How to Find Meaningful Work

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Recently a shift has occurred in the minds of employees. No longer are people working for just a paycheck. Increasing numbers of people want to make a difference in the world through their job. Meaning is becoming more important. Being able to believe in a company’s purpose is more important. How do you find work that will bring more satisfaction without sacrificing the pay? We brought on Nathaniel Koloc from ReWork to find out. Here are some of the things we talked about:

It’s not a career ladder. If you want to be happy, you need to get the idea of a career ladder out of your head. That’s very limiting. To pursue the career ladder, you have to be content staying with one position for a long time. Instead, think about your career in a non-linear fashion. It’s okay to move sideways and even backwards in order to gain skills and knowledge to build a strong career portfolio. Be strategic and think about positions that will serve you in your long-term goals. Continue reading →

Tips on Becoming a Person of Influence

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If you want to be influential, you have to understand the questions people are asking in the back of their heads. I was joined by Ed Tate and Ed Oakley on the show where they discussed how you have influence when you don’t have authority. Here were a few of my takeaways.

Why do you care? If you need to influence and lead people, it’s important for them to understand why you care. Before you ever talk about what you need from them, be authentically interested in them. Be interested in the work they do and how their position fits in the bigger picture. This reassures them you understand their current demands and their contribution to the workplace. Additionally, show a human interest in them. Realize they do have a life outside of work. Continue reading →

3 Tips on Being a Change Agent

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“The only constant is change.” We had Richard Batenburg, CEO of CliIntel, on the show talking about the importance of embracing change. Where do you fall on the change continuum? Are you an early adopter or a laggard? Somewhere in between? Well, if you want to affect change in your organization, but you don’t have the authority, here are a few tips to help you influence the culture: Continue reading →

The Transformation of a Dream

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It’s in the setbacks that we grow the most. Our dreams become refined; the imperfections are stripped away. Mary MacNeilly learned this at a young age. She joined us on the show and told us how her dreams of being a professional dancer were taken from her when she was in a car accident as a teenager. She gave some great tips about how to rise above your circumstances:

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The Lifeblood

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Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you delivered a product or service to a customer and expected accolades, only to be faced with a disappointed customer? You thought you delivered exactly what the customer was asking for, but they felt you didn’t meet the requirements at all! Customer relationships can be challenging, but they are the lifeblood of business.  Continue reading →

Recipe to Make a Small Business

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We had a “happy” show with Sara Bencomo, co-owner of Happy Cakes Bakeshop in Denver. Sara and some friends started making cupcakes seven years ago and now are being recognized by places such as 5280 and Martha Stewart. So how do you take a cupcake and make it a profitable business? Sara shared some tips.  Continue reading →

How Many Projects Is “Too Many”?

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Every year as the fourth quarter approaches, capacity planning kicks off. With the speed of business we tend to try and cram in as many projects into a year as possible. We can’t risk falling behind, so we figure out how to implement every great idea. Often we get caught in the trap of believing we can just use staff augmentation to offset the greater capacity needs extra projects create. When doing capacity planning, don’t forget these other big hitters: Continue reading →

The Great American Spirit

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Today’s job market is volatile. As job elimination occurs, many people approach their careers differently and many start their own companies. Whether an entrepreneur or someone with a corporate job, it’s important to be running your career like it’s your business. You should always be building your brand and your network. That way, when you need it, you aren’t starting from scratch.

We had George Krueger and Mary-Lynn Foster from Bigg Success on the show this week. Here are a few tips for those who are thinking of taking the entrepreneurial plunge. Continue reading →

Be Dispensable

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Ever wanted a promotion? How about going on a vacation without work tagging along? Want to learn a new position at work? The key is to be dispensable. For ages people have tried to make themselves indispensable, attempting to avoid lay-offs or seeking ways to be worth more to the company. This strategy doesn’t work, as companies have proven time and time again, everyone is replaceable. And if you try to be irreplaceable, that’s all the more reason for companies to try and replace you. This starts off my first point about being dispensable: Continue reading →

Wind beneath My Wings

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I’m sure that song elicits either a whimsical memory or a gagging reflex. Regardless of how you feel about the song, recently I have come to understand its meaning and its power. Do you have someone who is the wind beneath your wings? Are you someone else’s wind?  Continue reading →