I really enjoyed speaking with Alexander Kjerulf on Show #53 about being happy at work. It IS possible - and probably even easier to make a reality then you think. But it also got me thinking that sometimes it's simply impossible. It's my feeling that once you can't smile at work - or at least feel good about what you do - it might be time to move on. Making the decision to quit a job can be tough. Several years back I put in my two weeks notice WITHOUT having another job lined up. Some people said I was crazy (I had just gotten married and was carrying a mortgage), others thought it showed courage (nah, just big balls). In hindsight it was 100% the right decision to make. Sometimes you just gotta know when to fold 'em. While I don't pretend to be an expert, I figured I'd share a few things that I made sure I did before I quit. The road wasn't perfect, but this stuff can help pave it a bit better. - Quit today? Every single morning I'd tell myself 'today is the day.' My … [Read more...] about Quitting W/O Another Job Lined Up
Career Advice Blog
#1 Career Podcast Relaunches
Please check out the relaunch of the Working Podcast and send us your thoughts/comments/feedback. E-mail us, call the 888 #, or leave a comment below. Our goal is to give you the show that YOU want. You can listen to the show using the audio player on the home page. On this episode you'll hear from Chief Happiness Officer Alexander Kjerulf on why "Happy Hour is 9 to 5." Get tips that can make you happy while on the clock. Career coaches Jen Zobel-Bieber and Christine Cookman, owners of Make the Leap, share 5 FRESH career resolutions for 2007. Our resident expert The Voice of Reason answers your workplace queries.If you like what you hear please tell a friend and subscribe to the podcast feed here.I'm really excited to hear what you think! … [Read more...] about #1 Career Podcast Relaunches
Blog Entry Deleted for Lameness
I started writing a WorkHack blog entry on remembering names. In fact, it was pretty much done. Then I Googled it and saw how thoroughly exhausted the topic is. We've made a commitment to our readers and listeners to offer a unique take on all things work related. That being said, I literally just hit delete on the whole piece.You already know you need to make an effort to "catch" their name, repeat it immediately, sprinkle it in throughout the conversation and say it again at the end.You probably also know that it's useful to ask people how it is spelled or what variation they prefer to help you recall it later on. Andrew? Andy? Drew?I always try to draw a parallel between the name and a famous person or band or song. Whatever. Enough about that.Eric and I are almost done with the Working Podcast #53 - our first show back after an extended hiatus. I can't even begin to tell you how excited we are to be back on this … [Read more...] about Blog Entry Deleted for Lameness
Stroking Each Other At Work
I recently was scanning my bookshelf and stumbled back onto an oldie but a goodie, "The Games People Play" by Dr. Eric Berne. While it's not a career book, if you've ever felt that each day at work repeats like a vicious cycle, the book will give you some interesting insight into how people interact. At the very least, you'll know you're not alone!Today I'm gonna talk about "strokes." I will resist any temptation I have to be punny. In the world of Transactional Analysis (also known as TA, and sounds much scarier than it it) a stroke is the fundamental unit of a social transaction. The underlining theme is that all of us need recognition from other people - even though we spend a lot of time trying to convince ourselves otherwise. These strokes can all add up to a ritual, many of which we have EVERY freakin' morning!ME: "Hey Bob."CO-WORKER: "Hey Andrew."ME: "Can't believe it's winter, eh?"CO-WORKER: … [Read more...] about Stroking Each Other At Work
Should Offices Ban Smelly Foods?
Sitting at my desk. Minding my own business. And then it hit. A smell that was like no other. Fortunately, I've never smelled a dead body in my life. But I imagine it smelling something like this.Apparently, it's called natto. And it got the whole office talking. In fact, I don't think that poor Asian girl I work with is ever coming back.A Google search turned up that natto is a traditional Japanese food made from fermented soybeans. Man, I like soy - but this stuff is rancid. Seriously, we're all so distracted now that it's impossible to work.Granted, if our bastard employers gave us the lunch hour we deserve, eating at your desk would be a non-issue.Do you think certain foods should be banned from the office? I've got my list below (by no means complete!) and I'd love to hear from you. Visit the message board to join the conversation.Natto (a new reason to bring up an old topic!)EggsTunaSalamiAny type of nuked … [Read more...] about Should Offices Ban Smelly Foods?
Boss's Pants On Fire!
Your boss wears these underpants. Well, 2 out of 5 at least. Many newspapers and Web sites that cover the "career genre" are running this headline today: "2 of 5 Bosses Don't Keep Word." Yeah, no shit Sherlock. Why do people jump all over every survey conducted by Anybody, USA? I really hope as this podcast/blog grows we will give the hardest working souls out there a voice. No statistical garbage. Cause at the end of the day, do you care if you're among the 99% who couldn't care less about career surveys?That being said, I'll contradict myself and post a few findings by a study that will be released later in the year by The Leadership Quarterly (sounds sooooo important):• 39% of workers said supervisors broke promises.(Supervisors ARE human. Would you expect anything better?)• 37% said their supervisor failed to give credit when due.(Where the hell do the 63% work?)• 31% said their supervisor gave them … [Read more...] about Boss's Pants On Fire!
9 Positive Items for Your Desk in '07
A clear desk means a clear mind. It also means a quick exit! But that doesn't mean you don't have room for some personal items. We're anchored to our desks for the majority of the day - so we might as well make the best of it. Here are some personal items that I have found very useful to keep on my desk. Your results may vary. I'd love for you to share your ideas in the comments section below. And this is the kind of stuff you won't mind leaving behind if you ever get fired!Plant This Did you know that the large seed in the center of a papaya can turn into the perfect office plant? Aside from giving you a boost of oxygen, a plant is something that can still thrive - even as your career dies! To learn more about the benefits of desk plants and what kind will work for you, listen to episode #42 of the Working Podcast.Breathing ReminderPut a tiny symbol in your field of vision (mine is on my monitor) that serves no other purpose than remind you to take … [Read more...] about 9 Positive Items for Your Desk in '07
Official 2007 Sick Day Calendar
Start the year off right - plan your sick days now! Print the official calendar and get your excuses ready. Only a sucker loses days at the end of the year!Martin Luther King, Jr. Day: You have a dream. And it's four straight days away from your boss's ugly mug and Microsoft Outlook. Call in sick on Friday, January 12 and Tuesday, January 16. Winter's in full swing and the "flu" is hard to fight. Make MLK proud!Valentine's Day: Romance has a price. You'll be oozing so much love that a full 24 hours to recover is in order. Get the sniffles so you can snuggle on Thursday, February 15.President's Day: Honor thy country. Since you didn't even know Hayes and Tyler were presidents, you better take off Friday, February 16 and Tuesday, February 20 to study. I sense a headache. *And for those of you with big cajones, you can bridge Valentine's Day and President's Day for a mini six-day festivus.Easter: It can't be "Good" Friday if you have to … [Read more...] about Official 2007 Sick Day Calendar
Yawn. Get-Ahead Careers for 2007.
U.S. News & World Report has published the "Get-Ahead Careers for 2007." You can find the article on Yahoo - but quite honestly, we feel it's a waste of time. It's the same recycled list that you get every year. With amazing advice such as:"Many experts predict further terrorist attacks on U.S. soil. If that should happen, watch for a hiring boom in the areas affected. A cyberterrorist attack, for instance, would produce lots of jobs for computer-security experts. If the water supply gets poisoned, toxicologists will suddenly be in high demand."Genius!"Immigration. The growth in America's Hispanic population seems likely to skyrocket, creating a virtually unlimited demand for translators, English-as-a-second-language teachers, and bilingual workers in healthcare and the legal system.Brilliant!!Don't get me wrong, many of the career sites have some great stuff to offer. And when they do, we'll let you know about it. But it's … [Read more...] about Yawn. Get-Ahead Careers for 2007.
The History of Common Desk Items
Today's history lesson! ;-) THE STAPLER: It holds together TPS reports and keeps down the carpet. We can thank the analness of King Louis XIV of France for these "fastenating" devices. Apparently, he insisted that the insignia of the royal court be inscribed with what came to be known as staples. As the use of paper picked up steam in the 19th century, Samuel Slocum created a device that stuck pins through paper to keep it together. Since momma didn't raise no fool, he was awarded U.S. Patent No. 56, 587. Thankfully, staplers are about 2.5 pounds lighter than their predecessors - but that doesn't stop that last damn staple from jamming every time. THE PAPERCLIP: File this under 'anyone could have thought of that.' A thin wire bent into a looped shape that holds papers together via pressure. The kick in the nuts is that the paperclip's inventor apparently WAS raised by a fool: he never got a patent. However, that didn't stop the Gem … [Read more...] about The History of Common Desk Items