I can still hear his voice. Direct, commanding, with more than a tinge of a Queens accent: “Write it down, Fred. Write it down.” He’d pantomime the writing motion with his hand, sometimes quite intensely, if he thought I didn’t react quick enough. The voice and hand belonged to Andrew Cuomo. In the past I … Continue reading Write It Down
Managing Your Career
Advice and thoughts from myself and others on how best to manage your career
In Defense of the Hare
One of the things that happens to empty nesters, at least in my case, is that occasionally you find yourself getting sentimental when coming across objects from the early days of parenting. I had this experience recently when I found a book of fables and short stories I used to read to our kids when … Continue reading In Defense of the Hare
What Are You Thinking
All of us have a to do list. Whether we write it down or keep it in our heads, the to do list is pretty much standard operating procedure for any professional. But when was the last time you gave any thought to what you’re going to think about on a given day? I realize … Continue reading What Are You Thinking
Things That Go Bump In The Night
What were you doing at 3 a.m. last night? I read recently that more people than ever are dealing with anxiety-related sleep issues. Given the state of the world right now I guess this isn’t a surprise. Probably all of us remember being scared during the night at one time or another when we were … Continue reading Things That Go Bump In The Night
The Walls We Build
“Something there is that doesn’t love a wall,” wrote Robert Frost in his timeless poem Mending Wall. I’m not much one for poetry but I’m a fan of Frost and Mending Wall because it speaks to a fundamental truth of the human condition – we love walls. We build them in our work and in … Continue reading The Walls We Build
The Boss’s Job
Very often it’s the one we most covet. We look at the person immediately above us on the corporate ladder and think we could do that job. We want that job. This is especially true for the young and ambitious. Early in your career when you’re eager to take the next step, make more money, … Continue reading The Boss’s Job
What’s Your Kryptonite?
It’s Superman’s greatest weakness in case you’ve forgotten. The mysterious alien mineral that robs him of all his superpowers. Kryptonite makes him a mere mortal, like the rest of us. I think the word has meaning even for those who haven’t read the comics or seen the movies. The dictionary defines it as “something that … Continue reading What’s Your Kryptonite?
“We Live Our Lives in Chains…”
“And we never even know we have the key.” So sang the late, great Glenn Frey and The Eagles in their classic hit “Already Gone.” I love that song. It’s about a break-up. But don’t worry, no need to stop reading, I’m not about to share relationship advice. The Eagles Similar to my blog post … Continue reading “We Live Our Lives in Chains…”
My New Book
The community of readers who frequent this blog probably have noticed my lack of productivity recently. Earlier this year I was publishing twice a week consistently. The last few months, not so much. It’s not because of laziness or a lack of interest in writing, although at times, just like any other challenging job, it’s … Continue reading My New Book
Forget Passion, Be Curious
“Find your passion.” Sometimes it’s “follow your passion.” How many times have young people heard this piece of advice? The “find/follow your passion” mantra is not just for the young. It’s common advice for dissatisfied or uninspired professionals at any age looking for a better path. It’s so prevalent because it holds a lot of … Continue reading Forget Passion, Be Curious
Are You a Streaker?
Do you like to streak? If you’ve never done it before, you should try it. Streaking is very liberating. There’s no better way to enliven your spirits and get unstuck than letting it all hang out with a good streak. I’m not referring to the type of streak that has you running naked through the … Continue reading Are You a Streaker?
At the Crossroads
It’s a well-used metaphor for the points in our lives when we face a decision: the crossroads. Whether the decisions are big and weighty or seemly insignificant in the moment, once we make a choice at the crossroads our lives are never the same. This is why crossroads moments are popular subjects for artists. Blues … Continue reading At the Crossroads
Son, Can You Play Me A Memory
Seeing Billy Joel perform live at Madison Square Garden is one of the quintessential New York musical experiences. The highlight of the show is listening to 19,000 people sing along to “Piano Man.” Even if you’re not a huge Billy Joel fan, you have no pulse if you don’t get caught up in the moment. … Continue reading Son, Can You Play Me A Memory
Your Career Will Self Destruct in 60 Seconds
10…9…8…7…it’s hard to beat the excitement of a good countdown sequence. One of my favorites (and I make no apologies for being a Star Trek fan) is the classic scene in the movie “The Search for Spock” when Captain Kirk initiates the self-destruct sequence on the Enterprise. It’s a dramatic, Hail Mary type of move, … Continue reading Your Career Will Self Destruct in 60 Seconds
The Race for More
For a long time I viewed my career as the pursuit for more – more responsibility, more projects, more money. The object was to grow, climb the ladder, see how far I could climb. I make no apologies for my ambition. No one should. There is nothing wrong with seeking to better oneself. However, that … Continue reading The Race for More
Reading What’s Written In The Stars
“If it’s written in the stars” said the female protagonist in a book I read recently. She was wondering whether fate would eventually make it possible for her and the man she longed for to live happily ever after. You’ve probably heard the expression before. It’s a well-worn cliché, but it did get me thinking … Continue reading Reading What’s Written In The Stars
No Time For Cowards
It’s very easy to see how fear has driven so much decision making the past 18 months. The Covid 19 pandemic killed close to 600,000 people in this country and millions more around the world. Beyond the toll on human life, it wreaked havoc on our economy. All of us know someone who lost a … Continue reading No Time For Cowards
Your Back of the Business Card Brief
What is a “back of the business card” brief? It’s one of the earliest lessons I learned in marketing: if you can’t capture the ultimate goal of a project succinctly on the back of a business card then you’re doing something wrong. I’ve been a big fan of this approach for many years. It’s an … Continue reading Your Back of the Business Card Brief
“Nifty at Phifty”
The world shook this weekend for those who are 50 and older. Hell, you don’t even have to be 50 yet to have felt it. You just have to be old enough for the world to consider you past your prime. The things that the young can do are now beyond you. Welcome to middle … Continue reading “Nifty at Phifty”
What Are You Running From?
Maybe it’s your job. Or your boss. Or the company you work for. Whatever it is, all of us think about it at some point in our careers. We convince ourselves that everything will be better once we escape our current situation. When we run away we start marking time until retirement, that next bonus … Continue reading What Are You Running From?
Face it, Everyone Ends Up in a Box
No, this blog post is not about coffins or a reminder of our inescapable mortality. Although I thought about this recently during a recent trip to Florida. It was my birthday and friend who lives there said Florida is the state to grow old and die, apparently residents jokingly refer to it as “God’s waiting … Continue reading Face it, Everyone Ends Up in a Box
Hoping For A Better Past
Regrets. We all have them. Those who say they don’t either haven’t really lived or are lying. For the job seeker, especially one who is looking for the first time in many years, regret can be a smothering presence, like the in-law who came for the weekend but ended up moving in. The search process … Continue reading Hoping For A Better Past
Whatever They’re Paying You, It’s Not Motivating
Who doesn’t want a raise? More money would be great, but you don’t work just for the money. Not really. None of us do. Whoa, whoa, wait a minute. Speak for yourself. Money is exactly the reason why I’m working. Do you think if I had enough money this is how I would be spending … Continue reading Whatever They’re Paying You, It’s Not Motivating
Getting Hired is an Inside Job
“Know thyself,” the ancient Greeks counseled. That statement of principle has many applications, but for today I want to talk about how it applies to our careers. I think this is particularly relevant with so many people looking for work as a result of the pandemic. The ability to navigate through career transitions is an … Continue reading Getting Hired is an Inside Job
Stop Marking Time
Once I get promoted to VP lots of doors will open for me. I need 3 more years until my pension kicks in. The job is just ok, but I’ve been here a long time and can pretty much coast for the next couple of vesting cycles until something else comes along. There are two … Continue reading Stop Marking Time
How To Measure Success
Do you consider yourself successful? My guess is yes. We all do to a certain extent. Just one look at our resumes or LinkedIn profiles confirms it. They are the tools most of use to market our success to the world. Good resumes and profiles demonstrate our success by providing specific examples of accomplishments and … Continue reading How To Measure Success
The #1 Quality in a Professional
Talent, no. Education, definitely not. Experience, nope. Creativity, sorry. Integrity and leadership, very important but not it. All those qualities and many others I didn’t name are wonderful and certainly aspirational for all professionals, but they aren’t #1. The most important quality in a professional today is availability. Availability is the #1 quality in a … Continue reading The #1 Quality in a Professional
Brady and Mahomes Have One. Why don’t you?
What's the one thing the greatest athletes have in common, no matter the sport? They have a coach. Or multiple coaches. It's a bit odd when you think about it. The men and women performing at the peak of their chosen profession seek advice and counsel from someone who clearly is not as good as … Continue reading Brady and Mahomes Have One. Why don’t you?
You Suck, It’s Ok
Lets' be honest, the first time any of us attempted to do something for the first time the results weren't great. The nature of being a beginner, to put it bluntly, is to suck. Going back to childhood, the first time we walked, rode a bike, wrote a sentence, swung a bat, swam, drew....you name … Continue reading You Suck, It’s Ok
You Suck, It’s Ok
Lets' be honest, the first time any of us attempted to do something for the first time the results weren't great. The nature of being a beginner, to put it bluntly, is to suck. Going back to childhood, the first time we walked, rode a bike, wrote a sentence, swung a bat, swam, drew....you name … Continue reading You Suck, It’s Ok
Ladders versus Jungle Gyms
I'm not a fan of ladders. While I wouldn't describe myself as afraid of heights, they aren't my thing either. And as I age I grow increasingly afraid of falling. What I've learned to be more debilitating than a fear of heights, however, is the mindset that one should view their career path like a … Continue reading Ladders versus Jungle Gyms
Who do you play for?
There’s a great scene in the Disney film “Miracle” about the 1980 US Olympic hockey team. Coach Herb Brooks is making the team endure countless punishing sprints following a lackluster effort in an exhibition game. At one point he reminds the players that who they play for is bigger than them: “The name on the … Continue reading Who do you play for?
We Are All Surfers
I originally posted this short piece about career transitions on February 24, 2020. Little did I or anyone else know at the time that a global pandemic would strike in the coming weeks and, among other things, cost millions their jobs. Sadly, the message of this post is more relevant than ever but I hope … Continue reading We Are All Surfers
Know Thyself During Your Job Search
Sadly because of the pandemic many more people are currently, or soon will be, looking for a new job. As someone going through a career transition currently, I put together a brief video to share a few thoughts on the process. I hope it's useful. Also, I want to thank everyone for reading my blog … Continue reading Know Thyself During Your Job Search
How Do You Measure Success?
How do you measure success in a job? Anyone updating a resume or preparing for a job interview gives this question a lot of thought. Good resumes provide specific examples of accomplishments and achievements, not just descriptions of the jobs one has held. Often that takes a lot of words and multiple pages. But is … Continue reading How Do You Measure Success?
Don’t climb the career ladder
I'm not a fan of ladders. While I wouldn't describe myself as afraid of heights, they aren't my thing either. And as I get older I grow increasingly afraid of falling. What I've learned to be more debilitating than a fear of heights, however, is the mindset that one should view their career path like … Continue reading Don’t climb the career ladder
We’re all surfers
During the course of your career, there will be times when your job or project makes you feel like you caught the perfect wave. When that happens, revel in the ride. Professionally there's nothing better. But just like every wave eventually breaks at the shoreline, no job or project lasts forever. Inevitably you will need … Continue reading We’re all surfers
Who Do Your Play For?
There’s a great scene in the Disney film “Miracle” about the 1980 US Olympic hockey team. Coach Herb Brooks is making the team endure countless punishing sprints following a lackluster effort in an exhibition game. At one point he reminds the players that who they play for is bigger than them: “The name on the … Continue reading Who Do Your Play For?
Artists & Plumbers
How do you describe yourself? Are you an artist or a plumber? Before answering, let me clarify. In this context, particularly for marketers, artistry refers to the creative idea generation process. Marketing is about big ideas. You need ideas to generate attention and interest for whatever it is you're selling. Landing on a big idea … Continue reading Artists & Plumbers
Fred Bucher 