Nerds, jocks, emo kids—these are a few archetypal social groups in high school. These labels categorize students of similar characteristics, distinguishing the “cool kids,” for example, from those less popular. But this doesn’t stop when we graduate high school. Throughout our lives, we must deal with ingroups versus outgroups. In each social setting, we seek … Continue reading You Don’t Need to Fit the Label
As a society, we love tales of determination. They are prevalent in our novels, movies, and news. We enjoy hearing about those who persevered and succeeded, who faced great adversity and numerous setbacks yet—through their tenacity and hard work—emerged victorious. Against all odds, and often at the eleventh hour, they prevailed. These stories make us … Continue reading You Don’t Need to Stay the Course
Entering college, I didn’t know what to expect. High school counselors had warned us how difficult college would be—how everything we knew up until that point would be child’s play in comparison. My first quarter at UC Irvine, I earned a 4.0 GPA. That came as a surprise. In high school, I never had a … Continue reading You Don’t Need a Perfect Record
Our society has an unhealthy obsession with novelty. Individuals and organizations chase opportunities to be the first—or at least the first among their peers—to do even the most trivial things. So when it comes to their careers and businesses, it’s no surprise that they’d want to stand out. This has certainly led to many foolish, … Continue reading You Don’t Need to Be the First
When I started recording music 15 years ago, I joined several online communities to get feedback and learn the tricks of the trade. On those forums, I encountered people of all ages and experience levels. In general, they fell into one of several groups: The first were industry professionals. They had access to thousand-dollar microphones … Continue reading You Don’t Need All the Pieces in Place
“What would you do if you knew you could not fail?” I find this such a haunting question. It brings to the front of mind desires that, for one excuse or another, we had put off. None of us want to fail. None of us want to face the ridicule that accompanies defeat. We all … Continue reading You Don’t Need to See the End
The idea of being a world changer is a fairly modern concept. It’s enabled by the globalization and technological advances of recent decades. It’s reinforced by millennial idealism and hustle culture today. Our society is hungry for rags-to-riches stories. We’re enamored by the prospects of social media celebrity and startup IPOs. Anything seems possible these … Continue reading You Don’t Need to Change the World
Last time I shared the first step to being engaged and fulfilled in your job: Understand why you accept an offer. Is it the money, the location, the skills you’d learned? Perhaps it’s the growth potential or work-life balance. These factors can make or break an opportunity. While I framed the context for young professionals, … Continue reading Thriving in Your First Job, Part 2
Every week I meet people who are less-than-satisfied in their jobs. They feel that they deserve better, that they should be further along in their careers. Many report feeling lost or “stuck.” They’re disengaged, disillusioned, disgruntled. An alarming number are recent grads in their first job. What’s going on here? How could the bright-eyed optimism … Continue reading Thriving in Your First Job
“How long have you been working here?” I tried to make small talk with the technician. “Almost 20 years, ever since this place opened,” responded the man. “Wow, that’s quite a while,” I commented. “Do you enjoy your job?” There was a slight pause. He turned and sighed. “Not anymore, but it’s what I know.” … Continue reading Interviewing Well: A Crash Course
