Gig Economy Rising

The convergence of two global work trends suggests a real challenge to the traditional mind-set of professionals. The 2016 global survey report, by Deloitte Consulting, entitled The Gig Economy: Distraction or Disruption says it in one compelling quote on page 1; “Almost half of the executives surveyed (42 percent) expect to increase or significantly increase […]

Packaging Your Talent: Consultant vs. Contractor vs. Employee

The Gig Economy is simultaneously destroying and creating work opportunities for workers at all levels and in all occupations. Consequently, workers of all kinds must be aware of the “packaging options” for taking their talent to market as an employee, contractor or consultant. They must consider not just the skill and experience requirement but also […]

Your Honeymoon Activities as a New Manager

While much attention has been given to helping new employees fit in and do well (onboarding programs, new employee orientation, etc) there is also advice for the unique challenge of new managers. If you are entering into an organization as a manager, you will be gifted with a “honeymoon.” This is the initial period during […]

The Fable of Mostofus: The Blind Shepherd Gets New Work

Once upon a time, there was a blind shepherd, Mostofus, that had mastered knowledge of his flock and his pastures even without benefit of sight. He was so successful that he actually became bored. It was time to move out of the mountains of Oldwork and find greener pastures. So, he decided to sell his […]

Criminal and Career Recidivism

Are you a career recidivist? Do you sometimes feel like you’ve returned to searching for work too many times? More times than is necessary? You may be right and the solution doesn’t lie in better networking or reworking your resume for the 34th time. It has to do with your professional identity…..or lack of it. […]

Mantra to Overcome Procrastination

What do the Harvard Business Review and the Navy Seals have in common? A piece of advice for overcoming one of the biggest, insidious blockages to work search and other of life’s onerous tasks. “You don’t have to like it, you just need to do it.” There, I said it. So did Heidi Halvorson in […]

Harness the Mistakes You Survived

Can I admit it? I made a mistake recently, didn’t you? Maybe it was a mistake of omission or commission. It doesn’t matter. What matters is that you made it, survived it and can use it now. These mistakes are living proof that you can, and have, survived awkward, embarrassing or inappropriate moments. You’ll survive […]

Work Hunting With a Gravity Slingshot

Isn’t this the way career management is supposed to work? You launch a job search and you land a job, right? Only if you’re interested in spending your life finding one-job-in-a-row. Here’s the unfortunate reality that accompanies the conventional “wisdom” of the Launch and Land method. A great deal of time and effort is required […]

Why Not Join a Professional Association Now?

Are you in work search mode now? You’re probably trying to save money, so you don’t join. Just landed a job? You tell yourself you’re too busy, so you probably don’t join. Mid-career professional? You’ve seen too many professional newbies at those meetings, so you’re reluctant to join. These are all the ways you talk […]

Caught Between “Nervous Narcissist” and “Market Maniac”

Perhaps you can relate to a recurring dilemma in the quest to construct a search for meaningful work. We find ourselves dealing with the feelings of being a “nervous narcissist” or a “market maniac”. These two characters are often having an argument in our head (and our subconscious) as we sit at our desk and […]