Career Advice

Once upon a time, there was a brat named Phil T. Rich. He grew up with everything a kid could want. He had every gadget imaginable, a house that rivaled the Disney castle, and parents who gave him free rein to do whatever he wanted. Unfortunately, his parents were rarely around for him. And when they weren’t working “killer hours,” they were off to the club to play golf and trade gossip with friends. Phil knew that he wasn’t like the other kids. Whenever he wanted something, he snapped his fingers and it appeared — like magic. He didn’t have to work hard in school because he knew his parents would pull strings to get him into college and ultimately    Read more…

Are you paid what you’re worth? Let’s see . . . you’ll probably compare the salary and benefits that you receive with the value that you provide to your organization. Right? Did you ever consider how much you learn every day? Huh? While money gets depleted over time, your experience remains with you for life. You’ll be able to leverage that know-how into a better position within your existing organization or offer it to your next employer. That being said, investing in yourself may be the best investment you’ll ever make. Period. And that begins with learning. The Investment of a Lifetime While the world has changed considerably over the last decade, many people equate learning with the formal education    Read more…

“Starting a business is no picnic. It consumes your entire life for the first few years.” “As a medical resident, I’ve been working 15 hours a day, 6 days a week, for a year. I’m exhausted.” “When you ‘hit the wall’ during a race, it’s really tough. Your head says go, but your body says no.” When you hear the words of a flourishing entrepreneur, an aspiring physician, a world-class athlete, or a celebrated musician, you’ll find that they’re likely to mention the hard work and personal sacrifices they endured in their relentless pursuit of success. They may talk about waking up each day at the crack of dawn and pushing themselves to their personal limit. You’ll forgive them if    Read more…

If you’re a parent, it’s time to act like a parent. If you’re a leader, then lead. If you want to be treated as an adult, then act your age. If you’re a politician, remember you weren’t elected to merely show up; you have a job to do. And if you’re not happy with your standing in life, don’t fault others. Success and happiness begin and end with personal responsibility. Take Charge of Your Life Personal responsibility puts you in the driver’s seat to make the most out of your life. You have the freedom to choose the direction that you want to take, determine the choices that you’ll make, and decide how hard you’re willing to work to achieve    Read more…

We’re all confronted by countless choices each day. Some have minimal consequences, such as whether to have our ice cream in a cup or cone, while other decisions can be life changing. And while some of these choices may impact our lives today, other choices may not affect us for years to come. We are a product of the choices we make. Each decision helps to define who we are and how we’re different from one another. Unfortunately, some folks prefer to make their decisions in a haphazard fashion. They “shoot from the hip” or flip a coin rather than reviewing their options in a deliberate manner. Others make decisions in a vacuum without taking time to collect the facts    Read more…

“Dream no small dreams for they have no power to move the hearts of men.” — Johann Wolfgang von Goethe The American Dream may mean something different to each of us. At its best, it affords each American the freedom and opportunity to pursue happiness according to one’s own priorities. At its worst, the American Dream can be squandered on hollow goals that offer little substance or satisfaction. For these reasons, when choosing your version of the American Dream, be realistic about your choices and bold in your actions. Some people define the American Dream as living “a better and richer life” where everyone should strive to live glamorously like characters in The Great Gatsby, where materialism and excess flourish.    Read more…

In a world where time is a precious resource, we often draw conclusions without examining all the information that’s available to us. We rely on shortcuts, such as someone’s reputation, to simplify the process. Did the job applicant have a good reference? What did my neighbor say about the contractor? How was the restaurant review? In short, we place tremendous value on credible sources to help us make decisions every day. What Are People Saying About You? Your reputation is like a shadow, following you wherever you go. You can’t disguise it, you can’t hide from it, and you certainly can’t run from it. It will follow you for life. And although it’s said that you can’t be in two    Read more…

In The Renewal Factor, Robert Waterman says that it is interesting to “look up the word boss in a book of synonyms. At the start of the list you find manage and direct. Not bad. Then the list continues with control, order, command, take charge, preside over, oversee, supervise, superintend, domineer, dominate, push around, ride herd on, ride roughshod over, trample under foot, and shove around.” Obviously, managers who would wear the word “boss” proudly, knowing it carries all of those connotations, do not have the “right stuff” to be leaders in today’s organizations, to inspire people to be the best that they can be. Additional Reading: The Costs of Poor Management If you like this article, subscribe to our    Read more…

Some people are lazy bums. They do just enough to get by and would prefer to watch others work rather than lift a finger. They’re the kind of folks who’d step over something on the floor rather than bend down to pick it up. These sorry individuals watch the clock and push paper all day, only to go home to unwind from their “tough” day at the office — before turning into couch potatoes. These lazy folks give new meaning to the term “deadweight.” Their only skill is coming up with creative excuses about why they can’t (or better yet, won’t) work. They’re experts at flying under the radar and evading responsibility. And, although everyone knows their game, lazy people    Read more…

Do you know anyone who is pounding the pavement looking for a new job? Maybe you know someone who has tried to quit smoking or you have a neighbor who is training for the marathon. How about someone who has received strict doctor’s orders to eat healthier and lose weight? Over the course of our lifetime, we’ll all face situations that test our will, defy our determination, and challenge our character. Remember, even if life were a bed of roses, you’d still need to avoid the thorns. Yet, even though our personal limits may be challenged, defeat should never be accepted as an option. Of course, that’s easier said than done –– we’re all human. Often it’s so much easier    Read more…