You Can Just Do Things

You Can Just Do Things by Cate Hall.

Rarely does a book move me from thinking to doing.

This one did. I love Cate's storytelling.

Cate went from an elite legal career to becoming the world’s top-ranked female poker player, then through addiction and rebuilding her life.

Along the way, she explores how we develop agency.

For me, agency means recognizing that I can make a choice, take a step, and influence what happens next—even when I can’t control the whole situation.

Sometimes someone gives you a name for a strength you’ve had all along.

Then you start wondering: What else could I do with it?

That’s what this book did for me.

I’m developing my own voice around discovering what makes us unique—what I call finding your alpha. The combination of experiences, skills, and perspectives that allows you to bring something different to others.

And I’m learning that when you put yourself out there, people can respond in ways you didn’t know were possible.

During an AI course that I'm taking, guest speaker David Ghiyam talked about becoming a container, a vessel, for what we want to give and receive.

It made me ask: Who do I need to become to bring my energy and love to others?

So I took a small step. I reached out to Georgia Tech about speaking to students.

Preparing for my conversation with the dean, I reflected on why students in Emory’s financial planning class seemed to connect with my presentation and asked me back each year for the last three years.

Maybe it’s because I talk about the failures along with the wins.

I loved working on Wall Street.

But some of my most valuable lessons came when things didn’t work out.

And much later, down in my own valley of despair,

I began to recognize strengths I had overlooked.

As a little girl helping my mother balance her checkbook after finding a pink phone shutoff notice, I was learning to solve problems. I didn’t have a name for it then.

Looking back, I can see the beginnings of my agency—and the financial understanding I now share with women.

That’s the energy I want to bring to others: helping people recognize something valuable in themselves that they may have dismissed or never thought to use.

If you’re feeling stuck, try looking backward for a moment.

What have you figured out?

What do people come to you for?

What experience has given you a perspective someone else might need?

Then take one small step toward sharing it.

There’s plenty of uncertainty around us.

Having an internal sense of control—knowing we can choose our next action

—helps us move forward.

For me, this week, it started with reaching out to GA Tech!

What might it look like for you?

Tiffany Kent

Your Friendly Wealth Engagement Guide

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