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 You're getting dressed for another day at work, and suddenly the phone rings.  You pick it up, and the person says, I’ve got a job for you. It pays about $210,000 per year. If you take the position, you can work as long as you choose, and unless you really act crazy, we won’t even consider firing you. What do you say? Well, apparently someone said “Yes!” Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock, everyone is talking about the new Supreme Court appointee. Judge Sonia Sotomayor, President Obama’s appointment to the Supreme Court to replace Justice David Souter, probably received a call similar to the one above recently. Although I covered the Supreme Court in the requisite high school civics/government class, I still had to refresh my memory on the requirements and characteristics for a person in the position. If you don’t remember the specifics, it never hurts to know information about the U.S. Constitution. How would you like to work … [Read more...] about Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor: $210k for Life

Welcome back to this week’s “What if Everyone was a Teacher” series. Yesterday, I told you about a few of the characteristics of the teaching profession uses that many of us could benefit from in our own careers. Today we will cover another one of those wonderful features. Summers Off Teachers get summers off for professional development and to prevent the inevitable loss of sanity brought on by associating with two dozen children every day for nine months. They use the time to rest and rejuvenate, and they might even have a little fun. It’s one of the most valuable perks of a teacher’s job, although since they plan for it every year, they might not see all of the possibilities a summer break contains. For most of us, we would be overwhelmed if our boss came to us and said, “Joe, it’s May 25th. I won’t need you to come back into work until August 20th. Enjoy your summer.” I have a firm grasp on what I want to do with my life, and I … [Read more...] about What if Everyone was a Teacher? Part 2

I talk often about my wife, because her job is intriguing to me. Teaching is so much different from other careers. Many of the rules that would normally apply to a job are completely different when it comes to educators. These different expectations have both negative and positive nuances that may not be immediately apparent. Today we’ll focus on the positive aspects of applying teaching principles to other career tracks. We would love to hear your feedback on this. It’s super-simple to respond, too! All it takes is a comment below, an email, or a phone call to our voicemail system. And while it may challenge your thinking, just remember that it’s coming from a guy whose greatest accomplishment so far is snitching on his old employer for having a nasty workplace. Student Teaching Try to imagine this scenario. You are nearly finished with college. Your degree is almost within your grasp. The final hurdle? Four months of “practice” in the field you are … [Read more...] about What if Everyone Was a Teacher? Part 1

For many professionals, working from home is not just a dream, but it is THE dream. Since every scammer, shark and charlatan is aware of this fact, the world is flooded with work-from-home schemes. One of the better resources that we've seen in quite some time for folks looking to make a living from home is Undress for Success: The Naked Truth About Making Money at Home.Whether you're a freelancer, employee or business owner, you will find useful tips and advice that will bring you one step closer to becoming an e-worker.Several surveys I've come across recently have stated that up to 75% of companies are currently offering e-work as an employee benefit. As many of us hold on for dear life during this recession, you would think that ALL employers would see the benefit in "telework." E-work does not just benefit the employee, but the rewards are often even greater for the organization - and the world. Who doesn't want to reduce our nation's dependence on foreign resources? Lower … [Read more...] about New Legit Book on Making Money at Home

What do government agencies, nonprofits, and unionized entities have in common?Dinosaurs. (And I mean that affectionately.)While many career blogs and job-related social networks would have you believe otherwise, there are still many baby boomers in our workforce. Don't let their weaker eyesight and slower response times fool you--these folks are not going anywhere for the foreseeable future. Many of them are still damn good at what they do.Jobacle recently received the following E-mail:My organization recently hired a worker fresh out of college. While she performs competent work, her attitude and demeanor have rubbed the majority of staff the wrong way. How do I address the issue? --DonThis isn't the first time I've heard the issue raised. There is a certain swagger Generation Y brings along. In many industries, such as media-driven fields, this know-everything, do-anything confidence helps foster career advancement. However, there are plenty of other industries and companies where … [Read more...] about When Gen Y Just Doesn't Fit In