“Consult not your fears but your hopes and your dreams. Think not about your frustrations, but about your unfulfilled potential. Concern yourself not with what you tried and failed in, but with what it is still possible for you to do.” - Pope John XXIII (1881-1963) Pope Benedict XVI just wrapped up a six day trip to the United States. His trip most recently included a rally with 60,000 people at Yankee stadium, as well as a visit to Ground Zero. Everyone has their opinion on the Pope, or the Catholic Church for that matter, but discussing those controversies is for other blogs. I'm wondering; what can we learn about work from the Pope?True, the Pope has a role that is incredibly unique. It is probably difficult for you to imagine yourself in his position. Consider this: the Pope is the head of an organization with over 1 billion members. He leads a staff of over 400,000 priests and 4,800 bishops. There must be something we can learn from him about work. Indeed, I … [Read more...] about 4 Work Lessons From the Pope
Career Advice Blog
The Common Thread Amongst Millionaires
Ever wonder how those Fortune 500 CEOs do it? How they make so much money, and how they keep themselves so God-damned motivated all of the time? Well, recently I came across a book entitled “How to Develop the Millionaire Mentality,” so of course I took a look, hoping to gain an insight into these hyperactive-neurotic specimens. The book says that all you have to do is focus your attention in the right direction, on the right idea and the success will follow. I was interested by it and decided to look further into the idea that there may actually be a “successful mentality.” Here is what I found in the numerous biographies and occupational psychology research I've read. Working Hard Ever since the beginning of time we homosapiens have been searching for the quick-fix solution, and who can blame us? If I had the opportunity to get rich quick, I would most certainly take it, and never look back. However, this attitude is in complete opposition to that of … [Read more...] about The Common Thread Amongst Millionaires
The Hardest Jobs to Fill
Manpower 2008 annual survey on the hardest jobs for companies to fill. Includes ranking of top 10 and commentary on why issues persist.While job categories have shifted on the list, it is clear all companies must have a plan for transitioning from baby boomers to younger generationsEngineers, machinists and skilled trade workers are among the nation's most challenging positions to fill, according to survey findings released by Manpower Inc.The 10 Hardest Jobs to Fill, as reported by U.S. employers for 2008, are:1. Engineers2. Machinists/Machine Operators (10)*3. Skilled Trades4. Technicians (4)5. Sales Representatives (1)6. Accounting & Finance Staff (8)7. Mechanics (3)8. Laborers (9)9. IT Staff10. Production … [Read more...] about The Hardest Jobs to Fill
Dilbert Jumps Off the Page; Goes Web 2.0
Dilbert creator Scott Adams is the man. First, he creates a brilliant comic strip about the world of work. And now, proving he has the balls to give the power to the people, he's allowing the reading public to create their own punch-lines. In the near future, you will be able to re-write entire Dilbert strips either as a group or by yourself. Aside from the cartoon mashups, other Web 2.0 features include: - animated Dilbert strips every weekday (on iTunes) - widgets - strip rankings - comments - sharable favorite lists - RSS feeds Considering Adams already keeps a verbose blog and makes his private e-mails public, this foray into the social media/networking realm is not surprising. When mashing up Dilbert comic strips, you will have three choices: Punch line: fans can rewrite the final frame of a daily strip. Adams creates the setup, the audience provides the punch lines. My Dilbert (coming in May): fans will be able to rewrite the entire strip. Group Mash (coming in May): fans will … [Read more...] about Dilbert Jumps Off the Page; Goes Web 2.0
My Anticlimactic Promotion = Identify & Cope
After two years in the same position, I was promoted last week. Hold the applause. While I'm happy at the level of faith my company has showed in me, I might be suffering from something I'm coining as postpartum promotion.I finally got what I wanted; higher pay, a larger staff, greater visibility, etc. However, the adrenaline rush I thought I'd experience was simply not there. Sure, it felt good for the remainder of that afternoon, but the positive feeling vanished - quickly.Am I an ungrateful and negative bastard? I tend to think not. After a little self-reflection in the shower this morning (sorry for the visual), here are a few reasons why I think I'm not that psyched.- From the start I've felt overworked and underpaid, so a promotion barely levels the playing field.- The reality is that the amount of work I have is not proportionate with the pay. Not close.- No tasks were taken away, but plenty were added. - A (hypothetical) 10% increase, … [Read more...] about My Anticlimactic Promotion = Identify & Cope
Office Gossip: As Certain As Death and Taxes
Just as Benjamin Franklin convinced us that nothing in the world was certain but death and taxes, nothing in the office is as certain as boredom and consequently, gossip. Gossip is an inevitable and unavoidable pettiness in the workplace. No matter your stance on it, it will always prevail and it will always be there. Just as we manage daily our grasp on death and taxes, we must manage and deal with office gossip. Here are some tips on coping: 1. NEVER be the person spreading the gossip. Unless you want the nickname Chatty Cathy, and then by all means, go for it. 2. When it eventually comes your way, remember that office gossip is similar to the game telephone you played as a kid. It certainly isn’t the same information it was when it started.3. When the information comes your way, play ambivalent. I don’t care if you just found out that your boss is sleeping with the CEO of your company and it finally explains how the idiot has kept … [Read more...] about Office Gossip: As Certain As Death and Taxes
Great Depression Employment Opportunities
Debate all you want about whether or not the U.S. is in a recession. The bottom line is that our jobs are much less secure than they were several years ago. But let's hold on to something positive; and that's the fact that we have more varying employment opportunities than ever before. Don't believe me? Check out the video below that looks at employment opportunities from the Great Depression era. By the way, back then, there were no bloggers! ;-) … [Read more...] about Great Depression Employment Opportunities
Help! I'm Addicted To Jott
Maybe it's the top-notch voice recognition system. Or perhaps the fact that I can multi-task to the max and "write" blog entries from just about anywhere. Whatever the reason, I am absolutely, positively addicted to Jott.In case you've never used the free service, it's simple. - Register for free- Dial 866/JOTT-123 (from the U.S.)- Leave a message- You get e-mailed the transcription and the audio fileYou can leave a message for yourself, or say the name of a contact (whose info you have previously entered) and have your messages e-mailed directly to them.Not just for bloggers and podcasters, Jott is perfect for leaving yourself audio notes. You can even tell the system when to e-mail you a reminder.Jott works from any mobile device and is available across North America.Obviously the voice recognition system is not perfect. But after several tests, I have enough confidence in Jott to recommend it as an excellent business tool to stay in contact with … [Read more...] about Help! I'm Addicted To Jott
What Is Vocation?
Some people squirm at the mention of the word "vocation." (Not to be confused with vacation - how could anyone be uncomfortable with a vacation?) Some people equate it with the word "calling," which usually implies some sort of religious component. Some people picture chains when they think of the word. They avoid thinking about "vocation" because it means being locked into something for the rest of their lives. I think vocation is something different than that. I prefer this definition: Activity pursued as a livelihood. It says nothing about work. It doesn't mention a job. It is broader, more encompassing. Even the word livelihood can have a broader definition than the more narrow view that it is a means for support or sustenance. To really live, to have a thriving "livelihood," humans need much more than money. We need purpose, we need human interaction, we need support. If we take vocation at its broader meaning, it can start to provide for … [Read more...] about What Is Vocation?
Maintaining Happiness & Motivation at Work
If you haven’t already taken my advice and left your job, you should do so now. If you’re still not walking out the door, then all I can do is offer some friendly advice. Below are some ideas I used to follow when I worked at my last testosterone fueled job. This job was proper “boiler room” stuff, and these suggestions used to help me stay motivated and happy, so hopefully, they can help you too. Do it NOW, not later When you have one of those annoying chores to do, do not sit there and think about it. Just do it (as the marketing-gimps in Nike like to say). The more you think about doing a task, the less likely you are to do it. Each negative thought you associate with the task will increase the perceived difficulty level, making you feel less empowered to do it. This will also make you more stressed, so when you are eventually forced to do “that report” or “those figures,” you probably will not do a good job. So, quite simply, go do it now…avoiding all that unneeded stress … [Read more...] about Maintaining Happiness & Motivation at Work