Two of my favorite television shows are “Up w/Chris Hayes” and “Melissa Harris-Perry” on MSNBC.  The hosts, guests, topics, and level of honest debate are high energy and always challenge my thinking.  Recently, Chris Hayes said something I had to jot down:  “The gap between your aspiration and your situation equals your level of frustration”.   Although the topic under discussion that morning was not the work environment or careers, the lesson is a lesson for every space.

Three key words:  aspiration, situation, and frustration.  Three words that sum up the disappointing times of work life (and help us understand contentment).  The words also provide a window into how we might deal with disappointments that surely come over the course of any career.Continue Reading

For the better part of my adult life, my Grandma Alkie could be heard saying she wanted her last days to be her best days.   She lived to 94 years of age.  In her yearning was the notion of legacy and how she would be remembered.  She also made it clear how she wanted to be treated in the waning years of life.

My grandma was regal in her demeanor and our family, to the best of our abilities, treated her like royalty.  Although she beamed under the attention, she wanted something more.  She wanted to leave an indelible imprint on the family.  She wanted to leave a mighty legacy.  It is probably natural to have such feelings as we get older.  It is also natural to want our last days to be our best days as we near retirement or transition from one career to another.  We want to be remembered for having made a difference.  This is especially true of those who hold leadership positions

Unfortunately, many leaders have difficulty accepting the “last days”.   Continue Reading

“Talk is cheap” and nowhere is this statement truer than in the workplace.   Whether you are talking big about who you are, what you have done or what you can do, whether the manager espousing an open door policy, or the business painting itself as a great place to work, talk is cheap!

In 1996, Tom Cruise played the character Jerry McGuire in the titled movie that reignited the phrase “show me the money”.  Growing up in the ‘60’s we would say “money talks and BS walks”.   Same thing.  However you phrase it, the essential theme is the importance of verifying what you hear with what you see; and backing up what you say with what you do.   Remember, talk is cheap!

Before we get too far into this, know that I believe in “speaking” words that describe the me I want to be, the me successful and always striving to take it to the next level.  Words matter.  But words without plans and practice are hollow and often hypocritical.  Words matter but they are the starting point not the end game.Continue Reading