Originally published on March 20, 2022
By Giselle Galper
[Updated: November 2023]
Since the original publication of this story, chea seed has evolved. Through conversations with our users and understanding their needs, we've honed in on a critical aspect of career development: performance reviews. We've transformed our platform to address this need head-on, while still offering the tracking and gamified experience that our users love. Here's the latest chapter in the chea seed story. Midway through my seventeen-year career as a general counsel, I was lacking purpose. I had three kids (nine, seven, and four), and I was in the thick of it as a working parent: my husband was a chief technology officer (CTO) at a busy tech company, and while working long hours was normal for both of us, it was more typical for him.
Thankfully, we had a lot of flexibility. I worked from home most of the time and my husband was able to do so part of the time, especially in the evenings. Neither of us had to travel for our jobs, so we saw our kids every day and were able to eat together on a regular basis. But professionally, I wasn’t satisfied. It felt like my job was an endless cycle of “press and repeat”—I had no control over it.
Eventually, I found a book called Creative Confidence: Unleashing the Creative Potential Within Us All. Soon after that, I learned about a concept called “design thinking,” a unique approach to problem-solving that served as the basis for the New York Times best-selling book Design Your Life: How to Build a Well-Lived, Joyful Life. Thanks to those two books, I came to two realizations.
First, I realized that I really wanted to keep working but that I was unhappy in my current role.
Second, I saw that I was at a precipice.
I had always assumed I would spend my whole life working—I placed a high value on both my independence and my ability to contribute financially to the household. I hadn’t grown up in a wealthy household, and while I worked hard, I also knew I was lucky to be paid well enough to not have to worry about putting food on the table or the cost of summer camp for the kids.
Still, I knew I had to make a change. I started with the “simple methodology” laid out in Creative Confidence. I took a notebook and drew a quadrant chart based on two qualities—intensity (high or low) and my associated feelings (positive or negative). I wrote down how I felt about various aspects of my work, and then every few weeks or so, I’d go back to the chart and figure out how I could decrease or eliminate the things that fell into the “high negative” quadrant. At the same time, I worked on adding things into the “high positive” and even the “low positive” portions of the chart. Following this methodology, I created my own path to a career that worked for me.
And that is what chea seed is all about—checking in with yourself to determine whether you are satisfied with your work, figuring out what makes you happy and productive in the workplace, asking for what you need out of your career, and finding the training and support you need to make a change. Whatever step you’re at, whatever information or guidance you’re seeking, chea seed is here to help you create a career that you love.
Embracing Change: chea seed’s New Focus on Performance Reviews
We've heard from many of you that performance reviews can be a source of significant stress and uncertainty. That's why we've dedicated ourselves to developing a solution — a way to transform this daunting task into an opportunity for growth and recognition.
Chea seed now offers:
Performance Review Coaching: Step-by-step guidance through the performance review process, backed by the power of Generative AI.
Self-Assessment Writer: Simplify the self-assessment process with our intelligent writer, which helps you articulate your achievements and areas for development clearly and effectively.
Achievement Tracker: A fun, gamified system that helps you keep track of your accomplishments throughout the year, so when review time comes, you're ready.
Rewarding Points System: Earn points as you track your professional milestones and use them to unlock insights and advice, making career development both rewarding and enjoyable.
Our passion for supporting your career hasn't changed, but our tools have become more powerful, more focused, and more attuned to what you need to succeed.
Prepare to Impress
As the year comes to a close, performance reviews are on the horizon. With chea seed, you're not just preparing for a review; you're setting the stage for your next big career leap.
Ready to face your performance review with confidence and clarity? Let's make this year's review a stepping stone to your next success.
Try the new chea seed. Download now!
Join the Conversation
Have you explored the new features of chea seed? Tell us about your experience or any insights you've gained in the comments, or reach out via email to listening@cheaseed.com. Your journey inspires our innovation.