The New York Mets are fresh off their latest failure: the worst collapse in baseball history. On September 7th they held a 7 game lead with 17 left to play. Statistically, they had a 98.5% chance of making the playoffs - 1 out of 500 that they would not.Then it happened.The bullpen collapsed, the offense went missing and manager Willie Randolph pressed all the wrong buttons. After sitting comfortably in first place for virtually the entire season, the Mets fell dreadfully short on the last game of the season, disappointing the fans, the city and themselves. It's amazing how quickly success can be turned on its head. Just like your career. Things can be moving along beautifully and then BOOM! You show up on time, never miss a day and appear to be a shoo-in for that well-deserved promotion. Then you blink, and suddenly, you're stuck.Don't choke like the Mets. Here are a few ways to make sure you cross the career finish line … [Read more...] about Learn From the Mets Colossal Collapse
Career Advice Blog
The Secret Apartment at FOX News
What would you do if I was your boss and I told you that we were moving your desk...next to the toilet? That's what happened to me during during my tenure with FOX News Channel. Sort of.Allow me to preface this entry with a few answers to questions I am commonly asked:- Not everyone at FOX News is a right-wing nut.- For the most part I enjoyed the time I worked there.- The bathroom incident wasn't the only reason I decided to leave, but was definitely a factor- Bill O'Reilly is monstrously tallOk, on with story. The day started just like any other. I navigated my way past the smokers and proceeded through the revolving door at 1211 Avenue of the Americas. I touched down my ID and the glass security doors parted. I journeyed upstairs and walked down the long corridor that I traversed several times a day.But this time, something was different. A door was ajar.Not just any door, but one of those that I had passed a million times before and never … [Read more...] about The Secret Apartment at FOX News
Friday Cubicle Report: Jobacle Mishmash
Every Friday I will bring you up to speed on the latest Joabcle happenings. Fear not, we're not ditching The Forward of the Week. It will be posted later today.1) We would like to congratulate Graham Langdon, founder of the MillionDollarWiki, for hitting the 1,000 page mark. In a few short months that's a very impressive feat. To learn more about his project, download episode #69 of the Working Podcast.I purchased the page MillionDollarWiki.com/Podcast which has already received hundreds of unique visitors. If you are a podcaster who is interested in having your show displayed on the page, please contact me, as I will be subleasing space on the page for $5 per show per month. You'll get to experience the benefits of the Million Dollar Wiki for a few bucks before you decide to shell out $100. As the MDW grows, this is a great way to get some extra, targeted exposure for your show.2) This is a great time to subscribe to the Jobacle blog. We've got some … [Read more...] about Friday Cubicle Report: Jobacle Mishmash
The Death of the Office
He got his start laying pipe for the Atlas Water and Sewer company. Eventually, he climbed the ranks, becoming responsible for a staff of 800 and annual revenue exceeding $120 million. His name is Victor Kipling. This is his weekly column. Under the guise of wanting to increase ‘transparency,’ the new organizational trendsetters are touting the benefits of the horizontal work space...that is, the cubicle and (worse yet) the bullpen. So, and from the lowest clerk to the highest CEO, everyone is now expected to march in lock step and function in an open, and thoroughly non-private environment. These theorists would have us believe that the loss of privacy and the increase in noise is indeed a very small price to pay for this more democratic environment. Yes, we’ll not only increase productivity, but we can also foster diversity, eliminate class distinctions, etc. ad nauseam. Of course, most of the folks promoting this stuff have never really worked for a living, but why should that … [Read more...] about The Death of the Office
Office Supplies You'll Never See
Desk supplies haven't really advanced. Sure, pens use gel ink. But dry erase markers still stink. Chairs have better cushions, yet they still find a way to inevitably squeak. As the world continues to technologically evolve, is the office being left behind?Perhaps. Off the top of my head, here's a list of items that I pray some engineer is working around the clock to produce.- Bend-proof paperclips- Everlasting ink pen- Odor-free White Out- Silent Stapler- Unsmudgable high lighter- Leak-proof 3-hole puncher- Tape without seams- Stain-free computer mouseLearn more about the history of lo-tech office supplies.What office supply inventions would you like to see? Share yours below and win some cool prizes. … [Read more...] about Office Supplies You'll Never See
Wake Up Tired? Jumpstart Your Brain!
If you recently read my Cubicle Laws, you are aware that I do not like anyone to talk to me first thing in the morning. I need at least 30 minutes at work before I consider my brain "functional." Part of the reason people are cranky in the morning is because they are still tired, despite sleeping the night before. Exercising in the morning would remedy this, but some of us just can't fathom pound the pavement when it's still dark out. Here are some ways to wake up your brain - regardless of the time of day.Avoid Allergens. Certain foods that include peanuts, wheat, corn or dairy can not only cause digestive problems but generate a "brain fog" that will leave you tired and feeling slowed down. The best way to determine if you're subject to this type of allergies is to simply be aware of what you are eating and how you feel afterwards. Identify a trend and eliminate the grub from your diet.Dietary Moderation. When you stuff your face, you … [Read more...] about Wake Up Tired? Jumpstart Your Brain!
F Bombs Fly at the Office
While you couldn't pay me to drink Bud Light, this commercial is definitely effective. And f'n funny! … [Read more...] about F Bombs Fly at the Office
How to Squash Office Anger
Ever have one of those days at work where you dream of ways to get fired and depraved ways to make a splashy exit? Yesterday was mine. One of those days when uneducated underlings overstep their bounds? One of those days (when people who know better) "accidentally" forward an e-mail to upper management? One of those days, where as hard as you try, you can't help but hear everyone's phone conversations - and none of them are work related? Under the fluorescent lights, the devil was raging inside of me and I had to make it stop. If there ever was a time to lean on my knowledge of Buddhism - this was it. I've podcasted in the past about The Five Precepts (download here), and today, I'd like to share how I rely on the power of Zen to slow myself down, keep things in perspective and avoid going postal (joke!). The key? Seated Zazen. Basically, a "light" form of meditation that you can easily get away with at your desk. The beauty is, nothing is needed. No incense, candles, … [Read more...] about How to Squash Office Anger
Will Sketchcast Leave Its Mark?
Sketchcast is a new tool that will enhance blogs and give all of you job searchers another way to display your creativity! While I'm not sure how useful of a product this really is, we took it for a quickie test drive below. Key features that appear to be missing are the ability to speed up sketches and to add images. You can also add audio, which I'm going to give a try later. Maybe we'll sketch out the next episode of the Working Podcast - the best free career advice show on the Web! For now, forgive my crappy handwriting! … [Read more...] about Will Sketchcast Leave Its Mark?
Office Birthdays: A Necessary Evil?
No one likes to be ignored. Yet everyone claims to dread the annual ritual of your co-workers acknowledging the fact that you're one year older - which means another year gone by with a measly 3% raise.I was recently interviewed by the fine folks at the Globe and Mail about office birthdays. While fresh in my mind, here are the variations I've experienced. Please share your experiences in the comments section below and you could win our comments contest.IndividualThe folder goes around. Everyone signs your card and chips in $3 - $5.Pros: You get to feel special.Cons: The spotlight is on you, meaning 20 forced minutes of age-related jokes and fielding generic questions.Notes: The problem with this model are months like April, when it appears everyone was born!Once a MonthSimple. Everyone's birthday for the particular month is celebrated at once. Pros: Many birds, one stone. Variety of cakes.Cons: Where's the love? Gives new meaning to … [Read more...] about Office Birthdays: A Necessary Evil?