Our thoughts and mental patterns have a profound impact on our physical health. This connection between mind and body is not just philosophical—it is backed by emerging neuroscience. In this post, I’ll share a personal story about how I discovered, quite by accident, that an outdated mental model drove my long-standing aversion to physical exercise
Read MoreThere are a number of ways to quickly develop rapport with folks at work, whether they’re clients or internal partners. In this post I’m going to write from the perspective of Behavioral Economics and Positive Psychology and focus on deepening client relationships. This is a long-term strategy. It’s about becoming a trusted advisor, not making a quick buck. You may not make a dollar today, but you’ll make many more dollars tomorrow by following these ideas.
Read MoreThe vast majority of company cultures are random and not well thought out, many that are thought out are not based on good science, either way, the results aren’t great and usually not very sustainable. That’s because doing this well is hard work and most companies want a quick fix. Even the ones with great intentions can easily go off track if they don’t understand the science.
Read MoreFrom a team perspective, the primary service we can perform as leaders is to enable the success of our teams, to be servant leaders. To do that, we have to know what success looks like, ensure that the team has the tools and knowledge they need, that they are developing mastery and growing, and that we have created an environment that is conducive for them to motivate themselves.
If you have worked remotely, worked for a startup or owned your own business then you likely have the skills to work remotely. Unlike a traditional job, where you show up at time X and leave at time Y and put in your 40 or so hours, most remote workers set their own hours, they decided where they will work from and have to be self-motivated to get things done.
Read MoreIf you want your remote company to be successful, you’ll need for a culture centered on results, trust and transparency. You can run a brick and mortar company in the old way, it will be at a competitive disadvantage, but you could do it. If you try using traditional management practices with a remote company, it will fail.
What is the biggest factor in one’s success? Is it talent? Who you know? Luck? I think it’s perseverance. That and saying yes, more than no. If you show up every day and try, if you put yourself out there and never quit, eventually, you will be successful. I had one period of unemployment that lasted for two years. I applied for 400 jobs in the first year, had a 10% response rate, and made it to final interviews 20 times with no job offer, this was right after the tech crash, and I was living in San Francisco. I never gave up and applied for everything I was well qualified for. I couldn’t even land a retail job. I was desperate!
One day I got called in for an interview for a job I didn’t want. It was a full-time job to last only 30 days. I spent two hours on the interview; job interviews are more like business presentations for me. I was able to show them that their plan wouldn’t work, and then I outlined a plan that would, and they asked me if I could make it happen. I said yes and that I’d get them a proposal. I had no idea what I was doing, I was about to start a consulting business by happenstance. I went home and started researching how to be a consultant and land great gigs. I found a well-reviewed book and followed its ideas to create a proposal and asked for way too much money with 30% paid upfront. And the client accepted my offer.
About 18 months after that engagement was finished and I was living in Bangkok teaching creative writing at a high end high school, I answered a job advert on LinkedIn for a startup job in Koh Samui. The pay was 2.5X what I was making, and they hired me as a project manager. Six months later, I was the director of operations, making a western salary, living in a two bedroom house with a private pool, and having the time of my life.
My point is that I end up in these weird situations that can’t be anticipated, which works out amazingly well because I’m not a quitter, and I say yes. It helps that I’m single, have no debt, and fear is not something I’m familiar with. I don’t have a traditional life or a traditional career. If I’m in between jobs, I do personal development and travel. When I do work, it is most of the time I’m usually doing interesting and challenging work that keeps my brain sharp and my heart light.
I’ve had a recent epiphany that is making my life less stressful. It’s normal for me to go six months or so between jobs. I’m picky about the work I do and who I work with. I need to eat like everyone else, and I’m not wealthy. I’m also not going to take soul-killing work unless I’m completely down and out, and that has never happened yet…
People are always asking about how to find remote work and what does it take to live abroad? There are tons of online resources which I’ll list in the blog post.
Read MoreI’ve been to quite a few pitch sessions and this was by far the most inspirations pitch session I’ve ever been to. I was brought to the point of tears many times over the course of the afternoon. To see so many people trying to do good in the world in one place was humbling and quite inspirational.
Read MoreCalifornia takes a huge step forward by requiring employers to be transparent about wages. Gone are the days when HR and a few high-level folks know who gets paid what. The new law, created under the guise of equal pay for women, requires employers to reveal pay ranges for open positions upon request, it also prohibits polices forbidding employees from disclosing their wages. In my view, it’s just a matter of time until all CA employers list pay ranges with employment ads.
