[Episode 4] The Discipline of Keeping Receipts
From quiet wins and AI wearables to search that predicts you and 25 startups hiring across the globe
Career Lessons That Stuck: On Documenting Your Wins
A few weeks ago, I met a friend for dinner.
And her first comment to me was “it’s performance review season and I have nothing to show for it…”
Which wasn’t true.
She had plenty to show.
But like so many of us, she hadn’t written any of it down.
No spreadsheet.
No folder.
Not even a half-scribbled note on her phone.
And I get it. When you're heads-down solving problems, the last thing on your mind is recording proof that you solved them. But when growth season arrives, whether it’s a review, a raise, or a role switch, you can’t build your case from scratch. You have to show your work.
Over the years, I’ve learned to track my wins in real time. Not just the big, shiny achievements. The small, quiet ones too. The email a client replied “WOW” to. The moment I navigated tension in a meeting with grace. The messy project that finally clicked.
I treat these like data points. Because they are.
(POV : Me smiling at my friend when she complained about how she “hasn’t done enough”)
They remind me of my own growth, especially on the days I feel stuck. They form the backbone of every promotion conversation. And maybe most importantly, they silence the critic in my head whispering, “What have you even done lately?”
Here’s how I do it:
I keep a running doc called “Wins + Feedback” with dates, context, and quotes.
I categorize by impact: time saved, revenue generated, team feedback, client outcomes.
I set a monthly reminder to update it. Ten minutes, once a month. That’s it.
This simple practice has changed how I advocate for myself. It’s given me language for my value and confidence in my trajectory. And it’s something I wish I had started years earlier.
So if you’re reading this and thinking “I wouldn’t even know where to begin,” start here:
What’s something you did this month that you were proud of?
Why did it matter?
Write it down. Save it somewhere. And the next time your career needs receipts, you’ll have them ready.
I’d love to hear from you:
How do you track your growth? What helps you remember what you’ve done?
What to Read Instead of Doomscrolling
🧠 A Brief History of the Em Dash
It’s not just a punctuation mark. It’s a way of thinking. This piece from Thao Thai traces how the em dash became a literary crutch and a beloved stylistic flourish. Read it, then count how many you used before reading this newsletter.
🌪 What If You Don’t Have a Purpose?
Ayushi Thakkar explores the heavy pressure of “finding your purpose” and what it means to live even when you haven’t. It’s vulnerable, sharp, and deeply reassuring.
🧨 My Brain Finally Broke
A chaotic, candid ride through burnout, overwhelm, and trying to think in a world that never stops screaming. From the New Yorker’s finest.
https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-weekend-essay/my-brain-finally-broke
🤔 Is He Really Mad at Me? Maybe ChatGPT Knows
When relationships and algorithms collide. This WIRED piece explores how AI is becoming the therapist, translator, and referee in our friendships, and whether that’s as helpful as it feels.
https://www.wired.com/story/using-chatgpt-for-interpersonal-relationship-advice/
Latest in Tech
Apple’s Search Gets a Mind of Its Own
Apple’s revamp of Spotlight now learns what you want before you type it. Think: location-aware suggestions and ultra-personalized results that blur the line between search and suggestion. A privacy-first prediction engine, or a little too nosy?Meta’s New Smart Glasses Want to Replace Your Phone
Meta’s Spectacles 2.0 don’t just film. They talk. New features allow voice-commanded summaries, AR overlays, and even emotion detection. It’s the selfie cam’s final form, and maybe the start of ambient AI becoming wearable.OpenAI’s Hardware Ambitions Stir Industry Drama
OpenAI is reportedly designing its own chips again. But this time, it's not just about performance. It’s about power. This move could upend the delicate alliances in the AI supply chain. Nvidia, Intel, and even Microsoft might want to keep an eye on this one.
Under the Radar Opportunities
All of these companies recently raised $100M+ and are actively hiring. Many offer remote or international roles:
Glean – AI enterprise search (US remote / Bay Area / Bangalore)
https://www.glean.com/careers#open-positionsSupabase – Open-source backend database (Remote)
https://supabase.com/careersGecko Robotics – Inspection robots (DC / NYC / Boston / Pittsburgh)
https://www.geckorobotics.com/careersSkild AI – Scalable robotics models (Bay Area / Pittsburgh / Bangalore)
https://www.skild.ai/careerParloa – AI agent management (NYC / Berlin / Munich)
https://www.parloa.com/company/careers/#jobsOwner.com – Restaurant marketing (Bay Area / Toronto / Remote)
https://www.owner.com/careers#rolesCast AI – Kubernetes automation (Remote)
https://castai.teamtailor.com/#jobs
Persona – Identity verification tools (NYC / Bay Area)
https://withpersona.com/careers#open-jobsStord – Integrated warehousing (US / US remote / LATAM remote)
https://www.stord.com/careersChainguard – Container security (Global remote)
https://www.chainguard.dev/careers#open-positionsProxima Fusion – Fusion reactors (Munich / Zurich / Oxford)
https://www.proximafusion.com/careersQuantum Systems – Drone tech (Gilching / Kyiv / Bucharest)
https://quantum-systems.com/career-at-quantum-systems/AI21 Labs – Generative AI platform (Tel Aviv / Bay Area / US remote)
https://www.ai21.com/careers/Thunes – Global payments infrastructure (Global)
https://www.thunes.com/vacancies/bolttech – Insurance integration (Global)
https://fa-eqnk-saasfaprod1.fa.ocs.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_2001/jobsMultiverse Computing – Quantum software (Global)
https://multiversecomputing.com/join-usClassiq – Quantum circuit design (Global)
https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/electrasteelElectra – Low-carbon iron production (Boulder)
https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/electrasteelElectra.aero – Hybrid-electric aircraft (Manassas)
https://www.electra.aero/careersApex – Satellite bus manufacturing (LA)
https://www.apexspace.com/careersImpulse Space – Orbital maneuvering (LA / Mojave / Boulder)
https://www.impulsespace.com/careersTrue Anomaly – AI space missions (LA / DC / Denver / Colorado Springs)
https://www.trueanomaly.space/careersMeter – Network solutions (Bay Area / Bangalore / US remote)
https://www.meter.com/open-rolesAwardco – Employee rewards (London / Lindon, UT)
https://www.awardco.com/careersCHAOS Industries – Distributed networks (LA / Bay Area / Seattle / DC)
https://www.chaosinc.com/careers
Dear Gentle Reader
Lately, I’ve been thinking about how connected we are and how lonely that connection can feel.
We answer DMs faster than we return phone calls. We’re flooded with updates but starving for intimacy. We know what our old classmates had for lunch but haven’t heard our best friend’s laugh in weeks.
And I’m not immune. I send links instead of letters. I ghost texts I don’t have the energy for. I scroll through stories instead of reaching out.
So this week, I’m trying something different. I’m calling the people I miss. Not to “catch up,” but just to say: I’m thinking of you.
Maybe you’ll do the same. Or maybe you’ll just forward this to someone who might need a reminder that they’re not alone.
With care,
Aditi