In his book Outliers, author Malcolm Gladwell writes about meaningful work as the fruits not of passion, not necessarily of genius. It’s the kind of passion that drove Bill Gatesand Steve Jobs. The fruits of their labor arguably spawned success business models but also global fame and brand recognition.
This week a client told me she was taking her decades old consulting firm located in the suburbs of New York, nearly virtual. Not just in the quest for workplace flexibility, but because it would reduce operating costs by more than half. There would soon only be a handful of employees working out of one office.
A colleague lost her job yesterday. She was told that she didn’t play well with others at work and that her attitude was a bit curt. I was her first phone call. After a long deep discussion, we entered into the “reality zone.” That’s where she was pretty honest about how unhappy she was in her job and was thinking of entirely changing careers to sink her teeth into her real vocation of being an animal activist.
The study shows that the nation’s largest companies conducted layoffs at a rate of almost twice that of a group of companies recognized as great workplaces.
While scrambling for a job, in the hectic chaos of that search sometimes we forget to look in our own backyard for resources. There, one can find not only a contact or two, but perhaps some inspiration in the work life challenges that come along with the job search.
When the camera turns toward Madonna, Oprah or Arianna Huffington there’s no mistaking who they are. These female icons are walking talking brands. But as I wrote recently in my post Personal Branding in a Tough Job Market, personal branding will help to differentiate yourself in a tightening job market even if you’re only a superstar in your mother’s eyes.
Thomas Clifford, aka Director Tom, was just laid off from his job as a corporate film director. Having worked with this brilliant soul, I didn’t tweet or e-mail to check on his fine being.
First, the Delaware Employment Law Blog just released its 50 Best Blogs on Wellness, Women’s Interests, and Work-Life Balance.
Awaking this morning to yet another deadline, I wondered what the outcome would be on a chapter I’m contributing to, for a colleague’s book. That made me wonder about my own book and the constant toggle between my working and living experience; my daily attempt to balance my work as a broadcaster with my love for being a work life trend tracker and writer.
The jobless rate hit a new 26 year high and it appears that big business is resigned to the prediction that it will be a long haul. But a new survey by global consulting firm, Watson Wyatt, suggests that the bloodletting will eventually subside as companies simply can’t operate efficiently if they cut anymore to the bone.
