A collection of some of my most read posts.
Dear Class of 2020
An open letter to college seniors from a proud parent of one You guys got a raw deal. The final semester of college is supposed to be one of the most memorable times of your life. You worked hard and deserved a chance to celebrate the final days of youthful freedom with your families and friends. The coronoavirus … Continue reading Dear Class of 2020
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 it possible to … Continue reading How Do You Measure Success?
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 front of the … Continue reading Who Do Your Play For?
Your Elevator Pitch Won’t Work
“What’s your elevator pitch?” It’s a question practically anyone whose worked in sales or marketing has been challenged with at least once. But here’s the deal: I’ve taken countless elevators during my professional career and have never sold a thing in one. Nor do I know anyone who ever has. Fair enough, I’m being pedantic. The question is … Continue reading Your Elevator Pitch Won’t Work
Too White and Too Young
Following the tremendous number of layoffs and job eliminations in 2020 I am seeing signs that companies in our industry are looking to add staff in 2021. Admittedly my evidence is anecdotal, largely based on what I see in my network and the comments of friends around the industry, but after the wreckage of 2020 I’m willing to … Continue reading Too White and Too Young
Glory Days and Senior Nights
Our daughter’s high school basketball team lost in the playoffs this past weekend. She is a senior, so outside of intramurals and pick-up games her basketball career is over. Two weeks ago the team celebrated Senior Night, always one of the highlights of the season. The gym was not packed with fans as it was for other senior … Continue reading Glory Days and Senior Nights
We Failed Our High School Seniors. They Will Do Better.
Today I’m venturing beyond the normal subject matter of my blog to share a more personal reflection. For those who prefer reading about marketing and media, my apologies for this deviation. For What It’s Worth will return to its regular programming with my next post. We let down our high school seniors and they have every right to … Continue reading We Failed Our High School Seniors. They Will Do Better.
The People You Never Hear From
If you’ve ever been between jobs you’ve experienced it. The call that never comes. The email or text that never gets a response. The silence from former colleagues, people that perhaps you even considered friends. Unfortunately, with so many people looking for work this silence is a daily reality. It can be one of the more painful parts … Continue reading The People You Never Hear From
The 3% Merit Fallacy
It’s performance review season at many companies right now. Managers are sitting with their direct report and, hopefully, having thoughtful discussions about areas of strength and opportunities for improvement. Employees, hopefully, are sharing their thoughts on past performance and goals for the future. How one’s performance is rated – and companies use various tools from numerical scales to … Continue reading The 3% Merit Fallacy
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 to paddle back … Continue reading We’re all surfers
When I Worked With Andrew Cuomo
My first employer after college was H.E.L.P., Inc, a not-for-profit organization that built and operated transitional housing facilities for the homeless in New York. I remember nervously sitting in the conference room at H.E.L.P.’s headquarters on 33rd Street for my interview with the organization’s founder and president, Andrew Cuomo. It was 1991. No one had heard of the … Continue reading When I Worked With Andrew Cuomo
For What It's Worth 