Last week was a tumultuous one; a financial roller coaster ride filled with government bail-outs and promises of more of our tax money going to Corporate America. Nightmares of disappearing 401Ks, IRAs, and other investments consume many of our daily thoughts. Just when it looked like a downhill slide, the clouds parted and our prayers seem to have been answered. The Dow Jones rocketed up 400 points only after reports were leaked that the Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson is considering a long-term solution similar to one utilized in the late 1980’s- early 1990’s for the savings and loan crisis. This plan is potentially looking to create an independent agency (similar to the Resolution Trust Corporation) to take over the bad debt from these failing banks. Don’t get me wrong, this apparently solved the financial pitfalls in the past. I am a huge supporter of bringing back a booming economy. But does anyone else feel like this is a fancy name for “DO OVER”? WHITE-OUT? BACKSPACE? If … [Read more...] about Government to the Rescue?
Impose 'The No Complaining Rule' Today
It's a two-word lesson reinforced over 143 pages: No Complaining. With millions of people struggling for ways to introduce positive life into their work experience, "The No Complaining Rule," by bestselling author Jon Gordon, joins the ever-growing self-help career aisle at your local bookstore. You might not uncover anything groundbreaking, but this easily digestible book goes down smoothly. In fact, over the course of several lunch hours, you can easily ingest the antidote for negativity. Spawned from a policy imposed by a heathcare staffing company, the book centers around Hope, an HR VP at the fictional EZ-Tech. Mired in a personal and professional slump, Hope is challenged by the company's CEO to help turnaround employee morale and breathe some fresh air into the corporate culture. Can she do it? Of course she can! What would a book on positive attitude be without a happy ending? Each day, irrespective of what's thrown in front of us, we will have a choice; to go positive or to … [Read more...] about Impose 'The No Complaining Rule' Today
They WILL Talk About You When You're Gone
His name echoes throughout the hallway at work, spoken as if he were a celebrity, royalty, infamous. Even though he put his two weeks' notice in two years ago, he is spoken about as if he were still part of the team. Yes, it's fair to say that Ant, a former programmer at my current gig, sewed himself into the fabric of my corporation.Since Ant had the unique opportunity to code an entire website on his own—and not explain to anyone what he did—he certainly left his mark.As certain as you'll pay taxes and eventually die, there's another inescapable fact of life—one that is rarely talked about.THEY WILL TALK ABOUT YOU WHEN YOU'RE GONE.We're not talking about the afterlife. Rather, bolting from a gig.Read more at US News & World Report. … [Read more...] about They WILL Talk About You When You're Gone
Breaking Up Is Hard; Work Can Help
“I think we should just be friends.” “It’s not you, it’s me.”Returning to work after a break up (or other types of personal angst) can certainly be a tough pill to swallow.We’ve all had those days at work that just seem unbearable. Whether it’s because of a break up, a fight with a friend/husband/family member, or other personal drama, work can develop into a self-inflicted prison.So what do you do? Treat work as an escape, a refuge, a safe haven. (Read more of Victor Kipling's 'Work as a Benefit')Use work as an avenue to pleasantly disengage your brain from the unrelenting what ifs, what happens now, and the tortuous blame games.Here are a few steps to start the healing process and get you back on track at work.1. The honest and unfortunate truth is that depending on the severity of your situation, escaping into work will not always be immediately possible. Each drama-filled situation is unique and it typically will require a few recovery days. Embrace these recovery days, whether … [Read more...] about Breaking Up Is Hard; Work Can Help
Paid Interviews Launches Web Site
Paid Interviews is a new site that claims to get you a signing bonus for finding a new job. The title of the site is a little misleading, because you don't get paid for interviews, you only get paid after you have worked for a new company for 30 days. Their slogan is a little questionable as well. "Paid Interviews: For In-Demand People." The cynical side of me asks: what about the people who aren't in demand? What if you're just some average, 2.5 college GPA, three months of experience schmuck looking for a job? What then? Like many of the sites I've reviewed over the past few months, Paid Interviews promises a job matching technology that uses a candidate's preferences and skills to match them with an ideal job. They even have a fancy name for this: Optimatch Technology (TM). Ahh, the "opti" prefix, always a good choice for naming new technology.So how does the payment thing work? Who pays the money? Well, it's really like a normal signing bonus from a company. When the company offers … [Read more...] about Paid Interviews Launches Web Site
Big Brother Is Knocking at My Cubicle
Part of being a middle manager requires keeping tabs on what your subordinates are working on. The goal is to do this without being intrusive, yet staying aware and in control. So when applications come along that streamline the process and tear down the walls between employees and managers, you would think there would be an ice cream party in the conference room.I'll leave it for you to decide if Yammer, winner of the TechCrunch 50, is the ultimate micromanaging tool or if it's the communication breakthrough that thousands of career strategy books have been unable to uncover.As you likely know, Twitter is the micro-blogging site that asks you 'What are you doing?' Registered users post updates on the Web via computer or mobile device that are under 140 characters in length. Yammer puts a twist on the question, asking users 'What's happening at your company?'Each users' updates are centralized on a single page, giving employees the opportunity to discuss ideas, ask … [Read more...] about Big Brother Is Knocking at My Cubicle
Where Are All the F*cking Pens?
OK, you are on a call with a potential client, whom you are desperately trying to get on board. He is about to give you a time and a place to meet, his personal cell number, and other important information. The adrenaline starts to pump as you envisage yourself at the meeting with the client as he scribbles his signature onto the awaiting dotted line. You then look for a pen, and low and behold, there are none on your desk, even though you swore you put one there 2 minutes ago. Not to worry, you put the client on hold for a moment and go to Ken, the womanizing, niftily dressed, closet alcoholic in the next cubicle to fetch one. However, Ken is on a call and there is no sign of a pen anywhere. You feel a slight rush of anger but subdue it instantly, and briskly walk to the next cubicle... Marie resides here. Marie is unbearably happy on this rainy Monday morning and probably suffers from some sort of a personality disorder, most likely borderline, and inquires into the … [Read more...] about Where Are All the F*cking Pens?
Where's That $22 Million Bonus Now, Lehman?
It seems that every survey that comes out about companies that "pay well" or have ridiculously "awesome" perks and bonuses, have always included Lehman Brothers. I guess those days are over. But when people with less than one year of experience are earning close to $60k and many jobs shoot to the six-figure range after only a short amount of time, should it come as any surprise that Lehman is filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection? The American public loves reading outlandish lists on the Internet about overpaid CEOs and zany perks. However, they are no laughing matter. If you have a 401k account, you could be adversely affected by this mess. As the S&P 500 tanks and impacts index funds, your retirement balance(s) will dip. While you need not panic, as you are only royally screwed if you're pulling your money out in the immediate future, it is infuriating that these fat-cat companies are lining up to get bailed out by the government. Chairman and Chief Executive … [Read more...] about Where's That $22 Million Bonus Now, Lehman?
Work Itself Is a Benefit: The 3 ‘S’s
I'll bet that there isn't one of us who, at least sometimes (though more likely most of the time), doesn't piss n' moan about the abject unfairness of having to earn a living by...working! This type of whining permeates all levels, strata, and echelons, from the lowest paid 7-11 cashier to the CEO of Google. Actually, this attitude is equally endemic to both white and blue collar workers, and don't kid yourself, to the new green collars as well. Yet, who knows what the general 'dissatisfaction rate' really is? The media, when they deign to profile 'The Common Man,' will typically follow the scent of what they think is in vogue, like a stray dog in heat. So, one year when they want to pander to the conservatives, they tell us that, as Americans, we enjoy the very best working conditions possible. And that we should be grateful for what we got, and then they perennially insult our collective intelligence by comparing us to, let's say, who they think our counterparts are in either … [Read more...] about Work Itself Is a Benefit: The 3 ‘S’s
If Nothing Else, Thank Hurricane Ike for the Reminder
As Hurricane Ike nears the Texas coast, we can at least thank him (among his other friends of the 2008 season) for the reminder of natural disaster preparation. Even though we’re rounding out the end of hurricane season, the dangers don’t fade so much as change their form as we move on to the potential for other disastrous storms. Each landscape comes with its own natural disaster threats, be it floods, snow storms, tornadoes, or hurricanes. No matter what disaster your work site may be prone to, it is inevitable that weather will affect work in some way. Be sure to check into your company’s disaster policy and procedure to know what to expect. For example, does you company have a phone line to call into to see if work is closed when a disaster hits? When are you expected to be back to work after the dust settles (auto insurance companies may require employees back sooner to assess and help with the damage)? A time like this reminds us that being prepared is not only practical, it … [Read more...] about If Nothing Else, Thank Hurricane Ike for the Reminder