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Ah, the illusive promotion.  While it's the coveted carrot that many employers use to keep us in check - the reward is not always - well, rewarding!  Here are a few things to consider before you're blinded by a raise.1) Avoid a no-win situation. Often a promotion comes along with increased responsibility - sometimes in the form of managing staff.  But what if the staff is "unmanageable." You know the type... they're angry, bitter and washed up.  They make threats of walking out but end up going nowhere.  Not only with this crew be difficult to reign in, but they'll plot against you and resent you every step of the way.  Maybe you can turn them around.  Or maybe you're just dreaming.2) Two steps forward, no steps back.  Like any chess game, you can't just bust out those Rooks without having a plan. If you're in a true "career," you need to be at least two steps ahead.  This promotion might bring along some short-term … [Read more...] about When to Turn Down a Promotion…

According to executive coach Marsha Egan, it might be time to fight e-mail addiction."There is a crisis in corporate America, but a lot of CEOs don't know it," Egan said. "They haven't figured out how expensive it is."From wasting time on the company dime to cheapening your quality of life, e-mail addiction is looming over the country like a greedy shadow.  While coach Egan is looking at it from the angle of "wasted productivity," I think the personal ramifications are quite large as well.Ask yourself: How often do I check... how many accounts... how often is my inbox empty... am i checking during movies... what if i added up all the time i'm checking accounts...Man, I'm in bad shape - and I don't even use a Crackberry.  How much is too much?Next time I have the urge, I'm going to resist.  Maybe I'll limit myself to three times a day. Do y'all think there's anything to "e-mail addiction?" … [Read more...] about Drugs. Porn. E-mail?

Hey gang!  Just wanted to remind you all that Eric and I are on vacation this week - but that doesn't stop the Working Podcast from rolling on.  Unlike most of our shows which are jammed with all kinds of short segments - Show #59 has one topic: meetings.In part one of a three-part series the Voice of Reason gives his take on meetings - from the perspective of an attendee.  You know the drill, you're asked to attend - only to have to suffer through other people's presentations.  VOR shares six tips to make these types of meetings more manageable.  We'll be back with a "regular" show next week.  In the meantime, please subscribe so you don't miss upcoming episodes with tips for presenters and head honchos.Your feedback is encouraged! … [Read more...] about Art of the Meeting: Attendees

It's snowing in New York and we all should have the day off. I asked someone in HR this morning how much snow we would have to get to get the day off. "Enough snow to make (our) boss not want to come in."An honest answer. I'm sure kids were glued to the morning news - waiting to see if their school name scrolled along the bottom (ah, memories!)  As an adult, this is one of the many childhood pleasure stripped away.Here are three reasons why we should get snow days off.  Please leave a comment with your reasons.- It's stressful.  From having to devote extra time to the commute to the standard worrying - ranging from "what if i get stuck" to "argh!  i didn't bring lunch from home and have no cash on me" to "who will watch the kids if school is closed" - Why not take the stress away and let us (where applicable) work from home?- It's dangerous. Over 1,571,500 traffic accidents a year are weather-related. That's almost 25%.  … [Read more...] about "Snow" Down Employers!

This inflation calculator is a fun way to kill a few minutes at work.  But it's also a little depressing.   If it was the early 1800s, I would be making over $650,000 a year.  I'd go on a shopping spree. Probably buy a few horses, offer a more generous reward for the capture of Jesse James, hit up the blacksmith for some awesome swords and...well...buy tons of land.If any of you guys have gotten further along with your time machine then Uncle Rico, please let me know.  Cause this pay in 2007 ain't cutting it! On an unrelated note, this Sunday we've got an excellent Valentine's Day edition of the Working Podcast coming your way.  One of the nation's leading  relationship experts, Dr. Jackie Black, gives her take on love @ work.  You'll also find out how to deal with workplace bullies and what the hottest career resources of the week are.  That's dropping on Sunday, so subscribe now!  … [Read more...] about What Your Salary Was Worth in 1800!

I can see the Hollywood pitch meeting now."It's about an astronaut love triangle.""Sounds kinda lame.""But she wears a wig, a diaper and plans to kill.""Nah, too over the top.  Thanks anyway."Real life offers no shortage of lunacy. As the dust settles from the shocking Lisa Nowak story (and wet dream for the media) some serious questions have to be raised about NASA's screening process. According to her bio, aside from enjoying "rubber stamps" and "African violets," she "completed two years of training and evaluation back in the late '90s."  As someone who blasted off in the summer of '06, you would have to imagine there was a re-evaluation of her psychological state, no?NASA was able to log her last mission to the second (306 hours, 37 minutes and 54 seconds) but couldn't tell she was a nutter?Which raises a career question which can be asked across the board: Should organizations, especially ones where … [Read more...] about Did NASA's Psych Screening Fail?