Five Things to Know Before You Go Work for a Nonprofit

For years, Charlie enjoyed volunteering at the annual fun run his company sponsored to benefit a local charity. So when he was offered early retirement, Charlie began talking with that group about joining their leadership team. He felt sure he could help them a lot, given his business background.

It all sounded like a good plan. Unfortunately, Charlie was overlooking five potential pitfalls of going to work for a nonprofit.

The Hard Truth About the “Soft Stuff”

Everyone knows that business is about making money, right? Yeah, you have to employ these strange animals called human beings to do that. But it’s the money that matters. The people part? Well, that’s always been referred to (rather dismissively) as the “soft stuff.”

But guess what? We’re now discovering that the “soft stuff” matters even more than the “hard stuff.”

The Dark Side of Giftedness

Savage events like the bombings at the Boston Marathon this past Monday provoke countless thoughts and emotions. For me, they only deepen my deeply held convictions about two disturbing realities: (1) evil is real, and (2) it can incarnate itself by co-opting the power of human giftedness.

In short, giftedness has a dark side.

Please, DON'T Follow Your Passion!

For the past twenty years or so, the mantra of most of the so-called “experts” in career guidance has been to “follow your passion.” With the result that by now, just about everyone assumes the answer to what you should do when you grow up is “follow your passion.”

Well I’d like to offer some alternative advice: whatever you do, don’t just follow your passion!

Ten Signs Your Job Doesn’t Fit You (Including Some You’ve Never Thought Of)

Can’t stand your job? Maybe the problem’s not the job, but the job-fit. Here are ten symptoms to check out.

Are You Goal-Oriented or Vision-Oriented? Part II

Two Ways of Seeing the World

In my experience, goal-oriented people and vision-oriented people get along about as well as dogs and cats. 

So is there any way to bring about cooperation? Yes!