Grit is defined as firmness of mind or spirit – an unyielding courage in the face of hardship. The career world is changing so fast that grit has also become a sought after competency for hiring and a necessity for entrepreneurs and innovators. The emerging research indicates that grit can determine success or achievement far better than grades, credentials or professional pedigree. Linda Kaplan Thaler and initiati...

Worrying all the time is a reality for many entrepreneurs. Long hours working alone, increased pressure to succeed and the rigorous demands of running a business often result in concerns that multiply and go unchecked. Whether it’s one or two big problems that nag at you consistently throughout the day or a host of little things that zip in and out of your head and break your concentration, there’s one simple...

I just happened to be walking past the TV not too long ago and saw the Today show’s third hour, the one where they deal with less serious topics. The anchors were talking about something they were doing all week, a “complaint cleanse.” Turns out, they were inspired by a social-media post from a poet. That poet, Cleo Wade, you might say, complained about complaining: “Complaints have no magic,”...

When do you stop your job search? “Persistence and resilience only come from having been given the chance to work through difficult problems.” – Gever Tulley In the job search, making assumptions can be a dangerous thing. Making assumptions, for instance, about what a prospective employer should be looking for, instead of researching its actual needs, can lead you to create a resume that hig...

Many of us at one time or another have been baited and switched. You know, when you’re applying for one job with a certain job title, description, and salary, and at some point during the hiring process the company will change one or more of those. For example, Jade applies for a marketing manager position that pays $95,000 a year. That’s what the advert says; that’s what she and her interviewer discussed....

Among the pressing fears for human beings, public speaking ranks at the very top along with heights and snakes. As someone who really enjoys public speaking, I realize that I may be part of a small population but I also know how speaking has enhanced my communication and leveraged my career brand. I offer wisdom to the non-speaker about how to get started and consider how speaking – from the intimate board room or...

Aggressive people are hostile, adopting the “my way or the highway” stance. Passive people give up their power and are easily taken advantage of, which creates a surefire recipe for burnout and resentment. You want to be a happy medium—an assertive person and assertive communication. Assertive people seek out win-win scenarios and make their desires and beliefs known. Confident and assured, they approac...

One of the biggest factors I see impacting many people’s pursuit of their employment goals stems from making excuses for not getting things done on time — or, in some cases, ever. When asking someone why they didn’t carry out their objectives for the week, I’ve heard everything from the usual “my dog ate my homework” to “I couldn’t do it because I had to take my dead cat to th...

I once had a boss who informed me there was no such thing as company politics. At the time, I decided that depended on whether you were the person wielding power or influenced by it. I’d categorize self-serving antics, sabotaging behaviors, information hoarding, and artful manipulation under the heading of organizational politics. I’d throw in veiled threats, perpetuated mistruths, finger-pointing, and coerci...

As many of my readers know, I had an 18-year corporate marketing career that was very “successful” on the outside, but entirely unsuccessful on the inside. I faced a myriad of crises and challenges including gender discrimination, sexual harassment, zero work-life control or balance, chronic illness, narcissistic bosses and colleagues, and more. But worse than all that was the painfully nagging question “I...