Dynamic Thinking: The Power of an Outside the Box Mindset
My wife often gets asked “what does your husband do for a living”? This question is difficult for her to answer, as my career has not followed a traditional progression or function. This non-traditional path resulted from a thirst for knowledge, the desire to continuously improve, and the eclectic nature of my personality. Most recently, […]
Envision
Envision a world where we could pursue self-actualization without the constraints of living paycheck to paycheck. A world in which the classic trade-off between family and career did not exist. If we were able to attain happiness, fulfill our inherent potential, AND properly rear children, imagine the magnitude of social and cultural problems that would be avoided. Envision a […]
An Ode to Introverts
Being an introvert is difficult in today’s world. Western culture places a premium on extrovert traits, such as decisiveness, action orientation, enjoyment socializing, and comfort being the center of attention. This premium is prevalent in the academic setting, which you can read about here, and in the workplace. In the workplace specifically, introverts can be stereotyped and some […]
Embracing your Inner Heel
A heel, in the sports and entertainment context, is a polarizing figure that plays an antagonist role. Most notably, this concept has been successfully used in professional wrestling, boxing, and mixed martial arts (MMA) to generate interest in a fight and sell more tickets and pay-per-view buys. The concept even has been used in baseball and football…think the NY Yankees […]
Take Time to Smell the Roses
“Today, just take time to smell the roses, enjoy those little things about your life, your family, spouse, friends, job. Forget about the thorns -the pains and problems they cause you – and enjoy life” – Bernard Kelvin Clive This quote (and underlying concept) resonates on both a personal and professional level. As a busy […]
The Satisfaction of Doing Things Yourself
This weekend, I spent two long 10 hour days with my father in law to build his deck in Connecticut. This involved measuring, cutting wood, framing sections, and using a variety of different tools to accomplish the goal. While I am nursing a semi-severe sunburn on the back of my neck and a sore back, […]
Effective Project and Program Management – All About Emotional Intelligence and Relationships
There are distinctive differences between managing a team in a project/program setting and leading a department. In the former, you likely will not have formal authority to utilize with your team. This will require creative and effective motivational techniques to get optimal performance from your teams. This is why successful project management is part art […]
Workplace Evolution and Your Mindset
In our lifetimes, we have seen an evolution of the workplace. This evolution encompasses many areas, such as technology, automation, labor laws, and the nature of the relationship between employer and employee. Is your professional mindset and career handling in line with what the workplace has and will become? Historical Context and Relevant Trends: Trend from […]
Words of Wisdom
I had the privilege of meeting a very fulfilled and remarkable individual on the train from NYC the other day. He was in his seventies and we randomly began a conversation after he asked me to watch his coffee while he left for a moment. Part of the conversation was in German, which was very cool […]
Overuse of the Word “Leader”
The words “leader” and “leadership” are thrown around freely these days. When analyzing certain organizations, it is clear that there are many managers, but few leaders. I write this article to level-set on leadership and to provide clarity on what a leader actually is, from my perspective. To begin, the following symptoms indicate a highly […]