Deadlines Matter One of the advantages of hard deadlines is that they serve as a barometer to sort our priorities—what is more important than something else. Hard deadlines are the non-negotiable targets that are usually imposed from outside of you and create clarity...
Review Time Annual or semi-annual reviews in firms are being conducted across the nation. Many of my client firms have made these reviews a regular part of their feedback system. Unfortunately, sometimes these meetings are conducted by managers and partners who fail...
A New Competency I came across a term recently that describes the plight of so many professionals attempting to figure out how to work and live in the same space. It’s called being “hybrid competent.” As I thought about it, my mind went to all the struggles and...
Find What You Love Confucius (and others) is quoted as saying, “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” What is it about that statement that has endured and fascinated humans through the millennia? It stokes a hope and...
Unhealthy Goals Not too long ago, I came across a quote that caught me by surprise. It basically said that you are enough just the way you are. You are here to make a difference and you will. Really? If that’s the case, what does that say about getting better to...
Professional Progress Professionals enjoy making progress toward mastery in their field, which means they have a next level in their sights. And whatever the next level is, it’s different from what they do now. It is true that sometimes the next level includes what...