As the economy has gotten worse, I’ve noticed an upswing in the number of people asking me to work for free.  I don’t think these organizations quite understand that I make my living writing and speaking, so when I do these things for no pay, I don’t eat.  They rationalize that they are paying me in exposure – meaning that more people ...

My husband sent me this theory on friendships by the wife of a prominent ESPN blogger.  He doesn’t remember where he found it, so I’ll just have to quote rather than link:   “I have always said that female friends are ''pursuers'' or ''pursuees.'' I am a ''pursuee.'' You have to pursue me to be my friend. I don't like planning ...

Juggling multiple jobs is becoming more and more common, as people seek work that will provide an additional paycheck or personal satisfaction that is lacking in Job #1.  Over at Stepcase Lifehack, Thursday Bram, a writer who has done this herself, has these insights to share: Keep firm dividers between your different jobs. Even if ...

I had the opportunity to read an advance copy of renowned career blogger Penelope Trunk’s first book, Brazen Careerist, this week.  The book, which is due out from Warner Books next month, is a gem of a compilation of career tips and provides an intriguing blended perspective based on Penelope’s experiences as a farm hand, celebrity ...

An online friend of mine scored a great gig as a columnist for a popular portal site, but has recently had to cope with negative comments that readers are posting after her pieces.  Some of the comments contain nuggets of constructive criticism that my friend can keep in mind for future columns, but others don’t add much to the conversation ...