For Women Who Are Unapologetically Ambitious and Fiercely Informed

Happy New Year everyone! Can I still say that on Friday, January 16th? Have you made your resolutions? Me neither. The reason? Resolutions are seductive - they make us feel productive without requiring us to change how we move through the world. However, what am I doing this year? Practicing. Practice is different. Practice is what you do on a Tuesday when no one is watching. It’s not a declaration, it’s a repetition. For me, this year isn't about announcing big things I want, but continuing to build muscle - the physical and mental kind - about asking for what I want in real time. Asking for more in all areas of your life isn’t a New Year’s resolution. It’s a daily practice. And the women who actually change their lives aren’t the ones who set the biggest goals, they’re the ones who practice getting what they deserve consistently, especially when it’s uncomfortable. What are you practicing this year?

With Love & Lady Business,
JJ

In today’s edition:
— One Thing You Need to Do When Asking For What You Want
— Don’t Confuse Flexibility With Free Labor
— TJD Allies in the News - Major Win For Moms

One Thing You Need to Do When Asking for What You Want.

Ask Early
Almost all of my clients come to me when there is already a problem, an issue with compensation, a severance payment, a talent deal gone bad, or a freelancer who's done the job and not been paid. The problem I see is this - they ask too late. So what happens? Resentment builds; underpayment becomes normalized; poor deal terms are agreed; everything stalls. And you are left holding the bag.  We’ve been taught that asking earlier is "pushy,” "bossy", "pick me energy" - when in reality it’s efficient, professional, and protective. They respect you more when you know your worth. Ask for it. 

The Three-Part Framework of The Early Ask Rule:
1. Ask before work starts, not after it’s delivered
2. Ask when expectations are still flexible
3. Ask when you’re calm, not fed up

Practical Examples
— “Before I move forward, let’s confirm scope and compensation.”
— “What does success look like here and how is it valued?”
— “If this expands, how do we adjust the terms?”

Core Mental Reframe:
Asking earlier isn’t aggressive. It's a strategy. And it’s how adults do business
Now, you go practice!  

Don’t Confuse Flexibility with Free Labor.

On a related note - 
As I see more and more women being laid off, the urge to remain useful and needed at your job is a natural tendency. But be careful when that turns into free labor. The woman doing the job of 6 when her entire team was laid off - I am talking to you. The freelancer who said, no worries, I can fit that in my scope of work - I am talking to you. The rest of you - I am talking to you. Women are praised for being “flexible,” but flexibility often becomes a euphemism for absorbing extra work, emotional labor, and last-minute changes, without compensation or recognition. That’s not leadership. That’s leakage of money falling out of that high-priced bag.  

The Three-Part Framework for Saying No to Free Labor:
Instead of saying:
— “No problem”
— “Happy to help”
— “It’s fine”

Try:
— “No problem, I can do that, what should I deprioritize?”
— “Happy to help, but that wasn’t in scope; how would you like to handle it?”
— “I’m at capacity, but here are two options that I'm fine with.”

Core Mental Reframe
Flexibility without boundaries isn’t generosity, it’s a business risk. 

The rules of the workplace were written over a century ago. It’s time to rewrite them.
Inspired by the women who came before us. Created for the leaders shaping what’s next. It’s the advice we wish we had—and now, we’re passing it on. This is the FQ Newsletter. Subscribe now.

TJD Allies In the News - Major Win For Moms

Reshma Saujani, through Moms First, focused on a clear, actionable policy goal and stayed with it. By working directly with New York State, Governor Kathy Hochul, and Mayor Zohran Mamdani, her team helped secure free childcare for two-year-olds, removing a concrete barrier for working parents through sustained advocacy and coalition-building. Read all about her groundbreaking efforts here! 

Lady Bits:

🎙️: JJ interviews Kimmy Scotti from Neon Ventures on How to Invest as and Be Your Authentic Self

👀: Ali Wong calling it like it is - we can have it all, if we only had this 

👏: Cindy Gallop, bringing MakeLoveNotPorn to UK Parliament 

😳: ICE denies responsibility for staff’s sexual abuse of detainees

💰: The ETFs you should invest in for 2026

🎧: Rozzi’s newest single, “Good News”

🤖: Google’s Gemini is your new Siri 

📖: The Amazing Generation - sequel to the Anxious Generation.  

❤️: What else we love… Shelley Zalis starting CES with a knockout

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