Knowledge Work: Has It Made Us Stupid ...

  80 years old and savvy in the ways of the world political strategist James Carville says we need to dig deep into this question: Where do people get their information from? 

In posing this question, Carville is referring primarily to the implications for voting. However, in coaching those over-65 who are semiretired and looking for work I see the relevance of the same question for getting, holding and even moving on to better jobs and contract assignments. 

What I have observed is that those who are up on social media/networks, pore over comments following articles, gossip with God's Plenty, break through generational silos and listen versus pontificating are never without work when they want to work. Yes, they know what is really going on with those hiring and have insider intel on how to apply for whatever. 

Incidentally, this goes back to the 1970s research of Mark Granovetter about the strength of weak ties. That is, jobs are bound to come through casual acquaintances, not those on your professional networks. 

In contrast, the semiretired "sophisticates" who once held those plum positions and cling to what The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and The New Yorker publish too often are on the bench. 

Maybe it was the emergence and the celebration of Knowledge Work which created a bubble, insulating those who needed to work for income from real-time realities. 

Meanwhile, progressive politicos in law firms such as Covington and Paul Weiss, in tech such as Reid Hoffman and among those still ranting about Donald Trump might get the courage to ask themselves what Barack Obama had asked after the Trump win in 2016: What if we were wrong? What if we pushed too hard? Where were the liberals of 2024 getting their information from?

Business can be especially tricky in these uncertain times. Get insight – and peace of mind. Jane Genova is a results-driven confidential intuitive coach, tarot reader and content-creator related to careers. Complimentary consultation (please text/phone 203-468-8579 or email janegenova374@gmail.com)