Intros, Unrealistic Expectations & Dolly Parton
Welcome to the first issue of Ties That Bind, the weekly newsletter - now in blog form - from Weak Ties/Strong Bonds.
We're Lauren Karasek and Laura Maurer, friends, entrepreneurs, and founders of Weak Ties/Strong Bonds who, in almost 10 years of friendship, have taken exactly one good photo together 👈. We’re so glad you’re here.
So, what can you expect from Ties That Bind each week? 🗓️ First access to upcoming WT/SB events, 🗞️ content on entrepreneurship and women's issues that caught our attention, 💁♀️ stories from the amazing members of this community, and 😍 stuff we're loving each week. It should be fun.
🪢
Laura & Lauren
Interesting Insights
Hey, high achievers. We see you 👋
But are your high standards for yourself actually just unrealistic expectations that are hindering your success? Forbes shares why we do this to ourselves and how to challenge these beliefs.
Reminder: Perfection isn’t a thing.
🎉 Happy 7th Anniversary, Freelance Isn’t Free
One question we get a lot is how to address a client that just won't pay. In New York City, since May 15, 2017, freelancers have been protected by the Freelance Isn't Free Act.
Learn more and check out resources to advocate for yourself from the Freelancers Union here.
Things We Loved This Week
Laura’s Things
🗽 Who Ate Where: A social history of the city told entirely through its restaurants. Check out this fascinating deep dive from Grub Street on the spots that shaped New York.
💋 This TikTok-famous Lip Balm Treatment from a clean, woman-owned brand.
👫 This dress from a brand that’s been following me around Instagram for months. I’m obsessed with the classic silhouette paired with the modern sleeve, and will be wearing it to my college reunion this weekend.
🎧 This podcast that hilariously tears apart airport books - you know, those best-sellers that entered the zeitgeist but definitely did NOT stand the test of time. Start with the Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus episode.
Lauren’s Things
🐥 This tweet that perfectly encapsulates my "no one hits my brother but me" vibe towards NYC.
⚖️ This podcast on the Supreme Court, hosted by 3 incredible women constitutional scholars. This week's episode opens digging into the Idaho EMTALA/reproductive rights case, and the implications for women's bodily autonomy managed to shock even Amy Coney Barrett.
👭👭 Any and all discourse on Gen Z reacting to Sex and the City (the topic of my college thesis) now that it's on Netflix. (Hat tip to Alex Ording, my personal SATC RSS feed.)
🍞 The milk toast with ricotta and strawberry jam at Fairfax NYC. (I can't find a pic, but just trust me on this one.)
🎤 The Lip Sync Battle that is my Roman Empire, and when I'm pretty sure Zendaya fell in love with Tom Holland (I sure did). I watch this weekly. It may come up again.
To Tie Things Up…
“You’ll never do a whole lot, unless you’re brave enough to try.”
– Dolly Parton
