When do your holidays start?
Once you finish what you’re working on? Once you sign off for the day? Once you turn on your out-of-office? Once you leave your desk? Once you leave the office? Once you leave the bar? Once you’re home? Once the first day of your official leave begins? Once you depart for a new destination? Once […]
Playing against yourself
The cool thing about your career (and life) is that you’re playing against yourself. Sure, there are moments when you’ll be competing with others in a certain way. But as a whole, each person is playing their own game. And one day, every one of us will look back on our own unique version of […]
The last step of the process
When you go after something in your career, like a promotion or project lead, you must not forget this critical final step. Personally thank every person that helped you. It doesn’t matter how much they contributed. Or if you were ultimately unsuccessful. Every act of kindness should be recognised. People who back you in your […]
Money isn’t everything (but it kinda is)
If you’re considering a new job offer with a lower salary, money isn’t everything (but it is everything). Let me explain. Say the new job pays $15k less than what you’re on now. There might be a lot of non-financial reasons why you’re drawn to it. Enough that you convince yourself the $15k cut is […]
3 questions when pitching
When you put yourself forward as a job prospect or seek an introduction from someone, it’s best to be clear and to the point (graciously, of course). When professionals approach me for guidance, I get them to answer these three questions as if the other person had asked them: What can you do? Why should […]
You are a genius
Here’s a fun thought exercise. A genius can be someone with insights about a subject that others know little about. This means that you’re a genius in some way. You know way more about something or someone than others do. You could be a genius as a parent for knowing what your child needs. You […]
Real high performance
Most professionals think they know what performance gets noticed. So they say things like: “I perform well under pressure.” “I perform well in a team.” “I perform at a high level.” Sure, those things matter. But they’re expected in any job. You want to know the kind of performance that will actually turbocharge your career? […]
It’s your story
Your career is your story. You can craft it however you like. As soon as you realise this, your career will open up in wonderful and exciting ways. Your story doesn’t need to comply with arbitrary conventions. Your story doesn’t have to be told chronologically. Your story shouldn’t be told by someone else. Just tell […]
Let them?
You may have heard of Mel Robbins and the Let Them Theory. But you probably haven’t heard what’s been going on in the background. And even if you have no idea about any of this, you should definitely care about the implications. It’s well worth reading the articles below. For me, it doesn’t sit well. […]
How to consider a job offer
When you receive an offer and you’re deciding what to do, here’s an exercise I’ve found really helpful. Imagine you’ve received another offer at the same time. What would this second offer need to include to beat the one on the table? More money? Better hours? More responsibility? Whatever it is, get specific. Then ask […]