The Not-So-Secret Skills Every Young Professional Needs

Lately, I’ve been hearing a common theme from managers of millennials. They’re hiring you for your record of strong performance, and you deliver. But two little words are holding you back: soft skills. Most professional newbies are unaware of a paradigm shift that happens when you segue from school to the workplace. Your whole life […]

Confessions of a Gen X Manager

Lately at speaking events I’ve been hearing some complaints from Millennials about their Gen X bosses. Because Gen Xers are only a few years older than Millennials, the younger group is often surprised that members of the older cohort — my contemporaries — aren’t always as supportive and attentive as millennials might want or expect. […]

It’s Not About You: What You Really Need to Know About Your Personal Brand

In 1997, business guru Tom Peters wrote an article for Fast Company, “The Brand Called You.” The timing for this revolutionary concept was especially powerful for me, as a recent college graduate just beginning  my career. Now, I know the phrase “personal brand” can turn some people off (much like the word “networking.”) If it […]

The Old Career Path Is a Dead End

The definition of “career” is in major transition. Forget staying with a company until your golden anniversary; many millennials don’t stay with a company long enough to celebrate even one anniversary. Over the past few months, I’ve been talking to millennials and leaders at companies and universities about the new path to career success for […]

The 5-Minute Download: Best Advice of 2015

Already immersed in the barrage of “Best of” and “Top 10” lists? I’m joining in this year and here’s why: I’m often asked by new readers for a cheat sheet on the most buzzworthy, need-to-know millennial trends and topics. As we close out 2015, I thought I’d compile my most-read posts from the year, with […]