So everyone’s lamenting the tragic turn our society has taken – economically, politically, socially.   And I agree that things are objectively not as good in America as they were 10 years ago.  But they’re still better than they were during the Civil War, or the Black Plague, or, if you think about it, most periods of human ...

I’ve encountered a lot of couples where one person has left his or her job to support the career of the other.  Typically, one spouse is an accomplished entrepreneur, so the other pitches in to help grow the business – often in a subordinate role. I’m wondering how many of you would do this if you had the chance.  It would ...

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about success at work, and how it means different things to different people.  When I first graduated college, I thought success was setting and then achieving a goal to reach a certain level.  But for someone who is naturally ambitious, this doesn’t really work.  Because once you reach that ...

Although 2008 has been pretty good so far, 2007 was a doozy, and it has taken me a little while to recover.  I’ve experienced a crisis of confidence, and only recently started talking to my friends about it.  My radio show co-hosts, Christine Hassler and Lindsey Pollak, have been especially helpful. Christine visited me in ...

Here’s the second part of last week’s interview with happiness expert Gretchen Rubin, who has a terrific blog called The Happiness Project and is currently working on a memoir about her own quest for happiness. Alex:  Is happiness overrated?  If not, why is it so important? Gretchen:   I don’t think happiness is ...

Today, I’m talking with Gretchen Rubin, a self-proclaimed happiness guru.  I’ve been a longtime fan of Gretchen’s blog, and I’m pleased to report that she’s now working on a memoir, The Happiness Project, based on the year she spent test-driving every principle, tip, theory, and scientific study she could find on happiness. – ...

Anita Bruzzese has an interesting post on mothers’ influence on career success.  Anita cites the work of a psychologist, Stephan Poulter, who has written a new book, The Mother Factor: How Your Mother's Emotional Legacy Impacts Your Life. The book’s thesis is that whether we acknowledge it or not, our mothers leave an indelible impression on ...

A new episode of the 30/20 Vision Radio Show will air live on February 20, 2008 at BlogTalkRadio at 9PM ET.  As I reminder, I host this monthly radio show with my fellow authors Christine Hassler (20 Something Manifesto) and Lindsey Pollak (Getting from College to Career), and our goal is to provide ''big sister'' advice to men ...

My 30/20 Vision radio show co-host, Christine Hassler, has just released a new book for twenty-somethings called 20 Something Manifesto: Quarterlifers Speak Out about Who They Are, What They Want, and How to Get It.   Christine began her post-college life as a high-powered Hollywood agent, and after a series of personal and professional ...

Resolute (adj):  firmly resolved or determined; set in purpose or opinion. Tomorrow begins a New Year, and as such, it is the time of New Years Resolutions.  It’s a common joke that we Americans are very fond of making a list of items we want to achieve in the new year – from losing weight and getting in shape to taking a ...