TransformingYourCareerTransformingYourself

"Try hard but don't make it look like you're trying hard. Don’t be the 'gunner' aka that try hard who wants everyone's work, works 24/7, and makes life difficult for everyone else. Don't be that person ..."  Fishbowl Big Law, June 15, 2023 Smart grinders always knew to not come across as, well, grinders. That was made into an ironic point of view in describing young strivers in terms of ducks. On the surface they seem like they are gliding. But beneath the surface they are peddling so hard. Obviously straining to succeed not only is unattractive in terms of personal branding. It invites everything from scorn (they are wrapped too tight) to sabotage (we will get them and rejoice at their downfall). That’s why the relaxed, confident WASP persona in professional life dominated business in America. Success should appear effortless. That creates the meme that anyone could get there. Ah, America the land of opportunity. Beneath-the-surface extreme hustle...

Humor is always welcome on Fishbowl, especially in the form of quips and irony. But the poster on the Big Law branch might have crossed a line on trying to be funny and that might not be enjoyed by all. We don't even know if the pickle he is in really exits.  The saga starts out a while ago with the lament that he has buyer's remorse about purchasing a sex doll. It is large, heavy in weight, and cumbersome. In his residence it is taking up way too much space. He muses about how to get rid of it. Well, according to the post on Fishbowl Big Law today, the solution he came up was not a wise one. " ... [I] paid for someone to just take it away ... Now I am getting a call from the police from Harris County (Houston TX, I'm in NY) about illegal 'dumping.' They are saying the offense is aggravated because apparently waste of police resources cause they thought there was a dead body, and I could be looking at a felony.  Any recs for a criminal defense atty?" Those...

 The current mandates for business in these crazy times are: Think out of the box Do business differently Surprise. Well, the shipping container industry has been doing all the above. It has been a leader in repurposing  what was originally designed and produced for transporting merchandise across the oceans for whatever. Those whatevers include above-ground pools which don't requiring permits, storage, pop-up stores, the kinds of hygience facilities mandated since Covid, home offices, schools, tiny houses, venues for special events, diners, an inventory management tool and more.  Although the repurposing - or "off-label" use -  has been going on for a while, it still elicits a Wow. Here is my article in ST Magazine about what's going on in the retail sector.  Takeaway: What lessons can you learn for your own businesses from the shipping-container sector? Where are you in how you make your living? Or in your job search? Intuitive career coaching offers you a ne...

"Perella Weinberg Partners is trimming about 7% of its headcount to free up funds for hiring top banking talent, according to a person with knowledge of the plans."   Yahoo Finance , June 15, 2023 Many consider layoffs as a signal of a business' financial distress. In fact, in professional services such as law leaders of firms tend to back off from reductions-in-forces because those could indicate things are not going well. Clients could be scared, wondering if the firm is solvent and continue with their assignments. Prospects could seek out other firms which appear more financially stable.  Actually, though, swinging the ax can serve as growth tool. In a sense, reductions-in-force clear out the manpower inventory. That makes room for parachuting in the kind of human assets required to move the dial on growth. Overall, the business isn't in peril. A more accurate way of sizing up its situation is that it’s in transition. The challenge is for firms announcing red...

Y Hiring Professional Writers and Editors! 6/13 · $.005 to $.03 per word   Craigslist , Dallas, Texas Section, June 2023 As a career coach I warn youth and their helicopter parents about how first digital and more recently generative AI are making it increasingly difficult to make a living from writing/editing. Perhaps with this kind of development, actually being posted on an influential job board, attention will be paid. When I was writing full-time I billed at $1.25 a word. That was not that long ago. Darkness fell fast in the labor market for much of communications. Of course, that will worsen as business fully implements generative AI in operations.  Where are you in how you make your living? Or in your job search? Intuitive career coaching offers you a new way to go about it. That menu of services includes Tarot Readings. Take advantage of a complimentary consultation. Schedule an appointment with Jane Genova ( janegenova374@gmail.com or text 203-468-8579). Genova and...

There is the ongoing pile-up of layoffs of associates. Now the media centers are focusing on Reed Smith. As  Bloomberg Law  documents, the law firm is cutting 30 associates, along with 20 professional staff.  Earlier there had been the Reduction-in-Force announcements by Orrick (40 associates) and Dechert (55 associates). If the market for lawyers with similar skills seems like it is getting glutted (Deja Vu 2008 - 2009) maybe it is. Also, what about those delayed start dates. Deferred could mutate into rescinded.  Sure, some practices such as restructuring might be hiring.  A sign that things might be picking up for M&A is that Paul Weiss hired the expert in that from Morgan Stanley - Rob Kindler. So, some law-firm practices could be beefing up manpower in dealmaking. On the other hand, lots of deals have been falling through.  Another promising area for hires are the specialized AI practices established by law firms ranging from Paul Weiss to...

"Incoming campus hire at Kearney. Just got my BA start date pushed from October 2023 to March 2024. I’m a recent graduate. How certain are firms that are delaying that they will be able to actually take us? Is it likely that they’ll rescind or delay again?" - Fishbowl Consulting, June 2023 The prestigious well-paying niche of professional services is reeling from factors ranging from reduced client demand to overall economic uncertainty to the operational impacts of generative AI. Delayed start days is an accepted business approach for firms to manage human-resources matters. Employers temporarily save on compensation and they can hedge on future body count. Recently global law firm Orrick announced a delayed start date. From Fishbowl we are learning that kind of phenomenon is happening in management consulting also. Sure, it's scary. That is especially because of what took place in 2008 -2009. Some of the job offers were rescinded. Stranded in a market that wasn...