Solitude matters

Most of our careers are very different from that of Steve Wozniak. While inventing the hardware, circuitry, and operating system for the first Apple computer, he worked hour upon hour in his garage. Alone.

The trend these days is to push all of our chairs together and collaborate, to lean on group exercises and brainstorm as a collective. Many offices are trading cubicles with open desks that face one another to foster constant engagement. To be extroverted is to succeed.

But being introverted should also be celebrated, says former corporate lawyer and self-described introvert Susan Cain. Introverts make up one third to one half of the population.

Different from being shy, introverts thrive and are most creative in a quiet space. If your introverted tendencies are calling you back to the cube or an empty room for solo brainstorming, don’t deny that intuition.

Because you, your boss, and your team, may miss out on the best idea.

For the introverts, extroverts, and those who identify as both, I hope you find inspiration in this TED Talk by Cain!




Leslie

leslie.warner@tufts.edu | 617-627-3299 | Visit Alumni Career Services

What color is your parachute?

In this struggling economy, we not only question our everyday moves in the workplace, but also the choices we make to fill our personal lives with meaning.

During your daily commute, do you ever catch yourself wondering: is this how it's going to be for another 10, 20, even 30 years? If I want to change things, which direction do I take? Is there still time to turn left, right, or make a U-turn?

Let Dick Bolles, author of the best-selling job-search book What Color Is Your Parachute?, and his decades of experience help you find your most fulfilling path in this free webinar for Tufts alumni.

  Career Exploration with Richard Bolles
  Wednesday, February 5, 8 pm EST

Parachute has sold more than 10 million copies worldwide and is updated and rewritten every year. It's "about job-hunting and career-changing," reviews Time magazine, "but it’s also about figuring out who you are as a person and what you want out of life."

There's always time to invest in yourself. I hope you make some to join us for this insightful and inspiring workshop!

Leslie

leslie.warner@tufts.edu | 617-627-3299 | Visit Alumni Career Services