Career & Work Archives

Career & Work

Learning, Writing, and Creation: How People Learn, Improve, and Create Meaningful Work

Every meaningful contribution begins with a learner. Before someone writes a book, builds a business, creates a work of art, develops expertise, teaches others, or changes a life, they spend years learning. They study, practice, experiment, fail, adapt, and grow. The modern world often celebrates finished products while overlooking the process that created them. We see published books but not the rejected manuscripts. We see successful creators but not the years of deliberate practice. We see expertise without seeing the thousands of small decisions that made expertise possible. This guide explores the ideas that repeatedly appear throughout conversations with authors, illustrators, literary agents, editors, educators, creators, and lifelong learners. Along the way you'll discover lessons about curiosity, deliberate practice, creativity, resilience, publishing, relationships, reputation, contribution, and lifelong learning. While their careers differ, their lessons are remarkably consistent. Growth precedes contribution. Learning precedes mastery. Creation precedes impact.

January 5, 2023

The Best Way to Ask for a Raise and Why You Deserve It!

The best way to ask for a raise is simple, straight forward, and supported with facts. People who bring value to an organization deserve a raise. Asking for a raise is common and employers expect the conversation to naturally occur. With rising costs of living, increased demand for good workers, and the inherent desire to be compensated appropriately for one's growing expertise, asking for a raise (and expecting one) is a shared experience across all job sectors. And then this is where things get weird. Anxiety, uncertainty, and fear cripple employees into never asking for a raise. There is a best way to ask for a raise and I'll tell you what it is.

December 31, 2022

What Too Many People Misunderstand About Passive Income

Earning money while we sleep sounds like a pretty sweet deal. But why then isn't everyone already enjoying the fruits of passive income? Many people misunderstand that while passive income is very real, the hard work required for it to show up in their lives is also real. I'll show you how passive income works for me and the very active steps I took so you can begin seeing passive income in your life too.

September 9, 2022

The Best Ergonomic Mouse for Long Hours at a Computer (After 3 Years of Daily Use)

If you spend eight or more hours a day at a computer, your mouse matters more than you think. For years I used a standard computer mouse and accepted hand fatigue, wrist discomfort, and occasional arm soreness as normal parts of desk work. As an engineer, most of my day is spent at a computer, and the repetitive strain slowly added up. Eventually I upgraded to the Logitech MX Master series, and the difference was immediate. After using the MX Master 2S for more than three years of daily work, it remains one of the best productivity and comfort upgrades I've ever purchased. If you're looking for an ergonomic mouse for engineering, office work, writing, programming, or any profession that requires long hours at a desk, here's why I continue recommending the Logitech MX Master line.

April 20, 2021

How to Refresh Your Blog Branding Without a Complete Website Redesign

Every blog eventually reaches a point where it no longer reflects the person behind it. Your interests evolve, your audience changes, and your website may begin to feel disconnected from your current goals. Fortunately, refreshing your blog branding does not require a complete redesign. Small updates to your brand vision, visual identity, and website structure can help your blog feel more aligned, professional, and memorable. Here are three simple ways to refresh your blog branding without rebuilding everything from scratch.

October 25, 2020

8 Mistakes Writers Make That Hold Them Back

Most writers want better results. Better feedback. Better engagement. Better stories. Better responses from readers, agents, editors, or publishers. But improving our writing usually means confronting uncomfortable truths about the way we work. Here are 8 mistakes that quietly weaken otherwise promising writing — and what to do about them.

May 24, 2020

Why Some Stories Stay With You Long After You Finish Them

Why do some stories stay with us for years while others are forgotten almost immediately? Whether you're a reader, writer, content creator, educator, or entrepreneur, memorable storytelling matters. The stories we remember often shape how we think, feel, and act long after we encounter them. They become part of our experiences rather than simply content we consumed. As creators, understanding why certain stories leave lasting impressions can help us create stronger work. As readers, it helps us recognize what makes our favorite books, articles, speeches, and stories so powerful. The difference between forgettable content and memorable content often comes down to one thing: connection.

March 24, 2020

Leaving a Stable Career to Pursue Writing

Many people dream about leaving an unfulfilling career to pursue work they truly love. Far fewer actually take the leap. Making a major career change requires uncertainty, sacrifice, persistence, and a willingness to start over. In this interview, author Kaitlin Scirri shares how she left a successful career, returned to college in her thirties, and built a professional writing career centered around books, literacy, and lifelong learning. Her journey offers valuable lessons for anyone considering a career transition or pursuing a long-term creative goal.