 155 members and surpassed over $10.1M in closed business deals between its members. Co-founder, Adrian Sasine, points out that, “The intentionality Nolodex creates within communities to incentivize warm introductions and help members drive sales growth is what sets our software apart.”

You can find out more about The Connective and Nolodex on their websites.

About Digital Brand Expressions

DBE is an Omotenashi-driven, digital marketing agency helping organizations maximize their investments in search engine and social media marketing through project- and retainer-based consulting and program management services. For select and highly aligned clients, DBE provides expert configuration of Google Analytics and other success-tracking tools; integrated SEO, paid search, display, remarketing, paid social, social media marketing, and ideation/innovation via results analysis.

The agency’s reputation for results-enhancing strategies and program management services, along with its integrity and transparency have made it a sought-after solution for those knowledgeable about the complexities of marketing via search and social channels, earning DBE its “experts’ experts” tagline.

DBE’s clients include well-known brands in the consumer, B2B, manufacturing, media/publishing, financial services, and life sciences verticals, among others. The agency is headquartered in Princeton, NJ. To learn more, visit: Digital Brand Expressions’ website.

###

Trademarks and registered trademarks contained herein remain the property of their respective owners.

Media Contact:

Natalie Lorenzo

609-688-8558

NLorenzo@DigitalBrandExpressions.com

When starting a new job, it’s normal to feel nervous about what lies ahead. For most people, this goes away quickly once they find footing in their new workplace.

However, for some people this feeling of being ‘the rookie’ may never leave them. Even after finding success in their role, they may still feel incapable of performing their role and believe they are in over their head. Even after receiving praise for their professional accomplishments, they may feel it is inaccurate or undeserved. This feeling of unrelenting self-doubt is popularly known as imposter syndrome.

Imposter syndrome is defined as “a collection of feelings of inadequacy that persist despite evident success” by Harvard Business Review. Those affected may wonder why this occurs and, more importantly, how these feelings can be lessened or overcome completely.