Many individuals struggle to find fulfillment in their work, often questioning whether jobs can provide meaning beyond financial stability.

Two seeds were buried side by side in a field. The seeds—Amara and Brio—lay dormant, dreaming of the sky. One day, a gentle rain whispered promises of growth. Amara felt the call of the world above and thought, “It may be time to sprout. But what if the sun is too harsh, or the rain too scarce? What if I emerge too soon?” Fearful, Amara decided to wait. Beside Amara, Brio also heard the rain’s song. Excited, Brio thought, “What wonders await above! Yes, there might be storms

Many of my childhood memories involve some kind of competition with my older brother. From soccer in the backyard, to swimming races in...

Shortly after I arrived as a new faculty member at the Hotel School at Cornell University, I was welcomed by Giuseppe Pezzotti, a legendary faculty member known for his warm hospitality. He stopped by my office with a thoughtful gesture: he shared a copy of The Billionaire Who Wasn’t: How Chuck Feeney Made and Gave Away a Fortune Without Anyone Knowing  with me. This book not only introduced me to the remarkable story of Chuck Feeney but also offered lessons on philanthropy t

My career is immensely fulfilling. I am able to engage with insightful students and colleagues, present at conferences, and empower professionals in their communication journeys. Yet, amidst these rewarding experiences, I often grapple with a distinct feeling: awareness of the scarcity of time. You might also struggle with the feeling of not having enough - be it time, money, love or opportunities. The psychology of this concept reveals that scarcity generates a sense of urge

After I graduated from college and settled into professional life, I realized that making friends as an adult wasn’t as easy as making friends as a student. I wanted to expand my social circle, but I wasn’t sure how. Around the same time, I learned about Robert Cialdini’s research on reciprocity in his now classic book Influence . His research found that when someone gives first, they create an obligation in others to reciprocate with a similar behavior, gift, or service. Tha

At about the midpoint of the last semester, a student enrolled in one of my classes stopped by my office. After a few minutes of small talk, she said, “I’m really stressed right now because I’m failing your class.” After suggesting there must be some mistake, I checked the gradebook and confirmed that her average was a B. Then it dawned on me that, to her, B-level work was the equivalent of failing. Perfectionism can be a double-edged sword. On the one hand, striving for exce

When we face difficult situations, it is common to feel frustrated, overwhelmed, or anxious. In these moments, we sometimes lose control of our emotions. One key to relationship success is recognizing when we are struggling and taking steps to get back on track. The problem is that once our emotions kick in, it’s not always easy to manage and express emotions in a way that is appropriate. The ability to regulate emotions is a critical interpersonal skill, and it's especially

The idea of a bucket list - things a person hopes to experience before they die - was popularized in the 2007 film The Bucket List. In...

Early in my career I sometimes felt like I was reacting to events throughout the workday. The direction of my day could easily be altered by an interruption from a colleague stopping by my office or an email that someone else thought was urgent. As a result, I found myself working longer hours to accomplish what needed to get done. Then I found and began using Stephen Covey’s time management matrix from his best selling book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. As depict

Aligning your values with your work impacts your job satisfaction and health. Research from McKinsey has found that “people who say they are ‘living their purpose’ at work report levels of well-being that are five times higher than those of people who aren’t.” Not surprisingly, these individuals are also more engaged in their work. McKinsey developed a matrix based on nine personal values that are recognized across cultures. I recreated the matrix below. The horizontal axis r

Many of my students secure full time employment at highly respected companies when they graduate. Stable jobs with generous employee...

We experience various levels of tension every day, stemming from personal challenges, work pressures, relationship dynamics, and global events. These tensions are common thread in the human experience, ultimately shaping shaping our responses to the world around us. However, we don't like tension and prefer to resolve it as fast as possible. Pema Chödrön, an American Tibetan Buddhist, writes, “When we feel powerful energy [tension], we tend to be extremely uncomfortable until