Our Corporate Life https://ourcorporatelife.com/ Executive Coaching and Management Consulting Thu, 14 Sep 2017 21:00:25 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.1.3 FIFA’s “Not My Problem” Problem https://ourcorporatelife.com/fifas-not-my-problem-problem/ Fri, 29 May 2015 16:18:35 +0000 https://ourcorporatelife.com/?p=1286 “I know many people hold me ultimately responsible … (but) I cannot monitor everyone all the time. If people want to do wrong, they will also try to hide it,” so says Sepp Blatter, FIFA President since 1988. This is exactly what allowed corruption to thrive within FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) is the …

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]]> The Tyranny of Strategy https://ourcorporatelife.com/tryanny-of-strategy/ https://ourcorporatelife.com/tryanny-of-strategy/#respond Fri, 16 Jan 2015 14:44:32 +0000 https://ourcorporatelife.com/?p=1072 It's time to give tactics a little love--the era of strategy being more important than everything else is over!

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]]> https://ourcorporatelife.com/tryanny-of-strategy/feed/ 0 It’s the Little Things https://ourcorporatelife.com/little-things/ https://ourcorporatelife.com/little-things/#respond Fri, 10 Oct 2014 15:36:28 +0000 https://ourcorporatelife.com/?p=1045 Team dysfunction is rampant and it creates a boatload of work for everyone. Doing little things consistently to assure your staff they are valued (assuming they are!) and to demonstrate the culture you desire can go a long way towards changing the dynamic and tone of your team. Consider this sign that welcomed a new …

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]]> https://ourcorporatelife.com/little-things/feed/ 0 Seemingly Stupid Decisions https://ourcorporatelife.com/seemingly-stupid-decisions/ https://ourcorporatelife.com/seemingly-stupid-decisions/#respond Wed, 05 Feb 2014 11:25:07 +0000 https://ourcorporatelife.com/?p=604 Defending seemingly stupid decisions is one of the thankless tasks of management. It’s a tough position to be in–understanding the reasons behind decisions but being unable to share them. Especially when faced with naïve staffers who assume that communicating decisions is a simple case of “telling the truth.” You can’t share so your character gets …

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]]> https://ourcorporatelife.com/seemingly-stupid-decisions/feed/ 0 Holding Leaders Accountable https://ourcorporatelife.com/holding-leaders-accountable/ https://ourcorporatelife.com/holding-leaders-accountable/#respond Mon, 27 Jan 2014 04:00:21 +0000 https://ourcorporatelife.com/?p=602 Will your company stay competitive in 2014 and beyond? After all, increasing profit margins through efficiency-based techniques–process improvements like Six Sigma, downsizing, and other structural changes—have been done to death. Often at great cost…both literally and figuratively. Today’s workplace means dealing with uncertainty, urgency, and high stakes situations on a regular basis. No amount of …

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]]> https://ourcorporatelife.com/holding-leaders-accountable/feed/ 0 MLK’s Impact on Our Corporate World https://ourcorporatelife.com/mlks-impact-on-our-corporate-world/ https://ourcorporatelife.com/mlks-impact-on-our-corporate-world/#respond Mon, 20 Jan 2014 01:00:35 +0000 https://ourcorporatelife.com/?p=600 Few question the impact Martin Luther King Jr.’s leadership had on drawing attention to the American civil rights movement. Segregation and discrimination were a way of life for many until enough people challenged the status quo. So it is with corporate suffering. You might take issue with the fact that I’m equating the two. I …

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]]> https://ourcorporatelife.com/mlks-impact-on-our-corporate-world/feed/ 0 Hire Autistics https://ourcorporatelife.com/hire-autistics/ https://ourcorporatelife.com/hire-autistics/#respond Mon, 13 Jan 2014 12:06:26 +0000 https://ourcorporatelife.com/?p=598 Now that’s a directive you rarely hear. Yet companies—software giant SAP for one–are recruiting people with autism in order to take advantage of their particular skills. What’s the learning for the rest of us? Everyone has something to offer. According to Robert D. Austin and Thorkil Sonne’s blogpost on today’s HBR Blog Network “The Case …

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]]> https://ourcorporatelife.com/hire-autistics/feed/ 0 Good Intentions, Bad Outcome https://ourcorporatelife.com/good-intentions-bad-outcome/ https://ourcorporatelife.com/good-intentions-bad-outcome/#respond Mon, 06 Jan 2014 07:30:21 +0000 https://ourcorporatelife.com/?p=596 A long holiday break allows us to regain our perspective. Looking back at all the “crises” and issues that drove me crazy last year has been enlightening. I’ve found that in many cases I created my own misery by not clarifying expectations, not communicating effectively, and letting deadlines slide because “everyone is so busy.” Not …

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]]> https://ourcorporatelife.com/good-intentions-bad-outcome/feed/ 0 No One Cares https://ourcorporatelife.com/no-one-cares/ https://ourcorporatelife.com/no-one-cares/#respond Wed, 02 Oct 2013 09:37:52 +0000 https://ourcorporatelife.com/?p=594 We can spend a lot of time, energy, and emotion trying to look good to others. “What will people think?” “What if I fail?” “How will I be judged?” becomes the endless loop we hear in our minds. This line of thinking keeps us incredibly busy but doesn’t make for a very happy existence. When …

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]]> https://ourcorporatelife.com/no-one-cares/feed/ 0 Comfort Zones https://ourcorporatelife.com/comfort-zones/ https://ourcorporatelife.com/comfort-zones/#respond Tue, 10 Sep 2013 10:58:54 +0000 https://ourcorporatelife.com/?p=592 Comfort zones as defined by the esteemed Wikipedia are: “a behavioral state within which a person operates in an anxiety-neutral condition, using a limited set of behaviors to deliver a steady level of performance, usually without a sense of risk….A comfort zone is a type of mental conditioning that causes a person to create and …

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]]> https://ourcorporatelife.com/comfort-zones/feed/ 0 Asking for Help https://ourcorporatelife.com/asking-for-help/ https://ourcorporatelife.com/asking-for-help/#respond Mon, 26 Aug 2013 07:38:56 +0000 https://ourcorporatelife.com/?p=590 About the last thing achievers ask for is help, yet it’s often the best strategic move you can make. If you do it right, you’ll get better results, those who help you will feel good about their efforts, and others will learn more about you. When you make requests, the onus is upon you to …

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]]> https://ourcorporatelife.com/asking-for-help/feed/ 0 Changing Your Future https://ourcorporatelife.com/changing-your-future/ https://ourcorporatelife.com/changing-your-future/#respond Mon, 12 Aug 2013 07:56:55 +0000 https://ourcorporatelife.com/?p=588 When people take action and focus on their careers, it’s almost always in response to dissatisfaction they’re experiencing at work. And that dissatisfaction often gets in the way of finding a solution. You’re so consumed with what isn’t working that it’s difficult to let go of it, clear your head, and focus on what you …

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]]> https://ourcorporatelife.com/changing-your-future/feed/ 0 Energy Vampires https://ourcorporatelife.com/energy-vampires/ https://ourcorporatelife.com/energy-vampires/#respond Mon, 05 Aug 2013 08:59:48 +0000 https://ourcorporatelife.com/?p=586 Many of us forget that we have a choice in how we view the world. Imagine how different our experience would be if we believed the world was full of interesting people and lots of opportunity instead of filled with people who are out for themselves. It would feel much different wouldn’t it? Knee-jerk negativism …

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]]> https://ourcorporatelife.com/energy-vampires/feed/ 0 Dream Teams Aren’t Always Dreamy https://ourcorporatelife.com/dream-teams-arent-always-dreamy/ https://ourcorporatelife.com/dream-teams-arent-always-dreamy/#respond Wed, 05 Jun 2013 02:34:13 +0000 https://ourcorporatelife.com/?p=584 Have you ever experienced this? You’re part of a team made up of the most qualified or talented people in their particular area…and the team can’t get a darn thing done. I always wondered how the original “Dream Team,” the 1992 United States men’s Olympic basketball team, was able to win the gold medal considering …

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]]> https://ourcorporatelife.com/dream-teams-arent-always-dreamy/feed/ 0 Decency at Work https://ourcorporatelife.com/decency-at-work/ https://ourcorporatelife.com/decency-at-work/#respond Thu, 14 Feb 2013 03:02:17 +0000 https://ourcorporatelife.com/?p=582 One casualty of our over-stimulated, stressed-out times is basic decency toward others. There is often so much pressure to achieve our work goals we don’t consider how we interact–and what our actions lead others to conclude about us. It’s all about getting things done. How often have you been asked “how are you?” knowing that …

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]]> https://ourcorporatelife.com/decency-at-work/feed/ 0 What’s Missing in Our Work Ethic? https://ourcorporatelife.com/whats-missing-in-our-work-ethic/ https://ourcorporatelife.com/whats-missing-in-our-work-ethic/#respond Thu, 18 Oct 2012 04:29:59 +0000 https://ourcorporatelife.com/?p=580 How is it that everyone is so busy yet it seems like nothing ever gets done? Listen to those around you. I guarantee someone is talking about how busy they are—and another person will soon up the ante. We’re competing to win at busyness. Why? Is it to demonstrate that things can’t go on without …

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]]> https://ourcorporatelife.com/whats-missing-in-our-work-ethic/feed/ 0 Does the Buck Ever Stop? https://ourcorporatelife.com/does-the-buck-ever-stop/ https://ourcorporatelife.com/does-the-buck-ever-stop/#respond Thu, 16 Aug 2012 03:56:53 +0000 https://ourcorporatelife.com/?p=578 When did being accountable become optional? Did I miss the memo? Now we learn that MF Global, the brokerage firm that lost $1 BILLION of its customers’ money, is unlikely to face criminal charges. Why? According to the New York Times (http://nyti.ms/OZprdF) it was “chaos and porous risk controls at the firm, rather than fraud, …

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]]> https://ourcorporatelife.com/does-the-buck-ever-stop/feed/ 0 Penn State’s Unsung Hero https://ourcorporatelife.com/penn-states-unsung-hero/ https://ourcorporatelife.com/penn-states-unsung-hero/#respond Mon, 23 Jul 2012 09:00:04 +0000 https://ourcorporatelife.com/?p=576 Speaking truth to power is essential in a democratic society. As questions about Joe Paterno’s legacy and NCAA sanctions consumes the airwaves, let’s not forget Vicky Triponey who stood up to Joe Paterno to ensure that all students are treated equally. As Penn State’s VP of Student Affairs, she consistently and vocally resisted efforts to …

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]]> https://ourcorporatelife.com/penn-states-unsung-hero/feed/ 0 Lessons from Ann Curry https://ourcorporatelife.com/lessons-from-ann-curry/ https://ourcorporatelife.com/lessons-from-ann-curry/#respond Mon, 02 Jul 2012 12:42:18 +0000 https://ourcorporatelife.com/?p=574 There’s a lot to learn from Ann Curry’s behavior during the recent Today Show dust-up that led to her departure. For weeks a whispering campaign suggested that her performance was responsible for the show’s slide in ratings. Universally liked, Ms. Curry maintained radio silence while NBC let her twist in the wind. Watching Ms. Curry, …

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]]> https://ourcorporatelife.com/lessons-from-ann-curry/feed/ 0 Cultivating “Assisted Serendipity” https://ourcorporatelife.com/cultivating-assisted-serendipity/ https://ourcorporatelife.com/cultivating-assisted-serendipity/#respond Tue, 17 Apr 2012 03:52:53 +0000 https://ourcorporatelife.com/?p=572 I came across the term “assisted serendipity” in Ryan Vanderbilt’s excellent Fast Company post about closing the happiness gap at workhttp://bit.ly/A1jwBE. He was talking about how technology “can connect you to other people, skills, tools, and trigger new ways of thinking and working; it can create an “assisted serendipity.” While I agree, I think many …

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]]> https://ourcorporatelife.com/cultivating-assisted-serendipity/feed/ 0 Is Thank You the New F*ck You? https://ourcorporatelife.com/is-thank-you-the-new-fck-you/ https://ourcorporatelife.com/is-thank-you-the-new-fck-you/#respond Thu, 08 Mar 2012 11:47:52 +0000 https://ourcorporatelife.com/?p=570 I’ve witnessed some amazing communication lately. For some reason tacking on “thank you” seems to make some people think they’re allowed to say the most horrendous things. Witness these recent email examples from managers to their teammates: “…You have missed the mark again. I can only hope that your work will improve so I don’t …

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]]> https://ourcorporatelife.com/is-thank-you-the-new-fck-you/feed/ 0 The Komen Foundation Kerfuffle https://ourcorporatelife.com/the-komen-foundation-kerfuffle/ https://ourcorporatelife.com/the-komen-foundation-kerfuffle/#respond Tue, 07 Feb 2012 04:26:20 +0000 https://ourcorporatelife.com/?p=553 The commotion surrounding the Susan G. Komen Foundation’s decision and subsequent reversal to fund Planned Parenthood activities illustrates several best practice anti-corporate suffering behaviors. 1. Be ClearKomen Founder Nancy Brinker originally stated that they changed their grant criteria for two reasons 1) flaws in their grant making process eg “the issue is grant excellence” and …

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]]> https://ourcorporatelife.com/the-komen-foundation-kerfuffle/feed/ 0 Creating a Happier 2012 https://ourcorporatelife.com/creating-a-happier-2012/ https://ourcorporatelife.com/creating-a-happier-2012/#respond Tue, 10 Jan 2012 10:00:10 +0000 https://ourcorporatelife.com/?p=551 This is the week where most New Year’s resolutions meet an untimely end—often because people set unrealistic goals. Having a happier work life—and happier life in general—is within anyone’s grasp. One of the most important predictors of workplace happiness is your relationships. The Gallup Engagement Survey has found that people who have three friends at …

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]]> https://ourcorporatelife.com/creating-a-happier-2012/feed/ 0 The Customer is Often Wrong https://ourcorporatelife.com/the-customer-is-often-wrong/ https://ourcorporatelife.com/the-customer-is-often-wrong/#respond Sun, 11 Dec 2011 07:27:32 +0000 https://ourcorporatelife.com/?p=549 We’re well into the holiday season now and it’s clear that many have taken the old axiom “the customer is always right” as a license for bad behavior. Witness the egregious behavior of the pepper-spraying Walmart video game shopper on Black Friday. The original meaning of this retail policy was to make customers feel special …

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]]> https://ourcorporatelife.com/the-customer-is-often-wrong/feed/ 0 The Blessings of Business https://ourcorporatelife.com/the-blessings-of-business/ https://ourcorporatelife.com/the-blessings-of-business/#respond Tue, 22 Nov 2011 12:37:02 +0000 https://ourcorporatelife.com/?p=547 As we give thanks this week with our family and friends it provides a chance for us to appreciate how many good things corporations provide. Working at a corporation gives you with the opportunity to:• meet our basic needs—and ultimately the freedom to explore our own interests as our income increases;• make new friends and …

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]]> https://ourcorporatelife.com/the-blessings-of-business/feed/ 0 What is the real tragedy of Penn State? https://ourcorporatelife.com/what-is-the-real-tragedy-of-penn-state/ https://ourcorporatelife.com/what-is-the-real-tragedy-of-penn-state/#respond Tue, 15 Nov 2011 10:00:34 +0000 https://ourcorporatelife.com/?p=545 As events unfolded last week at Penn State most people saw the situation as tragic. Exactly what they considered tragic was instructive and says a lot about the values we hold—both individually and as a society. Many saw tragedy in the tarnishing of Penn State’s reputation—and new irony in their football motto “Success with Honor.” …

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]]> https://ourcorporatelife.com/what-is-the-real-tragedy-of-penn-state/feed/ 0 Occupy Wall Street — What Do Our Reactions Say About Us? https://ourcorporatelife.com/occupy-wall-street-what-do-our-reactions-say-about-us/ https://ourcorporatelife.com/occupy-wall-street-what-do-our-reactions-say-about-us/#respond Tue, 08 Nov 2011 10:00:54 +0000 https://ourcorporatelife.com/?p=543 One of the most interesting aspects of the Occupy Wall Street (OWS) movement is the reaction to it. While many would agree with the protesters’ core issue—the belief profits have come to matter more than people—how the protest is being conducted has made it difficult for people to easily categorize it. We’ve been conditioned to …

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]]> https://ourcorporatelife.com/occupy-wall-street-what-do-our-reactions-say-about-us/feed/ 0 The Inhumanity of Steve Jobs https://ourcorporatelife.com/the-inhumanity-of-steve-jobs/ https://ourcorporatelife.com/the-inhumanity-of-steve-jobs/#comments Wed, 26 Oct 2011 12:20:00 +0000 https://ourcorporatelife.com/?p=541 In the tributes to Steve Jobs that have been made over the past few weeks I found it interesting that so little was said about how poorly he treated people. While there’s no debating that he was a genius of industrial design, he was also legendary for his combativeness and mean-spiritedness when dealing with others. …

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]]> https://ourcorporatelife.com/the-inhumanity-of-steve-jobs/feed/ 3 Keeping Track of Failure https://ourcorporatelife.com/keeping-track-of-failure/ https://ourcorporatelife.com/keeping-track-of-failure/#respond Tue, 11 Oct 2011 10:28:45 +0000 https://ourcorporatelife.com/?p=539 I was catching up on Seth Godin’s blog and came across this quote “We respond to what we keep track of. Too bad we’re not better at keeping track of how many failures we incorrectly predicted, how many innovations we failed to notice and how many apparently risky steps we failed to take.” Most of …

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]]> https://ourcorporatelife.com/keeping-track-of-failure/feed/ 0 How Apple’s Intros Contributed to Jobs’ Reputation https://ourcorporatelife.com/how-apples-intros-contributed-to-jobs-reputation/ https://ourcorporatelife.com/how-apples-intros-contributed-to-jobs-reputation/#respond Tue, 04 Oct 2011 10:18:29 +0000 https://ourcorporatelife.com/?p=537 All eyes are on Apple as they launch their first new product without Steve Jobs at the helm. Apple’s “ta da” approach to introducing new products has been an essential ingredient in creating Mr. Jobs’ reputation. Now a new study provides proof supporting this contention. “Managerial Mystique: Magical Thinking in the Judgments of Managers’ Vision, …

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]]> https://ourcorporatelife.com/how-apples-intros-contributed-to-jobs-reputation/feed/ 0 Recreating What We Know https://ourcorporatelife.com/recreating-what-we-know/ https://ourcorporatelife.com/recreating-what-we-know/#respond Tue, 30 Aug 2011 10:00:21 +0000 https://ourcorporatelife.com/?p=535 How many times have you started a new job vowing it would be different and ended up sadly disappointed? If so, chances are good you’re not alone. One of the unfortunate realities of the corporate workplace is that that dysfunction gets spread from company to company as management moves around. It makes sense. According to …

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]]> https://ourcorporatelife.com/recreating-what-we-know/feed/ 0 Is More News Good News? https://ourcorporatelife.com/is-more-news-good-news/ https://ourcorporatelife.com/is-more-news-good-news/#respond Tue, 23 Aug 2011 11:45:10 +0000 https://ourcorporatelife.com/?p=533 A recent report in the New York Times stated that local TV newscasts are expanding. According to Bob Papper, a Hofstra University professor who surveys local television staffs, “the average amount of news went up 18 minutes per weekday in 2010. I suspect we could see an even bigger jump in 2011.” While it’s always …

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]]> https://ourcorporatelife.com/is-more-news-good-news/feed/ 0 Lifetime Employability https://ourcorporatelife.com/lifetime-employability/ https://ourcorporatelife.com/lifetime-employability/#respond Fri, 22 Jul 2011 03:00:00 +0000 https://ourcorporatelife.com/?p=531 As we navigate through the changes that are occurring in the workplace I think it’s important to consider your options with an eye toward lifetime employability, not lifetime employment. “Where the jobs are” has become a critical focus for many and the news media regularly reports on the sectors that have created jobs, usually in …

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]]> https://ourcorporatelife.com/lifetime-employability/feed/ 0 Overwhelmed by office clutter? https://ourcorporatelife.com/overwhelmed-by-office-clutter/ https://ourcorporatelife.com/overwhelmed-by-office-clutter/#respond Wed, 20 Jul 2011 01:02:25 +0000 https://ourcorporatelife.com/?p=867 Expert explains how to prioritize and manage the flow of old-fashioned, low-tech ‘stuff’ in the digital age New York, NY – July 20, 2011 – Sure, most of us rarely put pen to paper on the job these days, but we’re still drowning in files, folders, and reports. Even in the digital age, we’re hanging …

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]]> https://ourcorporatelife.com/overwhelmed-by-office-clutter/feed/ 0 Sound bites can provide a career boost or on-the-job help https://ourcorporatelife.com/sound-bites-can-provide-a-career-boost-or-on-the-job-help/ https://ourcorporatelife.com/sound-bites-can-provide-a-career-boost-or-on-the-job-help/#respond Fri, 01 Jul 2011 01:06:16 +0000 https://ourcorporatelife.com/?p=869 Sound bites can provide a career boost or on-the-job help New York, NY – July 1, 2011 – An expert in career strategies and corporate life says we can get a career boost or help on the job from ‘sound bites’ The media has conditioned us to expect information in manageable sound bites, and most …

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]]> https://ourcorporatelife.com/sound-bites-can-provide-a-career-boost-or-on-the-job-help/feed/ 0 “Did you hear I got fired?” https://ourcorporatelife.com/did-you-hear-i-got-fired/ https://ourcorporatelife.com/did-you-hear-i-got-fired/#respond Fri, 01 Jul 2011 00:59:28 +0000 https://ourcorporatelife.com/?p=861 How you talk about it may help you land your next job New York, NY – July 1, 2011 – The last thing you want to do is tell people you’ve been fired or laid-off, but one expert says your story about getting the boot can be the first step to a new job. Career …

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]]> https://ourcorporatelife.com/did-you-hear-i-got-fired/feed/ 0 Angry Americans https://ourcorporatelife.com/angry-americans/ https://ourcorporatelife.com/angry-americans/#respond Thu, 30 Jun 2011 09:20:31 +0000 https://ourcorporatelife.com/?p=529 I recently read The Art of Racing in the Rain which references racing truisms as analogies for life. I keep thinking about “the car goes where your eyes go” and wondering how much all of us are influenced by the anger that drives so much of what surrounds us. It’s not just the media—although there …

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]]> https://ourcorporatelife.com/angry-americans/feed/ 0 Nervous about leaving your job for summer vacation? https://ourcorporatelife.com/nervous-about-leaving-your-job-for-summer-vacation/ https://ourcorporatelife.com/nervous-about-leaving-your-job-for-summer-vacation/#respond Mon, 13 Jun 2011 01:00:29 +0000 https://ourcorporatelife.com/?p=865 Expert says taking time off can be a great career move by ‘working’ it New York, NY – June 13, 2011 – You know lots of people without jobs, and others whose job situations are precarious, at best. Should you leave the office for that long-planned summer vacation, or play it safe and stick around? …

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]]> https://ourcorporatelife.com/nervous-about-leaving-your-job-for-summer-vacation/feed/ 0 Is the American Dream dead? https://ourcorporatelife.com/is-the-american-dream-dead/ https://ourcorporatelife.com/is-the-american-dream-dead/#respond Thu, 26 May 2011 12:27:15 +0000 https://ourcorporatelife.com/?p=527 Given how the American Dream has been reinterpreted over the past few decades, I sure hope so. As we prepare to honor those who have died in service to our country, I’ve been reflecting on the ideals they defended–life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness chief among them. There seems to be little disagreement, even …

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]]> https://ourcorporatelife.com/is-the-american-dream-dead/feed/ 0 Measuring Happiness https://ourcorporatelife.com/measuring-happiness/ https://ourcorporatelife.com/measuring-happiness/#respond Tue, 03 May 2011 09:00:58 +0000 https://ourcorporatelife.com/?p=525 The New York Times recently reported that Somerville Massachusetts added the question “How happy do you feel right now?” to their census in an effort to become the first city in the US to systematically track people’s happiness. Whether measuring happiness is the “right” parameter on which to judge is anyone’s guess—it certainly opens one …

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]]> https://ourcorporatelife.com/measuring-happiness/feed/ 0 Time for a little spring (career) cleaning? https://ourcorporatelife.com/time-for-a-little-spring-career-cleaning/ https://ourcorporatelife.com/time-for-a-little-spring-career-cleaning/#respond Mon, 02 May 2011 01:20:32 +0000 https://ourcorporatelife.com/?p=881 One expert suggests the change of season is a good time for new success strategies to dispel on-the-job doom-and-gloom NEW YORK – May 2, 2011 — There’s nothing like a little spring cleaning to reenergize and renew the spirits after a long, hard winter, but one career expert says more than our homes and yards …

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]]> https://ourcorporatelife.com/time-for-a-little-spring-career-cleaning/feed/ 0 Passion in the Workplace https://ourcorporatelife.com/passion-in-the-workplace/ https://ourcorporatelife.com/passion-in-the-workplace/#respond Tue, 19 Apr 2011 01:00:28 +0000 https://ourcorporatelife.com/?p=523 No, I’m not talking about love among the cubicles—it’s the idea that has so many people all tangled up and unable to get out of their own way. “Finding Your Passion.” That concept alone is the biggest impediment to actually figuring out what you love to do. Just look on Amazon. You’ll find almost 200 …

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]]> https://ourcorporatelife.com/passion-in-the-workplace/feed/ 0 Drawing the Line https://ourcorporatelife.com/drawing-the-line/ https://ourcorporatelife.com/drawing-the-line/#comments Mon, 07 Mar 2011 08:00:54 +0000 https://ourcorporatelife.com/?p=521 Lately our focus has been on identifying the lessons children need to learn in order to ultimately create a workplace where people and businesses thrive. So often by just looking around the office you can see behaviors so ingrained you just know that they were learned as kids. That’s why we’re designing our School Program …

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]]> https://ourcorporatelife.com/drawing-the-line/feed/ 2 The Lost Art of Rapport https://ourcorporatelife.com/the-lost-art-of-rapport/ https://ourcorporatelife.com/the-lost-art-of-rapport/#respond Mon, 07 Feb 2011 15:35:50 +0000 https://ourcorporatelife.com/?p=494 One of the benefits of a diverse society like ours is the influx of ideas, traditions, and different points-of-view that result from cultural differences. Openness to learning about others’ values, beliefs and ideas help us clarify our own thinking and often result in more effective solutions. Of course, what’s different can make us uncomfortable and …

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]]> https://ourcorporatelife.com/the-lost-art-of-rapport/feed/ 0 We Get What We Value https://ourcorporatelife.com/we-get-what-we-value/ https://ourcorporatelife.com/we-get-what-we-value/#respond Thu, 20 Jan 2011 19:30:56 +0000 https://ourcorporatelife.com/?p=492 It’s no surprise to those in the corporate world that business and management issues have become increasingly complex and frequent in number. The sheer volume of daily decisions required just to keep pace with the routine aspects of business is daunting. Determining the best business solution when technology, economic pressures and customer expectations continue to …

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]]> https://ourcorporatelife.com/we-get-what-we-value/feed/ 0 Consequences https://ourcorporatelife.com/consequences/ https://ourcorporatelife.com/consequences/#respond Thu, 13 Jan 2011 10:00:04 +0000 https://ourcorporatelife.com/?p=490 One of the good outcomes of the assassination attempt in Tucson last week is that people seem to be seriously questioning how the hostile social environment we’ve created is impacting our society. Words create our thoughts and thoughts direct our actions. As people feel free to state inflammatory and hateful rhetoric without fear of retribution …

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]]> https://ourcorporatelife.com/consequences/feed/ 0 What We Can Learn From The Greeks https://ourcorporatelife.com/what-we-can-learn-from-the-greeks/ https://ourcorporatelife.com/what-we-can-learn-from-the-greeks/#respond Thu, 06 Jan 2011 08:00:45 +0000 https://ourcorporatelife.com/?p=488 Our economic situation has made it crystal clear that what happens to one of us, impacts the rest of the industrialized world as well. My hope is that we’re learning and applying that learning so we can avoid repeating the mistakes that have already been made. Witness what is happening with the Greek economy. Michael …

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]]> https://ourcorporatelife.com/what-we-can-learn-from-the-greeks/feed/ 0 A Holiday Wish https://ourcorporatelife.com/a-holiday-wish/ https://ourcorporatelife.com/a-holiday-wish/#comments Mon, 20 Dec 2010 21:45:46 +0000 https://ourcorporatelife.com/?p=486 It’s not news that this past year has been challenging for many—individuals, companies and our country. Unlike past crises though this one seems to have divided us, not brought us together. For many, the focus has been on placing blame, shooting holes in proposed solutions and remaining on the sidelines waiting for someone or something …

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]]> https://ourcorporatelife.com/a-holiday-wish/feed/ 1 Our Deficit of Trust https://ourcorporatelife.com/our-deficit-of-trust/ https://ourcorporatelife.com/our-deficit-of-trust/#respond Fri, 03 Dec 2010 13:55:40 +0000 https://ourcorporatelife.com/?p=484 As the latest WikiLeaks controversy rages, I think an important point is being overlooked. Regardless of your politics or position on the decision to force transparency by disclosing confidential information obtained anonymously, what the exercise really highlights the deficit of trust we have in our leaders and institutions. While we are starved for leadership—people who …

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]]> https://ourcorporatelife.com/our-deficit-of-trust/feed/ 0 A Thanksgiving Thought https://ourcorporatelife.com/a-thanksgiving-thought/ https://ourcorporatelife.com/a-thanksgiving-thought/#respond Tue, 23 Nov 2010 08:00:42 +0000 https://ourcorporatelife.com/?p=482 Listening to the responses of Medal of Honor winner Salvatore Giunta as he made the media rounds last week was a refreshing experience. One interviewer said what most were thinking, “if it were me, I’d be saying ‘look at me’. Yet you don’t want to make this all about you, why not?” His answer? “Honestly …

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]]> https://ourcorporatelife.com/a-thanksgiving-thought/feed/ 0 Hopeful Signs for a Better Workplace https://ourcorporatelife.com/hopeful-signs-for-a-better-workplace/ https://ourcorporatelife.com/hopeful-signs-for-a-better-workplace/#respond Mon, 15 Nov 2010 17:00:41 +0000 https://ourcorporatelife.com/?p=480 One of the basics of business is that what we measure determines where we focus our attention. Last year, when French President Nicolas Sarkozy called for countries to adopt new ways of measuring well-being because he considered gross domestic product (GDP) to be obsolete, he initiated an interesting discussion. The idea of revisiting GDP (the …

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]]> https://ourcorporatelife.com/hopeful-signs-for-a-better-workplace/feed/ 0 The Great American Outline https://ourcorporatelife.com/the-great-american-outline/ https://ourcorporatelife.com/the-great-american-outline/#respond Mon, 08 Nov 2010 14:00:17 +0000 https://ourcorporatelife.com/?p=478 One of the most harmful long-term impacts of the current barrage of negative economic information is that people are putting artificial limits on themselves and their dreams. After all, if we’re all going to hell in a hand basket, why bother trying to go after what you really want in life? Not only is this …

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]]> https://ourcorporatelife.com/the-great-american-outline/feed/ 0 Are you surrounded by Eeyores? https://ourcorporatelife.com/are-you-surrounded-by-eeyores/ https://ourcorporatelife.com/are-you-surrounded-by-eeyores/#respond Mon, 01 Nov 2010 20:00:44 +0000 https://ourcorporatelife.com/?p=476 You remember him, don’t you? Eeyore is the gloomy, old stuffed donkey who has a poor opinion of all the other animals in the Forest and pals around with Winnie the Pooh. If you have a lot of Eeyores in your life not only are you negatively impacting your daily happiness, you’re impacting the economic …

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]]> https://ourcorporatelife.com/are-you-surrounded-by-eeyores/feed/ 0 Fear Based Messaging Sells—But Sure Doesn’t Help https://ourcorporatelife.com/fear-based-messaging-sells-but-sure-doesnt-help/ https://ourcorporatelife.com/fear-based-messaging-sells-but-sure-doesnt-help/#respond Tue, 26 Oct 2010 19:12:00 +0000 https://ourcorporatelife.com/?p=474 Last night I watched “Unemployment and the 99ers” on 60 Minutes, a story about those who are still job hunting as their extended unemployment benefits (99 weeks) are about to end. I’m sure they got great ratings—and even better pass along viewership–because this kind of story allows everyone to bond together in the “it isn’t …

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]]> https://ourcorporatelife.com/fear-based-messaging-sells-but-sure-doesnt-help/feed/ 0 Avoiding Career Tricks or Treats https://ourcorporatelife.com/avoiding-career-tricks-or-treats/ https://ourcorporatelife.com/avoiding-career-tricks-or-treats/#respond Mon, 25 Oct 2010 01:16:06 +0000 https://ourcorporatelife.com/?p=875 How to learn the difference between good career news and scary job moves NEW YORK – October 25, 2010 — You got a promotion – that’s a good thing, right? Could be, but then again, is your salary moving up as well? This could be a career ‘trick,’ and given the Halloween season, it may …

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]]> https://ourcorporatelife.com/avoiding-career-tricks-or-treats/feed/ 0 Not-so-Private Lives https://ourcorporatelife.com/not-so-private-lives/ https://ourcorporatelife.com/not-so-private-lives/#respond Thu, 21 Oct 2010 17:37:43 +0000 https://ourcorporatelife.com/?p=471 As I’ve watched the media footage these past few days of respected journalists practically climbing over each other bodily to get the “untold” story of the Chilean miners, I am struck by the hypocrisy of it all. We’ve created an environment where it’s perfectly alright to encourage others to invade the privacy of those we’re …

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]]> https://ourcorporatelife.com/not-so-private-lives/feed/ 0 Chilean Miners Know What We’ve Forgotten https://ourcorporatelife.com/chilean-miners-know-what-weve-forgotten/ https://ourcorporatelife.com/chilean-miners-know-what-weve-forgotten/#respond Thu, 14 Oct 2010 21:12:31 +0000 https://ourcorporatelife.com/?p=469 The collapse of the mine in Chile has provided an interesting example of teamwork under the direst circumstances. When the news came out that the 33 trapped miners had been reached and rescue was imminent, I was struck by the conversations I heard when reporters indicated that there had been arguments about the order in …

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]]> https://ourcorporatelife.com/chilean-miners-know-what-weve-forgotten/feed/ 0 Welcome to Our Corporate Life https://ourcorporatelife.com/welcome-to-our-corporate-life/ https://ourcorporatelife.com/welcome-to-our-corporate-life/#respond Tue, 28 Sep 2010 20:23:31 +0000 https://ourcorporatelife.com/?p=467 Welcome to my blog. I’m Amanda Mitchell, founder of Our Corporate Life™ and this is my first post, so right now this is a one-way conversation. I’m hoping you’ll change that and be moved to comment when something strikes a chord. We have a big mission here at Our Corporate Life™—encouraging companies and individuals to …

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]]> https://ourcorporatelife.com/welcome-to-our-corporate-life/feed/ 0 Five Ways to Take Control of Your Career https://ourcorporatelife.com/five-ways-to-take-control-of-your-career/ https://ourcorporatelife.com/five-ways-to-take-control-of-your-career/#respond Fri, 20 Aug 2010 01:18:44 +0000 https://ourcorporatelife.com/?p=879 Happy to even have a job in this economy? An experienced ‘corporate navigator’ says just being grateful isn’t enough NEW YORK – August 20, 2010 — Most of us are happy to just be employed these days, but an experienced ‘corporate navigator’ says there are also things we should be doing to take control of …

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]]> https://ourcorporatelife.com/five-ways-to-take-control-of-your-career/feed/ 0 Practical Strategies to Help Executives Feeling Trapped in Their Career https://ourcorporatelife.com/practical-strategies-to-help-executives-feeling-trapped-in-their-career/ https://ourcorporatelife.com/practical-strategies-to-help-executives-feeling-trapped-in-their-career/#respond Thu, 12 Aug 2010 01:10:37 +0000 https://ourcorporatelife.com/?p=871 Practical Strategies to Help Executives Feeling Trapped in Their Careers Discussed in Free Teleclass NEW YORK – August 12, 2010 — Most high-achieving Corporate Executives reach a point in their careers when the strategies that have helped them achieve their success no longer work for them, leaving them feeling trapped in their jobs. In fact, …

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]]> https://ourcorporatelife.com/practical-strategies-to-help-executives-feeling-trapped-in-their-career/feed/ 0 Proactive Strategies to Address Fear of Being Laid Off or Fired https://ourcorporatelife.com/proactive-strategies-to-address-fear-of-being-laid-off-or-fired/ https://ourcorporatelife.com/proactive-strategies-to-address-fear-of-being-laid-off-or-fired/#respond Wed, 04 Aug 2010 01:12:05 +0000 https://ourcorporatelife.com/?p=873 Proactive Strategies to Address Fear of Being Laid Off or Fired Discussed in Free Teleclass for Corporate Executives NEW YORK – August 4, 2010 — Many corporate executives are experiencing uncertainty in their careers right now and fear—whether it’s valid or not—that their job might be in jeopardy. Every day it seems there is more …

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