Literacy Pittsburgh’s Post

Does your job suck? I've had some jobs that sucked. Shingling roofs for $2/hour under the table because I wasn't 16, sucked. Working in a bleach factory sucked. Pulling paper tax returns in an IRS warehouse sucked. Jobs with lots of corporate politics sucked. What sucks more is letting the job or work environment affect your attitude or outlook. Your attitude is wholly under your control. Like everyone, there have been times I've let it get out of control. When that happens, I become miserable and try to make the people around me miserable. That really sucks. Fortunately, I learned that the only one who could do anything about my attitude was me. I learned I could be like the street sweeper in the Jimmy Buffett song, "It's My Job." I could change my outlook and make any job better. I could choose to become happy. That doesn't suck. Like the banker in the same Buffett song, I learned to embrace responsibility, to do the right thing even when I didn't feel like it, when it was difficult, or when it just sucked. Guess what? Even when it sucks, doing the right thing always make you feel better. You feel better about yourself. You elevate your personal standing in your own mind. If your job sucks, maybe it's not the job. Maybe it's your attitude.

Our spotlight video highlighting the Ivy Tech Community College Ivy+ Career Link impacting LaPorte county and the overall service area. How would you like to access our services? Message me for more details!

This article is a fascinating window into the career (so far) of the indomitable Dr Mike Joy - look out for the memoirs to be released next month 😎

Planning event experiences has always been my jam, but there is NO event quite like the Minnesota State Fair. This document captures it all: the attention to detail, the reality of giant masses of people gathering in one place, and the pure joy when it all goes to plan!

It's that time of year again, when promotions and tenure decisions are made across universities and if you get on social media, you'll see all the wonderful posts full of pride and joy celebrating these career milestones. What's not commonly discussed especially on social media are painful career setbacks. So that's what I want to do today. I want to repost an article I wrote for Harvard Business Review that appeared in my LinkedIn feed this morning. If you are going through a setback at work, know that you aren't alone. A big storm is necessary to clear a big enough path for all the blessings coming your way. I know this may be hard to feel and believe if you are in the midst of dealing with a painful career setback but please read my article. I hope it helps you in some small way. You don’t have to face a career setback alone. You may not want to immediately share disappointing news with anyone, but when the time is right for you, know that there are people who will listen with compassion. The only person who has the power to define our worth is ourselves. Remember this and you'll come back stronger than ever and you'll find your happy place. For me, that happy place turned out to be Northwestern University an institution that had previously only lived in my dreams. My dream of being a professor at Northwestern is now my reality. Never give up on yourself. #YouWillBeOK #YouGotThis Northwestern University Medill School #Northwestern #Academia #HigherEducation #Professors #Academic #Promotion #Career #Failure #Setback #HarvardBusinessReview

Many of you know me from my days leading Crawford & Associates, or from my time at BTS or my newest company, Zing. In this article featured in MSN, I share 3 tips about personal and professional success across my 40+ year career.

In this NorthJersey.com article, Daniel Munoz shares the challenges recent college graduates in New Jersey are facing and strategies young professionals can implement to land jobs. I’m proud to lead Braven in #Newark and work in deep partnership with Rutgers University - Newark to equip students with the skills, networks, confidence, and experiences to navigate the job market and land jobs worthy of their degrees–many of which are referenced in this piece. If you’re interested in learning about our impact in Newark, check out our 2024 Jobs Report: https://lnkd.in/esy5fsSR.

What if Two Old White Guys Ran for President of the United States? August 27, 1932, an entrepreneur showman by the name of “Head-on Joe” Connolly staged a train collision exhibition at the Iowa State Fair. This was a presidential election year between Rosevelt and Hoover and each train had a party affiliate (Rosevelt/Hoover). Each locomotive was placed on a single track in the direction of the other and at opposite ends of the fairgrounds. With a full head of steam, they were launched toward each other to create a grandstand train wreck viewed by nearly 70,000 people in the August heat. The estimated speed of each locomotive was 50 MPH and the impact was in front of the grandstand as planned. The carnage spewed debris including wood and shrapnel into the stands and surprisingly no one was injured. Still, people just couldn’t look away and were mesmerized by the spectacle. https://lnkd.in/gjtjFV7V I watched the first presidential debate last night and I believe this Iowa State Fair account aptly describes the US presidential race this year. I don’t talk politics because I generally think it is not appropriate for LinkedIn. From a business standpoint, it is important to support economic growth, personal freedom, and our democratic society so the US can maintain its position as a respected world leader. It is easy to find examples of conflict areas that are less prosperous than the United States. I was hoping for a discussion on policy, instead, we got a demonstration of avoidance and expert finger pointing. Still, I wonder how we got into the current situation where neither candidate is IMO acceptable. Those of you that are old enough to remember the waning months of the Reagan presidency and the last few months of the Nixon presidency may understand what I mean when I say, history ignored will repeat. I am disappointed we are here as I see no good options moving forward. It pains me to select the least objectional candidate in a US presidential election. While hope appears to be in a 4-year stasis, it seems the best attitude is to understand both sides of this polarizing conundrum and find out what the real fears are and how we can work together to better our nation and ourselves. We are better than this America and we have some work to do to earn our spot on the global stage. Be challenged, do important work, and make a difference. Jim

How is Kirsten building a rewarding career? From entry-level to Vice President, her career journey highlights the importance of supporting clients and building strong relationships. Check out her story on our blog! #LifeatFI

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