The Career Encouragement Blog
Daily encouragement for your career journey.
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Carnival of HR
The latest edition of the Carnival of HR is up over at Ask a Manager ... actually it's been up for a week and I am behind on plugging it - so go check it out! |
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Lather-Rinse-Repeat
A while back I asked, "What are you scared of?" Here's my career fear: I am scared that I will forever be "just mediocre" as "The Career Encourager." I'm not so much scared of being a crashing failure. Failure and recovery is the American way! I'm certainly not scared of being a raging success - that's a great part of the American way. But I am afraid of being mediocre - of not doing anything... |
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Somebody Like Me?
Much has been made of how the recent election is important - in part - because for the first time many people can see that "somebody like me" is in charge. Hat tip to Ann Bares for sharing this quote from Peggy Noonan's article in the weekend WSJ: "It is a matter of profound importance that everyone in a nation know that with whatever facts they start their life, there is a clear and open route to rise. It is a less great country in which routes,... |
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Concerned about your 401(k)? - Follow-up
If you think yesterday's post was a joke, take a look here for a little lesson on what happens with government authorities monkey around with private retirement funds, and remember: "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." |
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Are you concerned about your 401(k)?
There's a little buzz going around the HR blogs about proposed legislation to eliminate 401(k) tax benefits. I was going to write a post linking to them, but just found that Ann Bares has already neatly summarized them - read her posting here. Ann and the others urge HR and reward professionals to pay close attention to this legislation. I'm urging you - the employee- to pay close attention! With the results of the recent national election, there's... |
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Recovering from Career Disaster
Almostgotit's posting today is a nice change of pace from all the election hoo-ha. Go hereto learn how to pull a save after a major job screw-up. Very funny - and also some good advice! |
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The Problem with Passion - Part II
Finally the long-awaited follow-up to Part I! I've been pondering the topic of "passion at work" for as long as I have been in HR. This is because for some reason when you work in HR, people like to talk to you about how they feel about their work. And when they come talk to you, they are usually not saying, "Oh how I LOVE my job! I cannot believe I am so lucky to do this!" Instead, they come to HR when they are feeling drained and... |
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What is it about Sarah?
What is it about Sarah Palin that generates such rancor from other women? I cannot count the number of columns, blog postings, and comments that have suggested that she is either a) unqualified, or b) needs to get home with her family, or the latest, c) she looks too good in her fancy new clothes. I submit to you that the rancor has far less to do with her experience and policies (because let's face it, few of us really understand public policy to the degree... |
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I miss Michelle...
I miss the Michelle Obama who burst onto the public scene earlier this year. I miss the executive suits, the commanding stance, and the powerful gestures. I miss the woman who was gutsy enough to show up at a job interview for an executive position with two babies in tow and say, “I’m a talented person. I’m also a mom. Take it or leave it!” I miss the occasional verbal gaffes that occur whenever a woman is confident enough to speak her own truth. I miss... |
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Carnival of HR
The latest edition of the Carnival of HR is up over at Totally Consumed. He notes that: "In observance of National Bosses Day (October 16th), this weeks collection of 13 great articles is dedicated to Bosses, Bossing and the art of Bossmanship." Good stuff - Enjoy! |
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The Problem with Passion - Part I
I've been contemplating writing a posting called "The Problem with Passion" for some time now. Hat tip to Ann Bares for jump-starting me by sending me the link to Seth Godin's great posting "Maybe you can't make money doing what you love." I couldn't agree more with everything he says: Take a few minutes to read his posting and pay particular attention to the conclusion: "Do your art. But don't wreck your art if it doesn't... |
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The Upside of a Down Economy
I was encouraged to see this Newsweek article about the potential positive benefits of the recent economic crisis. The author notes that one "silver lining" is that: "Amid all the difficulties and hardship that we are about to undergo, I see one silver lining. This crisis has—dramatically, vengefully—forced the United States to confront the bad habits it has developed over the past few decades. If we can kick those habits, today's pain will translate into gains in... |
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Quote for Friday
"I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve (or save) the world, and a desire to enjoy (or savor) the world. This makes it hard to plan the day." ~ E.B. White |
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What are you scared of?
Many of us (myself included!) miss out on great opportunities in our work because we are scared of something. What are we scared of? That varies for each of us. But I truly believe that for most of us, when we are in a quiet room by ourselves, and we are assured of complete privacy, could softly whisper what it is that holds us back. My colleague Nancy is a life coach. She says one of the most telling questions she asks her clients (who are usually working with her because... |
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The Simplest Thing...
Erika Anderson writes an encouraging blog called The Simplest Thing. Among other topics, she muses about why leaders fail, management, and how great leadership can take some cues from great gardening. Good stuff! |
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Kindness for Friday
A little kindness goes a long way...take 4 minutes to watch this video. It's a nice change of pace from the vitrolic, sarcastic political articles, ads, and blog postings that have been plaguing our airwaves of late. I bet you'll feel like passing it on! |
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Random tips on elevator etiquette...
These tips came to mind as a result of a recent ride I took on an elevator downtown... Don't fling your bag, leg, or other appendage into the tiny crack of an elevator door that is nearly closed. This type of move can be perceived as either forcefulness or desperation - neither of which is professional or becoming. There will be another elevator - show some class, patience, and good sense and wait for it. Don't talk on your cell phone. You are very likely speaking... |
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Different Pay Plans for Different Generations?
I like Ann Bares' posting on "Should Rewards be Tailored to Generational Differences?" She says "no" and offers thoughtful commentary why. She also self-discloses her bias: "I am a Boomer and admittedly prone to thinking that we get a little carried away with all this generational difference business. My life experience suggests to me that we're all different ... and similar, and that we all share characteristics with many peer groups - not just... |
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Being Nice
Seth Godin writes about how very badly people want others to be nice to them, how little it costs to be nice, and how these two combine to create a terrific business opportunity for many organizations. I love this posting on so many levels. We have several major stressors going on in American society at this time - a very expensive war, an increasingly vitriolic political race where truth and lie are so intertwined on both sides that neither option seems favorable sometimes,... |
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The Employee Free Choice Act
The proposed Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) is a misleading title for this tricky piece of legislation regarding union representation. No one in their right minds would argue that employees have the right to organize and unionize if they want to. But the Free Choice Act isn't about having the right to unionize - it's about allowing union organizers scary latitude to create situations that can be covertly and blatantly coercive to employees. HR Capitalist makes... |