[Life Back West] May 2012 – “Bring Your Whole Self”

We all have many “parts” that sit within our one self; father, daughter, employee, leader, neighbor, worker, religious believer and maybe even a baseball fan. You get the idea.

Here’s another idea; what if you brought them all together in whatever you did – like your day job? One unified whole, not just a part you pull out of some trunk when you needed it and then tucked it back away after use.… Read the rest

Yahoo CEO’s Resume Blame Game: Is It the Headhunter’s Fault?

Yahoo CEO Scott Thompson – he of the phantom computer science degree that found its way on his official resume filed with

the SEC – was either fired or resigned.

The question remains; whose fault was it that the resume mistake wasn’t caught earlier?

The now-departed Thompson said that exec search firm Heidrick & Struggles was to blame; somebody on the search firm interviewed him for a role with eBay years ago when the error originally occurred, took incorrect information, and that’s how it got in the system and on to his Yahoo resume.… Read the rest

[Life Back West] April 2012 – “Home Alone”

There is no place like home. And when you want a break, sometimes there is no place like home alone.

Even with just my spouse, our engaging 9-year old son and one spunky canine pup at home, it can be a relief to have two out of the first three leave town so you have a break for yourself. When the ask – “Do you mind if we run up to Sugar Bowl for the last weekend of skiing?”Read the rest

Hiring Season: Can I Be Asked If I’m a Gamer?

Yes. No. Maybe?

You can tell when the economy’s improved because there’s an uptick of interviews. More experienced managers revisit what they’ve done before that’s worked well when hiring and novice supervisors surface this season’s new crop of oddball, silly questions.

“Can I be asked if I’m a gamer?” will likely be one of the tamer examples.

Candidates invariably want to know what can be asked.… Read the rest

How to Say “No” – and Leave the Door Open for a Down-the-Road “Yes”

Open Doors

It happens all the time with work; the job offer, the investment opportunity, or the candidate you surfaced are great but the timing is wrong. So how do you say “no” and leave the door open to return?

Here’s one thought on how to keep the door open rather than permanently shut when you reject someone.

It starts, by the way, by having a clear bead on where you are, and what you’re looking for.  … Read the rest

Got Redemption?

Not got milk, redemption. The substance is different but the concept’s the same.

Somewhere in Oprahtown
Somewhere in Oprahtown (Photo credit: QUOI Media)

Do you have what you you need in your life to grow?

Unless you’re oblivious, a narcissist, or the uncommonly lucky, everyone has career regrets. There are jobs not offered,  “just” promotions denied, and layoffs that should have been someone else’s, not yours (or mine).… Read the rest