Written by Holli C., People Operations Specialist
Editor’s Note
At Red Dog Media, we believe the best stories come from our team. This post is written by Holli, one of our People Operations teammates, who shares what it’s really like to navigate adulthood today, and how support like the Life Advisor benefit at Red Dog Media makes a difference.
Navigating Life
You’re building your life, but let’s be real, no one handed you a manual. Rent keeps rising. Student loans loom. Some weeks, it’s groceries or gas, not both. At 2 am, you’re googling “how to do taxes.” And when an unexpected expense pops up? That can feel like a full-on crisis.
Navigating adulthood today is different from anything generations before us faced. Skyrocketing costs. Delayed milestones. Fewer safety nets. Longer paths through school. And still, the expectation remains: you should have it all figured out.
The truth? Nobody has it all figured out. And the good news- you don’t have to either.
Holli C.
That old ‘bootstrap mentality’? Outdated. Real resilience isn’t about grinding it out in silence. It’s about knowing when to lean on the right tools- the kind that help you build a life you can actually thrive, not just survive.
The Myth of Having It All Figured Out
You’ve heard you should have this all figured out– except, why should you? You’ve been in school since you were five. And your parents and mentors had different circumstances. No one taught you how to negotiate rent, read a benefits plan, or decide how much to save in which account. That gut-punch moment when you realize money does not, in fact, grow on trees.
Trying to figure it all out alone feels more like survival mode than actually living.
That’s where the Life Advisor benefit at Red Dog Media steps in.
Life Support (Literally)
Enter the Life Advisor benefit at Red Dog Media, which is part of your Employee Assistance Program (EAP) benefit. Think of it as your judgment-free toolkit for real life, not just the “work version” of your life. The Life Advisor benefit gives you access to real people, grounded in today’s challenges, ready to help with:
- Coaching & Career: Goal-setting, accountability, communication skills, conflict resolution, continuing education, career transitions.
- Wellness & Mental Health: Stress reduction, self-care, healthy habits, support for anxiety, depression, and family needs.
- Money & Legal: Budgeting, retirement planning, legal document review, will preparation.
- Perks That Stretch Your Paycheck: Discounts, resources, and everyday life hacks.
It’s confidential. It’s professional. And it’s built for all the wonderful, messy, and meaningful stages of life, whether you’re just starting out, raising a family, navigating career changes, caring for loved ones, or planning for retirement.
Help = Strength
Asking for help isn’t a weakness; it’s a strategy. Many people don’t learn that until their 40s or 50s. But you don’t have to wait that long.
Support doesn’t erase independence; it strengthens it.
The right tools don’t take away your grit—they give you more.
Holli C.
It turns stress into clarity, uncertainty into action, and confusion into confidence. That’s what the Life Advisor benefit at Red Dog Media is here for: not outdated advice, but tools that actually work in today’s economy and workplace.
And I’m not the only one who feels this way. Here’s what a couple of my teammates shared about how the Life Advisor benefit at Red Dog Media has helped them navigate real life.
Whytli, our Recruitment Manager, shared that when she bought her first home, she kept putting off important documents like a will and power of attorney. The Life Advisor benefit gave her the push she needed: “Within an hour of calling, I was paired with a law firm, sent intake forms, and booking my first meeting. … I probably wouldn’t have taken action anytime soon if it weren’t for Red Dog Media’s support.”
And she’s not the only one.
“Used the service several times, found the end providers to be knowledgeable and easy to work with. I am really appreciative of the new benefit, thanks RDM!” Anonymous
Stories like these are exactly why benefits like the Life Advisor matter! They turn the overwhelming parts of adulthood into manageable steps forward.
Real Talk
No generation before has had to navigate adulthood quite like this one. And honestly? We shouldn’t have to do it alone.
That’s what I love about working at Red Dog Media. Here, it’s not just about the paycheck. It’s about knowing there are real tools and support for when life throws curveballs. Things that actually make navigating the adult part of life feel a little lighter.
Because thriving at work isn’t just about deadlines or goals, it’s about having the stability and support to build a life you actually want. And when your workplace helps you figure out the life stuff no one warned you about? That’s when it truly becomes The Last Place You’d Want to Work.
Don’t forget to check out other insights from our teammates!