Have you ever wondered why Americans are obsessed with the idea of hard work? And that if something is not working out, you just need to try harder? Perhaps unsurprisingly, this mentality has its roots in the Puritan culture of the Reformation, a culture that shaped the current culture of America. During the 16th and 17th centuries, the European Renaissance and the Reformation brought about a period of religious and political upheaval. Two leaders who were instrumental in the development of Western culture were Martin Luther and John Calvin.  Luther created Protestantism out of protest a ..read more

I shared a client’s story about her horrible boss, Mr. Jones, a few months ago. I just received an update, and I thought you might be intrigued:  I took your advice about Mr. Jones and began aggressively looking for a new job in my off hours. So far, nothing has panned out. As for Mr. Jones, he’s only gotten worse. A few weeks ago, he asked me to write terms and conditions for our website. I told him that I was not an attorney and did not think it wise for me to draft legal content. I told him he should consult his lawyer for counsel and ensure the business is protected from liability.&n ..read more

Those of a “certain age” will remember watching reruns on television after school. There were only 13 channels at the time, no on-demand media, and there wasn’t new programming until the evening. (We also had to wait until Saturday morning for cartoons.) Reruns were all we had. I was partial to Bewitched, a show about a young witch—Samantha, who marries the mortal Darrin. Darrin was a bore. He had no sense of humor and demanded that Samantha not use her mystical powers at all. I remember thinking that she should dump Darrin and go live her life free of his annoying constraints.  When I t ..read more

For unknown reasons, many so-called LinkedIn experts love sharing the most ordinary statement ever, followed by “let me explain.” This phenomenon seems limited to LinkedIn and is most often used by influencers looking to build their presence on LinkedIn. I guarantee that whatever the opening statement is, it is nothing extraordinary or earth-shattering. Instead, it is likely to be mundane and dull. Let me explain.  In normal conversations, normal people do not announce that they will explain something to you. Those who do are usually trying to sell you something. (The obvious exception h ..read more

In 2019, famed director Steven Spielberg lobbied the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (a.k.a. “the Academy”) to prohibit Netflix and other streaming services from participating in the Oscars. He said, “Once you commit to a television format, you’re a TV movie; if it’s a good show, [you] deserve an Emmy, but not an Oscar. I don’t believe films that are just given token qualifications in a couple of theaters for less than a week should qualify for the Academy Award nomination.”  Like many in the film industry, Spielberg had a problem with the obvious fact that the way audiences ..read more

I recently posted a video to LinkedIn about managing career transitions. I talked about networking, continuing education, and setting realistic goals. Here is one of the comments that was left: The key to producing smooth transitions is highlighting connections between corresponding paragraphs. By referencing in one paragraph the relevant material from previous paragraphs, writers can develop important points for their readers. It is a good idea to continue one paragraph where another leaves off. I agree that using smooth transitions is a hallmark of good writing. So is having a logical flow ..read more

When I counsel clients as they navigate their careers, many inevitably ask me if certain actions on behalf of their employer are legal. I am not an attorney and cannot give legal advice, but I have some general knowledge on the subject. People are often surprised at what is not illegal on the part of their employer. Some of these surprisingly legal things include termination without cause, what references/former employers can say about you, termination for absenteeism (even if an employee is sick or injured), rude/abusive treatment by your manager, changing the entire scope of your job, and n ..read more

In my 20 years as a career coach, I’ve talked to thousands of people and have heard countless stories about bad bosses, irritating coworkers, and overly demanding customers. While I never assume that any story I hear is the most shocking, I am always shocked at the bad behavior of people in general. This week, I received an email from a client describing her boss’s behavior. Read on: I had been unemployed for going on a year, so when I was offered this job, I grabbed it, thinking it would be a stopgap until I found something better. The salary is about $50K lower than market and is less than ..read more

This job market is tough on candidates. All day, I talk with people who are seeking new roles and trying to transform their careers. After working in this field for 20+ years, I consider myself an expert, and I am often called upon to present my expertise at various conferences, meetings, or other events. Enter social media. A brief visit to LinkedIn will reveal how many folks out there consider themselves career experts or career coaches, with no experience in either. You’ve seen the conflicting advice: Act excited about the job. The hiring manager wants to know you’re eager to join the team ..read more

A recent letter to Kwame Anthony Appiah, author of the New York Times’s newsletter, The Ethicist, brought up an interesting workplace conundrum. The writer of the letter said that his company’s summer intern told him about his illegal hobby—drag racing. The letter writer wanted to know if it was advisable to report this to human resources in advance of extending an offer of permanent employment. He stated that if the intern were to be ticketed for driving at such speed, it might be cause for termination. The Ethicist responded that because the intern confided in the letter writer in a moment ..read more