It’s easy to believe that our small decisions have minimal impact on our career success. We tend to frame success (and failure) in terms of big decisions, but the truth is that smaller decisions, even those that take only a second to make, can have lasting repercussions. Last second plays win or lose sports games … Read more
In business, too often a courageous, think-and-act-outside-of-the-box individual is pejoratively labeled a cowboy. As if being a cowboy is a bad thing! Whoa! That’s exactly what I want on my team. Why? Because I know cowboys — real cowboys. They are about inspiration, not regulation. They don’t worry about rules but rather principles, values, and … Read more
What’s your New Year’s Resolution this year? Eating healthier? Changing careers? Working out more? Most of our resolutions revolve around external activities and habits (and according to studies shared on Inc., most of us quit on them by the second week of February – yikes!). But could I suggest a different resolution for this year? … Read more
Emerson Spartz is the 34-year-old Internet media entrepreneur who founded Dose and created the most popular Harry Potter fan site in the world, MuggleNet, at age 12. In an interview with The New Yorker magazine a few years back, he shared that when he was growing up, his parents made him read four short biographies … Read more
Today’s workforce is multigenerational and diverse, but despite generational and cultural differences, there is one fact that remains true for everyone. Whether you are Gen-Z, a Millenial, Boomer, or Gen-X, you have to separate yourself from contenders in a competitive environment. This fact remains true even if you are working virtually rather than face to … Read more
Good employees look out for their company and their boss, even if it means standing up to the boss. Good bosses don’t want “yes” people to lazily agree with all of their decisions. Sure, everyone likes to feel validated and hear that their ideas are wonderful, excellent, and stupendous, but a good boss knows to … Read more
You don’t have to change who you are to be successful in your career. You may have to change some habits and add a little “window dressing” to your appearance and comportment, but part of what makes you unique and help you stand out from the competition is that you are, well, YOU. So be … Read more
You’re going to make mistakes. In fact, if you’re going to go anywhere in your career, you should be making mistakes at work. Mistakes mean you’re taking risks and learning, not failing. But we’re often scared of making mistakes. A survey by Accountemps found that 28% of employees were scared of making mistakes. Sometimes, in … Read more
Every day, all day long, each one of us “acts” for whatever role we are playing at the time: spouse, friend, parent, boss, subordinate, and so forth. It’s not that you’re faking it, rather you are learning, adapting, and taking responsibility for your effect on others. You are choosing who you want to be each … Read more
As workplaces begin to open up again, now seems like a good time to remember that, unfair though it may be, people often form impressions based solely on what they see. It’s to your benefit to avoid having a sloppy appearance at work. The following excerpt from my newest book Executive Presence For The Modern … Read more