Let Go, Choose Your Word & Set Achievable Goals in 2026.

What if you could approach the new year without all the pressure? In this episode, I'm sharing Part 1 of a gentle, science-backed approach to setting intentions that actually work.

Before you listen: 👉 Download your FREE New Year Reset workbook: workmuse.com/bestself

When you sign up, you'll get the complete workbook with all 5 exercises plus a bonus, and email guidance, with flexibility and on your timeline.

In Episode 59, you'll learn:

Day 1: What to Leave Behind

• A powerful camera roll exercise to reflect on the past year
• How to decide what no longer serves you (without judgment)
• How to identify the "rocks in your backpack" to release what's holding you back

Day 2: Choose Your Word of the Year

• Why one word is more powerful than multiple resolutions
• How to choose between words of reflection, change, or connection
• Real examples from my past Word of the Years and those who've joined our reset the past three years 💡

Day 3: Setting Achievable Goals

• The SMARTER framework that actually works
• Why most people fail (they forget the HOW)
• 5 goal-setting mistakes to avoid, and how to break goals into micro-actions

Why this matters: The past year has felt rough—from economic and political uncertainty, to AI disruption and job market challenges. When everything external feels chaotic, the most powerful thing you can do is center yourself internally.

Pro Tip: Save episodes 59 & 60 to work through all five exercises (and the bonus ✨) on your timeline.

Resources:

• FREE Workbook
• Facebook Community
• Connect on LinkedIn

Coming in Part 2: James Clear's habit method, manifestation science, and Ikigai for career purpose.

Episode Website: workmuse.com/59

Send Melissa a Text Message.

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“I love Melissa and Jobshare Revolution.” <– If that sounds like you, please consider leaving me a 5⭐ rating and review! Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5⭐ , and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!

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70% of women who took career breaks struggle with decreased confidence when trying to re-enter.

Add in ageism, the motherhood penalty, and AI screening resumes? People are hitting their heads against the wall in this brutal job market.

But what if you could bypass the nail-biting interviews altogether?

Here's job sharing's best-kept secret for career relaunches: Find your partner FIRST. Have them pitch you as a team. Get built-in mentorship as you upskill on the job—like an old-school apprenticeship.

Instead of explaining resume gaps and competing against uninterrupted work histories, you're partnering with someone already valued and trusted. You're offering a high-performing team, not asking for a chance.

In episode 58:

• Why relaunches are harder than ever (ageism + AI HR + motherhood penalty)
• The confidence crisis no one's talking about
• 👩🏽‍💻 5 strategic moves for mothers relaunching or transitioning careers
• 💡 The alternative path: Partner first, bypass interviews, upskill together
• Why this is my absolute favorite way to start job sharing
• 🎉 Series wrap-up: Making sure you're not part of the exodus

Here's the genius: You're likely coming in for a final-round interview with your partner in the room. An all-star employee vouching for you. Faster upskilling than starting solo. A personal cheerleader and built-in mentor.

You're not starting at a disadvantage. Your success is their success.

This wraps our 7-part series. When we started: 212K women left in first 7 months of 2025. ❌ October BLS data: 450,000 have left. 😵 Understanding how to make sure you're not one of them is critical.

Featured Research:

• Fortune analysis on the mother's workforce exodus
• Mom Relaunch
• iRelaunch

Resources:

• FREE Guide to Job Sharing 👉 workmuse.com/guide ✅
• Transitioning or relaunching? 🤔 DM me on LinkedIn
• Join Work Muse Facebook Community

Nearly all job sharers create their own arrangements. You can too. Believe you can and put a plan into place.

2026, watch out! It's time to make all our dreams come true—yours and mine.🥂 🥳

Episode Website: workmuse.com/58
Transcript: workmuse.com/58transcript

Send Melissa a Text Message.

RATE, REVIEW & FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTS

Thank you for supporting my bootstrapped social good business and mission!

“I love Melissa and Jobshare Revolution.” <– If that sounds like you, please consider leaving me a 5⭐ rating and review! Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5⭐ , and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!

Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. This helps me support more people—just like you—to find true work-life balance. 🙌🙌

75% of family caregivers are women—and it's daughters carrying the burden. They lose $300,000 on average in lifetime earnings.

This one is deeply personal. My mom came into my care with Alzheimer's overnight during the 2021 snowpocalypse. Nearly five years in, and here's what I've learned: Without accessible eldercare support, your day can turn on a moment's notice. And it's a much harder, colder push than even the motherhood penalty.

Family caregivers provide 21.9 hours of care per week—a second job on top of your full-time job. Alzheimer's caregivers? We provide 1-4 years MORE care than other illnesses, often 5+ years.

There's a Rosalynn Carter quote I think about often: "There are only four kinds of people: those who have been caregivers, those who are currently caregivers, those who will be caregivers, and those who will need caregivers."

This will touch all of us.

In episode 57:

• The sobering statistics (I check every box)
• Why federal support falls dramatically short
• What employers are doing—and what they're failing at
• 5 strategies sandwich generation caregivers are using to survive
• 💡 How job sharing lets dual caregivers keep Senior/Director/C-Suite jobs
• My truth: How job sharing skills saved me when diagnosis came

Here's what changed everything: You CAN keep your demanding career and care for aging parents—WITH a job share partner to hand over the baton so you can schedule appointments and handle care needs. Built-in flexibility without constant negotiating.

When we started this series: 212K women left. ❌ October data: 450,000. 😵 Eldercare is a significant part of this crisis.

Featured Research & Organizations that Support Caregivers:

• National Alliance for Caregiving statistics
• Hilarity for Charity
  Parenting Aging Parents
  Caring Across Generations

Resources:

• FREE Guide to Job Sharing 👉 workmuse.com/guide
• Sandwich generation ? 🤔 DM me on LinkedIn
• Join Work Muse Facebook Community

One gender is not more suited to provide care than another—it's about damn time we unsocialize that.

Episode Website: workmuse.com/57
Transcript: workmuse.com/57transcript

Send Melissa a Text Message.

RATE, REVIEW & FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTS

Thank you for supporting my bootstrapped social good business and mission!

“I love Melissa and Jobshare Revolution.” <– If that sounds like you, please consider leaving me a 5⭐ rating and review! Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5⭐ , and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!

Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. This helps me support more people—just like you—to find true work-life balance. 🙌🙌