For Women Who Are Unapologetically Ambitious and Fiercely Informed

Spring has sprung. And not a moment too soon, as this weather was doing my head in 🤯🤯. And when my mental health suffers from seasonal affective disorder (it's a thing), it's hard to remember the inspiration, the goals, the main plotline. Thankfully, my guest on TCOLB was just the medicine I needed to understand that everyone is going through this, all day, every day. Maybe a different day than you, but still going through it. Here's to future margs on outdoor patios.

With Love & Lady Business,
JJ

In today’s edition:
 — Adversity is Not the End of the Story
— What to Do With It This Week
— What I’m Watching This Week
— The AI Assist

Adversity is Not the End of the Story

Most people treat adversity like something to survive, something to get through, clean up, and move on from. But what if it’s something you’re meant to use? On Takin’ Care of Lady Business, Shirin Behzadi shared a perspective that reframes hardship entirely. She came to the U.S. alone at 17, started as a gas station cashier, and went on to become a CEO. An unexpected CEO, in fact. But what stood out to me wasn’t just what she built; it was how clearly she understands the role adversity played in building her. This conversation isn’t about resilience. It’s about power.

— The power of trusting yourself when others project their limits onto you
— The power of walking away from something that looks right on paper but feels wrong in your gut
— The power of deciding that a hard season won’t be wasted
JJ Take: Adversity doesn’t create power, but it reveals how much of it you’re willing to claim.

This Week’s Practice
Take one situation in your life right now that feels frustrating or unclear.
Instead of asking “Why is this happening?”
Ask: “What is this asking me to decide, change, or claim?”
Then act from there.

🎥 Watch the full episode →

🎧Or listen on podcast → Here

Final thought
Growth doesn’t always arrive in a form you would choose. Sometimes it looks like pressure, loss, rejection, or doubt.
The question isn’t whether it feels good. It’s what are you going to do with it?

What to Do With It This Week

Clarity Is a Boundary
Adversity doesn’t just show up in big life moments. It shows up in the day-to-day: Unclear expectations. Expanding roles. Shifting goalposts.
And if you don’t define things early, you end up managing the fallout later.  Most people think boundaries are something you set when things go wrong. They’re not. Boundaries are something you set through clarity before anything breaks.

The Shift
Instead of waiting for friction, try this:
— Define expectations early
— Name what something costs (time, energy, money)
— Clarify what happens if things change
Because ambiguity doesn’t stay neutral. It gets filled — usually by you.

What This Sounds Like
— “Before I start, let’s align on what success looks like.”
— “If this expands, how are we thinking about adjusting scope?”
— “Here’s what that timeline looks like on my end.”
Simple. Clear. No apology required.

Core Reframe
Clarity isn’t controlling. It’s respectful. And it prevents the exact situations where women end up overextended, underpaid, and quietly resentful.

📌 Want more on setting boundaries at work? → Harvard Business Review guide to setting boundaries

What I’m Watching This Week 

The WNBA Didn’t Just Get Paid — They Stayed

This week, new salary rules in the WNBA are making headlines. And yes, it’s about money. But more importantly, it’s about persistence. For years, WNBA players have been underpaid, overlooked, and expected to play overseas to make a real living.
And they didn’t walk away. They stayed. They pushed. They organized. They negotiated. And they didn't stop. 
Why This Matters
We love a breakthrough moment. But we don’t talk enough about what it takes to get there. It’s not one big ask. It’s years of them. It’s showing up in a system that isn’t built for you and deciding to change it anyway.
The Through Line
From Shirin’s story to this: Adversity is not the end, it’s the proving ground...but only if you stay in it long enough to reshape it.
🏀Read more about the new WNBA salary rules →WNBA salary changes breakdown

The AI Assist 

How to Lighten the Load This Week.
If there’s one place women are still doing too much, it’s in the invisible work: the planning, organizing, drafting, remembering, and decision-making that keeps everything moving. AI can’t fix broken systems. But it can take some of the weight off your plate. I have become a power user and am still shocked how many people do not use it all day, every day. Who else do you think proofreads this newsletter?
Where to Start
Use AI as a thinking partner, not just a tool.
— Draft emails you’re overthinking
— Prep for difficult conversations
— Sanity-check decisions before you make them
Try this: “Help me write a clear, professional response that sets a boundary without sounding defensive.”
At Home
Offload the mental load:
— Meal planning
— Grocery lists
— Travel logistics
— School coordination
Instead of carrying it all in your head, let AI hold it for you.
At Work
Before saying yes, ask: “What questions should I be asking before agreeing to this?”
It will surface gaps you might otherwise absorb.
The Reframe
AI isn’t here to replace you. It’s here to support you. And using it isn’t cutting corners. It’s refusing to do work that was never meant to be yours alone.
This Week’s Practice
Pick one thing you normally over-handle. Give it to AI instead.
Then use that time for something that actually moves the needle — or gives you a moment back.
🤖 Try it here →ChatGPT

Hi, I’m JJ

Since starting the Justice Dept, we have increased women's wealth by over $100MM in just over 5 years. Want to know what inspires me to do this work, other than making women money? My clients' surprised reaction when we manage to get them much better terms for themselves and their companies, whether via talent agreements, employment, severance, partnerships, asset sales or investments. They often admit that they never thought they could get that result. Not even hoped. This blows my mind. As we know at The Justice Dept. you are all worth everything you ask for and more. Reach out and we’ll show you how!
x TJD