Working on Purpose

Considering retirement after a long career in corporate America, but just aren’t sure if you have saved enough money? Or maybe you one of the “working worried,” sure you’ll be the next one at work asked to leave, and you’re not ready to hang it up yet? Once entering the job search, many seasoned workers find themselves applying for countless jobs, only to hear the constant refrain, “thanks but you’re overqualified.” Others consider starting a new business but just don’t know if they’re on the right track or have what it takes to successfully operate it. The future seems increasingly uncertain especially for the Boomer generation in relation to how they experience work and earn money. In this episode, John Tarnoff shares his insights on unique issues facing Boomers and what they can do to radically alter their future by considering the possibilities to reimagine and reinvent themselves in surprisingly new ways to literally thrive in the new economy.

Being a leader in today’s generationally diverse workplace is more complicated than ever before. Managers and leaders are being required to increase greater employee engagement using new tools to connect and collaborate to bridge the generational gap. Factors such as rapidly changing technology, an uncertain economy, mergers, closings, and layoffs have made today’s workplace even more challenging to lead. The attitudes of the generations vary from how they value loyalty, want to be rewarded, to staying on the cutting edge of technology. While some organizations are trying to figure out which generation’s way of leading is best, when in reality there is no cookie cutter solution - no generation is better or worse, they’re just different. This episode features the Generational Guru who helps organizations identify the obstacles and opportunities for leadership within each generation and understand the potential impact everyone can make as a leader.

Being a leader in today’s generationally diverse workplace is more complicated than ever before. Managers and leaders are being required to increase greater employee engagement using new tools to connect and collaborate to bridge the generational gap. Factors such as rapidly changing technology, an uncertain economy, mergers, closings, and layoffs have made today’s workplace even more challenging to lead. The attitudes of the generations vary from how they value loyalty, want to be rewarded, to staying on the cutting edge of technology. While some organizations are trying to figure out which generation’s way of leading is best, when in reality there is no cookie cutter solution - no generation is better or worse, they’re just different. This episode features the Generational Guru who helps organizations identify the obstacles and opportunities for leadership within each generation and understand the potential impact everyone can make as a leader.

Are you wondering how to ignite engagement in your workforce? Or perhaps you’re curious about the various ways people experience meaning in their work? In this episode, two long-time colleagues enjoy a conversation about their perspectives on and experience with helping companies address employee engagement. For a twist, David Lee interviews Alise Cortez, the show’s host, about her 10-year plus research efforts to understand how people experience meaning in their work and its relationship to their sense of self or identity. Alise queries David about his views on why employees “just aren’t that into their employers,” and some things employers can do to change that and foster employee engagement.

Are you wondering how to ignite engagement in your workforce? Or perhaps you’re curious about the various ways people experience meaning in their work? In this episode, two long-time colleagues enjoy a conversation about their perspectives on and experience with helping companies address employee engagement. For a twist, David Lee interviews Alise Cortez, the show’s host, about her 10-year plus research efforts to understand how people experience meaning in their work and its relationship to their sense of self or identity. Alise queries David about his views on why employees “just aren’t that into their employers,” and some things employers can do to change that and foster employee engagement.

The biggest problem today in education is determining what you want to do. Once this is done, the next challenge is to determine the correct path to get the career you want, and ultimately, how to pay for the necessary training or education. Even though these questions are basic, they are very difficult to answer without the proper tool and advice. Adding to this burden, consider that a majority of college students take six years to complete their four-year program, and of the 60 percent who do complete it, the extra two years cost an additional $40,000 and $45,000 in opportunity loss. The majority of the students come into college with the intent of “figuring it out.” Because of this “old school” approach the student, and many times the family, incurs debt that impacts the future – buying a house, car, and even marriage. With the solution from College Choice Today, blending the right balance of science, technology, and expert help, there is not an excuse for not getting it right.

The biggest problem today in education is determining what you want to do. Once this is done, the next challenge is to determine the correct path to get the career you want, and ultimately, how to pay for the necessary training or education. Even though these questions are basic, they are very difficult to answer without the proper tool and advice. Adding to this burden, consider that a majority of college students take six years to complete their four-year program, and of the 60 percent who do complete it, the extra two years cost an additional $40,000 and $45,000 in opportunity loss. The majority of the students come into college with the intent of “figuring it out.” Because of this “old school” approach the student, and many times the family, incurs debt that impacts the future – buying a house, car, and even marriage. With the solution from College Choice Today, blending the right balance of science, technology, and expert help, there is not an excuse for not getting it right.

Let’s face it – relationships of all types can really be difficult. That’s especially true when we find ourselves living, associating or working with individuals who use psychological or spiritual abuse as a method of harm. A surprising number of people exhibit various personality disorder characteristics that manifest themselves in behaviors toward those closest to them. Our guest in this episode has a unique window on this world in her counseling practice focusing on recovery from hidden abuse. In this episode, we discuss Shannon Thomas’s choice to enter the field, how she developed her career into her own business today, the six stages she uses to guide her clients toward recovery, her perspective of how and why psychological and spiritual abuse occurs today, and the signs we might use to recognize that we ourselves are in a toxic relationship and then what we can do about it.

Let’s face it – relationships of all types can really be difficult. That’s especially true when we find ourselves living, associating or working with individuals who use psychological or spiritual abuse as a method of harm. A surprising number of people exhibit various personality disorder characteristics that manifest themselves in behaviors toward those closest to them. Our guest in this episode has a unique window on this world in her counseling practice focusing on recovery from hidden abuse. In this episode, we discuss Shannon Thomas’s choice to enter the field, how she developed her career into her own business today, the six stages she uses to guide her clients toward recovery, her perspective of how and why psychological and spiritual abuse occurs today, and the signs we might use to recognize that we ourselves are in a toxic relationship and then what we can do about it.

How can organizations catalyze the exchange of completely different talents while productively connecting the generations in today’s workplace? Consider the benefits of reverse mentoring, which allows new or junior members of an organization to coach longer-term or senior members in areas of their strengths – perhaps such as the use of technology. Imagine how empowering such a culture would be to a company and the increased engagement, performance, and retention that would result. Then imagine the competitive advantage that could be afforded a forward-thinking organization utilizing this human capital strategy. Now, ask yourself – has your organization put forth the effort and created a platform for reverse mentoring to occur as part of your normal, everyday practice? If not, tune into this episode to learn what’s involved and how doing so could make a real difference in your company’s heart beat and bottom line.