Soft Skills - Ask a Wharton MBA
Develop Soft Skills – Work Smart & Live More
On April 11, I’ll officially leave my corporate job—and with it, close the chapter on 30 years of traditional work. But this isn’t just about quitting a job. It’s about stepping away from the structure that has defined most of my adult life and stepping into a space I’ve never fully explored: freedom. ...
After two weeks of traveling, attending conferences, and meeting with my boss in person for the last time, I received my year-end review—solid performance, full bonus payout, no surprises. But the bigger conversation was about what’s next.
Since I had turned down an offer to lead Risk & Control for digital, the writing was on the wall. My boss, Sam, even fought to keep me, but the decision was made. They needed my salary to fund that role, and my work was too far ahead of their priorities. Plus, as Sam put it, I was “too expensive” to be redirected elsewhere. (Guess I negotiated well five years ago!) ...
A lot happened last week, leaving me with a tough decision. I received an unexpected invite from my big boss (let’s call him Richard) for a one-on-one meeting at 8:30 AM on Tuesday. The invite simply stated that he wanted to discuss “upcoming opportunities.”
Unsure of what it meant, I reached out to my immediate manager (let’s call him Sam) to see if he had any insights. Sam speculated that it was likely about me helping out with some risk-related work we had discussed plus some Chief of Staff responsibilities. ...
In life, the same set of events can happen to two different people, and their interpretations of those events can be completely different. This difference in perception can turn what could be seen as a failure into a triumph—or vice versa. It all comes down to how we choose to see the situation. This story, drawn from a recent real-life experience, illustrates the power of perspective and how choosing a more positive interpretation can inspire and energize us. ...
I debated whether to share this story. It’s so trivial but it reminded me how our belief shapes our reality. We often find ourselves in situations where a little bit of self-assurance can make all the difference. This trivial experience revealed a profound truth. Here’s a simple story that illustrates the power of self-confidence and how it can impact our lives in unexpected ways. ...
I grew up believing “If I cannot do it well, I shouldn’t do it at all.” Perhaps this is a typical Asian upbringing and teaching. I am not even sure my parents actually said that to me. However after receiving many “talks” from my dad about how I could have gotten a better grade on a test (e.g, 100 points vs 93), I think I told myself the above as I don’t want to “disappoint” my dad or get an extra long lecture. ...
Have you played around with ChatGPT yet? I started last November when I first heard about it. Hubby is now using it practically everyday. I am still more of a novice.
If you haven’t tried using ChatGPT yet, I recommend just trying it out. It’s not always helpful but still amazing tech. ...