At what point are you crossing the line between professional roles? Between taking care of you vs your co-worker or boss? I think I cross the line over and over again. I continue on with the best intentions, never mind the backlash, fatigue or general suffering. If you’ve followed the course of my exit plan, […]
Author Archive | Agent M1
The Exit Speech (to my boss)
One thing I’ve learned about myself. I have to decide my message, and stay on message. If I get sloppy and deviate, I pay for it later. My head and heart take over, and suddenly I’m blurting out things I can’t believe keep flowing from my mouth like water. And then… oops. What was I […]
Have Baggage, Will Travel
Leaving is a process. I suppose it comes with about as much baggage as my collection of suitcases. First, there is the “leaving behind” of things. Client work. Unfinished proposals. Deals not yet closed. Unresolved feelings that, frankly, won’t be fixed any time soon. And then there are the people. They are family, really. It’s […]
Female Critics
As professionals, do you ever notice how women can be either our best friends or our biggest critics? I ran into a friend today at the doctor’s office. She was telling me about her conversation with a top-level female executive of a large product company. My friend is the current speech writer for several corporate […]
Leaving the familiar
I was sitting across from potentially four new co-workers during my third interview, and was suddenly struck by the thought that this could be my new work family. Amazing to think, I’ve been cheating on my current company by dating the new company. AND I would potentially embrace these unknown entities who would, over time, […]
What Do You Do When a Key Employee Wants to Leave
What do you do when someone in a key position in your company tells you they’re dissatisfied and thinking about leaving? (Maybe even asks for your help?) Do you do everything to hold onto your people, especially in a close-knit environment, or do you support the idea of employees moving on, knowing that your company […]
Holding up the Mirror
Are you good when receiving constructive criticism, or do you get really really really angry? Or hurt? Or both, and it depends on the timing or delivery? I grew up in a fairly blunt environment. I didn’t learn to self-edit before blurting out what was top of mind. And, in my reckless youth, I was […]
Eggs in One Basket
This theme is appropriate given it’s springtime. It’s also timely considering I’ve been struggling with the interviews, sneaking around my current employer, deciding if I want to focus on one company at a time or if I really want to diversify in order to expedite my departure. So I’ve been talking to folks on the […]
Interview, Round 2
What types of things happen during the second interview? Do you feel prepared when you are called back? Are you anxious or dreading the event? Although not very typical for me to be nervous for interviews, I was quite nervous all day. I felt like I usually do during race day. I’m not sure, honestly, […]
When in Doubt, Hit Delete
My neighbor is testimony to life after bad bosses. He recently left his sales job to work for a new technology company, and he was telling me a story that sounded so similar to many I’ve experienced at Company X. Whereas now he can simply ask for time or state that he needs a few […]
