Recently there has been much talk about Microsoft CEO, Satya Nadella’s comments about women and raises. He has apologized profusely for “projecting” his experience on more than half the population… good for him! As the dialogue has unfolded, it reminded me of a lesson I learned at the first company I joined after college… I graduated with an engineering degree from a highly respected college (Lafayette). However, it was a recession and it was before the days of internships so I did not have “relevant” experience. I was fortunate to be offered an entry-level job at $5.00/hr. That’s right, engineering… read more →
I had a discussion with my son recently on what position is the most important on a team. He loves football and talked about how he wants to be either corner or wide receiver. I asked him what about those positions is so interesting? He said because that’s where the action is… they are the most important positions on the team! His coaches have wanted him to play on the line, as he is built for it, but he has absolutely no interest. He sees them as lesser roles. So we had a great dialogue around how every position on a team… read more →
When you tend to resist what life is having you go through, it becomes harder with every moment. Consider the following two scenarios (based on true stories): 1. You are traveling overseas to get to a meeting. Your flight is cancelled that afternoon. You are frustrated, angry, struggling with how you are going to delay all your plans by one full day. There is no other flight that day to get you where you need to go. The next morning you get to the airport and find out your flight is delayed again… you may miss the connection for the… read more →
I recently came across a quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson that struck me, “To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” How many of us have pursued a career because we were trying to live up to someone elses expectations, a parent, spouse, teacher? How many of us have listened to others who came up with all of the reasons why IT won’t work? Has your creative spirit been squashed because you believe your company culture would frown upon your idea? Think about how you’re living your life and whether you… read more →