Getting Unstuck

Ryan Holiday, who has authored several books based on Stoic philosophy, says that most self-improvement books are focused on how to succeed. But his book titled The Obstacle Is the Way: The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph focuses on how to overcome problems, failures, and other things that stand between us and our … Continue reading Getting Unstuck

13 Recession-Proof Jobs

In an economy that seems increasingly uncertain, new graduates and established jobseekers alike are looking for a career that has lasting power. Since no one seems to know when (or if) a recession is likely, jobs that hold the promise of being recession-proof holds real appeal. To be fair, every economic downturn creates some career … Continue reading 13 Recession-Proof Jobs

Lead, Follow, or Get Out of the Way

In a previous post, I introduced the Smalley Personality quiz, a quick take on personality types in the workplace. The types are categorized as animals: Lion, Otter, Golden Retriever, and Beaver. Otters tend to be energetic, optimistic, and enthusiastic, especially about new, shiny ideas. They’re team players and the team cheerleaders. Beavers, on the other … Continue reading Lead, Follow, or Get Out of the Way

When Too Many Otters is a Bad Thing

Nancy Pulciano is a producer and the CEO of Silent Crowd, a clothing company based in San Diego. She’s a manager with experience in Hollywood as a producer and in the action sports and restaurant industries, so she knows a thing or two about managing creative, diverse, and sometimes difficult personalities. Writing for Rolling Stone … Continue reading When Too Many Otters is a Bad Thing

How to Hire with More Confidence

Dr. Eric Frazer is a forensic psychologist and author of The Psychology of Top Talent . He holds a part-time faculty appointment at Yale University’s School of Medicine and has spent over 20 years working as a forensic psychologist specializing in psychological evaluations and expert testimony.  In 2018, he was asked by a corporate executive to give a workshop … Continue reading How to Hire with More Confidence

The Case for Ambition

Jeff DeGraff Ph.D., writing for Psychology Today, says that somewhere along the way, ambition turned from a virtue to a vice. “Once a cornerstone of the American ethos—synonymous with self-reliance, upward mobility, and personal agency—ambition is now more often associated with selfishness, power-hunger, or hollow striving. We’re suspicious of those who want too much, push … Continue reading The Case for Ambition

Walk Me Through Your Resume

A resume is one of the classic tools for career transition. On its own, though, it’s simply a piece of paper that takes a backward look at your career and your education. It doesn’t really predict how well you’ll do on a new team in a new role. Doing that is your job, and savvy … Continue reading Walk Me Through Your Resume

Acceptance is Your Leadership Superpower

American-Swiss psychiatrist Elisabeth Kübler-Ross first wrote about the five stages of grief in the 1960s. They were designed to help people cope with loss by giving them a checklist of human reactions to terrible things. First shock and disbelief (this can’t be happening to me), then anger (I don’t deserve this), then bargaining (if I … Continue reading Acceptance is Your Leadership Superpower

On becoming a Former Wunderkind

I have a birthday this week and knowing that I’ve completed another trip around the sun always makes me… conflicted. On the one hand, growing old is a privilege; I understand that and believe it with all my heart. Plus, you get cake on your birthday. But as you reach your 60s, your perspective on … Continue reading On becoming a Former Wunderkind

Why The Hidden Job Market is Hidden

One mistake many jobseekers make is assuming that every open job is posted somewhere. It’s easy to assume that if a company has advertised eight open jobs, they have eight open jobs, right? In fact, some of the best, highest level jobs never hit any job board. Here’s why. First, a definition. The “hidden job … Continue reading Why The Hidden Job Market is Hidden