Most millenials were sold the idea that dreams are ninety nine percent nurture and one percent nature. But it’s self-evident that not everyone can be LeBron James; on the basketball court it does matter that you’re five-foot-eight. The poster on the wall and the pep talks just don’t carry us far enough. At some point you…
Month: August 2020
Managing unpleasant tasks is exhausting Our days usually involve managing unpleasant tasks. And in an overly-edited world, where social media users can crop out sadness like plastic surgery, we might even begin to pity ourselves for the burden of these tasks. Why do I have to clean the house this weekend instead of going skiing…
Especially when times are tough, many of us have an inherent inclination to focus on the negative. As soon as things go south, we are primed for self-righteous disappointment. And it feels good to vent our disappointment, to show our contempt. It feels like we’re underscoring our high standards and implying we would have seen…
Even for the things we love, the things that aren’t work, we need a schedule! And perhaps even more than work, they deserve to have protected time within our day (the core value of a schedule). Isn’t reading important enough to our mental upkeep and development to be owed time each day? Or exercise, or…
Feedback is risky business There is one inviolable rule of feedback: make it safe. We can author the most poignant messages, the most pithy and incisive review, but they will all miss their mark if the individual doesn’t feel like their future is safe when they’re hearing it. This feeling cannot be ‘sold’ by the…
Interviewing is a skill Our administrative team interviews about fifty people each year. While we do find several polished applicants, we find even more who make common interview mistakes. Unfortunately, it only takes about 90 seconds to identify people in the latter group. Making the most out of an interview means delivering a clear message…