When I worked at Brazen Careerist, Penelope Trunk was constantly watching the news at work.
“I don’t have a TV,” she said. And then she added, “The only reason people don’t have TVs is so they can tell other people that they don’t watch TV.” (This is also a Stuff White People Like post).
She’s right though. I never watched much TV anyway, but it was only with my recent move to Atlanta that I completely got rid of my television.
I am still alive, thank you.
Actually, I am really productive. I have more time to read, do good work, and generally conquer the world. So yes, I have become one of those intellectuals who is so above watching TV that I have to write a blog post about it’s demise. Here are 3 reasons cable television will be dead three years from now:
Click here for 3 reasons cable television will be dead three years from now
My friends and I are launching a new venture today called Untemplater and we are so excited to share it with you! The site is for Gen Y’ers who want to “untemplate” their lives and take advantages of the many opportunities available to our generation. We truly have an all-star team here…
Click here to find out who the founders are
Happy New Year!
I wanted to quickly share my plans for 2010 with the blogging community. The theme for my 2010 is scaling back and focusing on doing just a few things with all my heart. I’ve gotten my list down to three goals:
We’re moving and I’m (hopefully) getting a new job
I’ve been in Chicago since graduating from undergrad 4 years ago, and my husband and I are ready for a change. As much as we love the city life and our friends here, the decision to leave Chicago in 2010 came easily for us. We have both had it at the back of our minds for awhile now, and barely needed discussion to know what we both wanted.
Click here to find out why
Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize for 2009. And while plenty of people are saying he doesn’t deserve it, I completely love the idea of someone winning a prestigious international award at the young age of 48.
It gives me hope that the workplace is actually changing from a stodgy focus on number of years at the company, to promotion and recognition based on ideas, leadership, and raw talent. The prize makes sense to me for these reasons:
There is no rule that young people can’t move up quickly
People keep harping on Obama’s age and experience as a reason he doesn’t deserve the award. Get over it. If the accomplishments warrant award, there is no reason to wait until a person hits a certain age.
I hate when companies do this. I worked at a Fortune 500 out of college and a position one level above mine opened up in my department. My coworkers told me to apply because I was already performing every single one of items listed under qualifications. It makes sense – why should they hire someone else, when I was right there doing the job already?I applied, but was rejected because I had only worked at the company for a 1.5 years and they didn’t like to promote people until they’d been there for 3.
Paying your dues is fine and necessary – but some people pay faster than others. Basing due-paying on age alone is lame. It’s for academics. It’s for old school thinkers. And I’m glad the Nobel Committee is not so old school.
Leaders who inspire people win
The workplace is nothing without strong leadership, and no company moves from good to great based on its products or services alone. Likewise, the United States would not be out of the global dog house if it weren’t for the way Obama represents our country to the rest of the world.
Truthfully, not much about our country has changed since Obama became President – we are not suddenly a better or smarter or more productive group of people. What has changed is our leadership – and the way Obama has inspired both the US and other countries makes him worthy of winning. And frankly, it’s amazing and shocking that one man can change global perceptions of an entire country.
Plus, now that Obama has been recognized as a leader of world peace, he has more clout to continue his mission, and more incentive to continue inspiring others.
You can’t grow without a stretch position
It’s career suicide to take on a role that’s past the breaking point of your talents and experience level. But we also know that the best way to advance in your career is to do the job you want before you have the title or authority to do so.
That’s where stretch positions come in. Obama has an aptitude for taking stretch roles that allow him to grow, without screwing up. US President was a stretch role for Obama, but he beat out several competitors with more age and experience than him, and he seems to be faring well.
While Obama hasn’t accomplished world peace yet, he’s a Nobel laureate for world peace because he has been executing on his vision of world peace all along, before he even won the presidency. This prize is yet another opportunity to grow into a stretch position – and I’m confident he’ll do just fine.
What do you think? Workplace revolution in the making?
Monica O'Brien is the Director of Digital at Fizz and author of the book Social Pollination, which helps businesses leverage social media for crazy growth!
