Career

Why You Should Love Your Problems

Quote: “Problems are not stop signs they are guidelines.” – Robert Schuller Innately, we as humans don’t like problems. We like things to run smoothly, with no hiccups or bumps in the road. But therein lies the problem. Because we want so desperately to be problem-free, when they do come up, we are overwhelmed byRead… Read more »

Get Ahead by Getting Uncomfortable

“Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.” – Neale D. Walsch The only time you are actually growing is when you are uncomfortable. If you want to get paid more and promoted faster, you’d better get comfortable with being uncomfortable. You only get out of life what you put into it. If youRead… Read more »

Do we over measure in government? Plus your weekend reads!

Leaders are trying to use measurements as their swimming goggles. It is the major technique they are relying on. My beef with measures is that we are not applying them proportionally. – Martha Johnson. You’ve probably heard the phrase, “measure twice and cut once.” But in government it seems like we are measuring eight times.Read… Read more »

The Rights and Performance Culture Clash – Part Three with Martha Johnson

“At GSA I encountered an insidious war between the Rights government and the Performance government.” – Martha Johnson. Back in the 1800s the US passed legislation that created the civil service. The objective of the legislation was change the civil service from a rewards system where you got your job just if you voted forRead… Read more »

How to Ace Your Next Interview Interview

“Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear.” – Mark Twain There will come a time in the not too distant future when you will be given an opportunity for a promotion. The next step you will encounter will be the interview. How will you prepare for it? Some pointers toRead… Read more »

Blockbuster Goals – Why “We’re Going to the Moon” Motivates – Part 2 with Martha Johnson

There is no strife, no prejudice, no national conflict in outer space as yet. Its hazards are hostile to us all. Its conquest deserves the best of all mankind, and its opportunity for peaceful cooperation many never come again. But why, some say, the moon? Why choose this as our goal? And they may wellRead… Read more »

Meet the Healthcare.gov Fix-It Man – Plus the DorobekINSIDER’s 7 Stories

On GovLoop Insights’ DorobekINSIDER: In 1962 President John F. Kennedy delivered his famous, “We Go to the Moon,” speech at Rice University. At the time a rocket to the moon seemed inconceivable. But the common goal, the collective support, showcased what we can accomplish when we all get on the same page. In part twoRead… Read more »

Good Read: The Y Factor: How to Nurture Star Qualities in Millennials

Originally posted on #GovLife. As a Millennial, I hate seeing article after article about how my generation is the <insert negative adjective here>, and how working with us is the pits. The stories and situations that are recounted do not resonate with me or even reflect my way of thinking or working. In fact, theyRead… Read more »

Why I Didn’t Quit My Job During the Government Shutdown

During the 17-day Federal government shutdown my company, Corner Alliance Inc., had to make some tough decisions. Many of our employees were not able to perform work (read: make money) including myself. I worked the first week of the shutdown on internal Corner Alliance tasks, like our website and a Virtual Participation Best Practices document.Read… Read more »