Hard Work Does Not Guarantee Success

Growing up Asian, we are told that hard work is always what is needed to achieve success. Like a good Chinese, I followed that advice and worked my butt off at McKinsey, my first job. Fortunately or unfortunately, I learned quickly that hard work is not enough and sometimes does not even help. I was [...]

Being Proactive Pays

Literally! We all know the concept, but I want to share with you a true story of how it was used in practice for job search. My friend (Mary – a false name) was laid off just a month ago and was told her last day will be July 24. What does she do? Mary [...]

“Cardboard” vs. “Sponge”

Which one are you – “cardboard” or “sponge”? I guess most of us are a bit of both. I personally hope I will be a “sponge” for most things in life. What am I talking about? I am talking about our ability to learn new things as we get older in life. Take two people, [...]

Try Low, Sell High

A true story! A good friend of mine just received a nice offer to a great job. How he got this offer was somewhat unusual. I thought I share it in case it can inspire you to look at opportunities in a new light. Given the economy, he decided to be more open minded and [...]