You see on occasion television programs featuring Navy Seals training. I always wince a bit as I see these Seals in “hell week”. Inevitably there is the scene of them in full gear on their backs along a shore in what is typically Southern California.

That water is not remotely warm; I should know, as I’m from there. Seals (the animal version), children, and the occasional jaded person from Wisconsin visiting the area might tolerate that water, but no one else. You see the seals running, lifting logs, hauling their rafts, and competing in team events. And you begin to notice something not initially obvious: this is more of a mental “game” than anything else. … Read more

Oftentimes people choose careers based on what is stereotypically associated with their gender.  It’s important that individuals be aware of all of their career options. Depending on your role, you may want to educate parents, students, or your clients on reasons to consider a nontraditonal career, i,.e., one that is male or female dominated.  … Read more

I don’t eat alone very often.  But sometimes when on the road or during a brief gap in between meetings, I stop somewhere to grab a quick bite. And when I do, there is a disturbing trend that I’m seeing. Are you seeing it?  And hearing it? It is a colossal increase in people saying ... Read more

Every spring a new article about office romances seems to come out. I just read one from Fox Business that claims office romances are on the rise among young professionals. The article suggests that workers of previous generations were less likely to engage in an office romance. Really? I think that just about everyone I know from my generation had a relationship with someone at work at least once. I don’t think office romance is a generational issue at its core but I do think that it makes perfect sense that millennials would be likely to be in an office romance and here’s why.

1. The concept of a 9-to-5 job is gone. It used to be that

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Usually the tone of this blog is pretty positive but every once in awhile I feel the need to rant about something that is just plain stupid. And I’ve had my share of stupid recently. I’ve been reading about and talking to people who have had bad job search experiences. Here are my top five.

1. Requesting social media passwords. This one is at the top of the list because of the recent Associated Press article about a job seeker who was asked to share his Facebook user name and password

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Yes, you heard correctly! Most people who have just graduated would never expect their boss to make mistakes. That would be akin to thinking that teachers make mistakes, and how rare it is that students even know when teachers have made mistakes? But the truth is, managers are just as human as you and I and are prone to error like the rest of us. Some managers make a lot of mistakes, and it’s important to know how to deal with these sorts of situations tactfully and professionally.  So how exactly do you balance a tricky situation at work where you know you are right and you feel compelled to shout about it? First of all, never start a discussion with a manager by suggesting he or she is wrong and avoid at all costs mentioning such mistakes in front of others... ... Read more

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My boss wanted me to help him get a prostitute back to his hotel in Mexico City because he didn't speak any Spanish. At the office in Charlotte, NC, I… ... Read more

Three weeks after I hired Maria (not her real name) she distributed her first press release for me. She published the draft version instead of the final. Maria… ... Read more