It was 1997 and I was working at a staffing agency.  We were celebrating the year end and we were headed to the dog tracks in Selma, Texas on a chartered bus.  There was alcohol, and everybody was getting loud and crazy.  We had had a long year and two recruiters had just been promoted to account managers.  Everybody was giving the recently promoted high fives and…

Twitter.  I have to admit, I never thought I would be a big tweeter.  Until early in 2012, I didn't understand how it worked.  A bit embarrased to admit this, but I know I am not alone.  I had no idea what a hashtag was, and didn't know how to follow people or how to be followed.  Mentions?  Are you kidding me?  What did that…

In 1981, The Clash wrote a song called "Should I Stay or Should I Go".  The next year they released it, and it became their only #1 single.  On the single, Mick Jones sings "Should I stay or should I go?  If I stay there will be trouble.  An' if I stay there will be double." Do you ever feel this way about your job and where you work?  If so, you are not…

Tonight I watched the Dallas Cowboys and the Washington Redskins play each other for a chance to play in the playoffs against the Seattle Seahawks.  Entering this game, you had the 2011 Heisman trophy winner with a sprained knee, and a rookie sixth-round draft pick Alfred Morris taking on Tony Romo, the all -time passing leader for the Dallas Cowboys.  Result? A…

So what is all the noise about Gangnam Style??  People were talking about the song at work last week. What is that dance?!  What in the world are my co-workers doing?!  I had to check it out, so I did a youtube search.  …

Santa is amazing.  You have to admit it.  No one works harder and longer hours than Santa.  Really, how does he do it?  He gets all those toys to all the boys and girls all over the world in one day?  He prepares all year for one moment in time.  Now that is a true feat!  

Santa is smart though!  He can't do it alone.  Now, that would be impossible!  He has to…

It was 1995, I had just graduated from Ole Miss, the Harvard of the South.  I had absolutely no idea what I wanted to do for a career.  I was considering moving to Memphis, Tennessee, but I had no leads, so I packed my things and moved back to Austin, Texas.  After all, I was 22 and I had no money what- so- ever. 

I had met with most of my parent's…

The game of Uno is pretty simple.  You have cards with numbers 1-9 on them and they are red, blue, green and yellow. There are also Wild cards which can change any color; Wild Draw 4 Cards which you change the color and have your opponent Draw 4 additional cards; Reverse cards which change the direction if there are multiple players; Skip, Draw 4,and Draw 2 cards…

NOTE:  The following blog is not about physical paralysis, but rather the incapacity to act on a certain situation.

I have been in the recruiting industry long enough to know there are some people I just can't help. Why? They aren't willing to help themselves. Qualifications have nothing to do with it. I know they could do anything they want. The…

On Friday morning my family once again made the drive to Carrizo Springs, Texas.  The weather was perfect.  Late November in most of America is at or above freezing, but not in Texas.  Highs were around 75-80 degrees, and that made it feel like early spring, not winter.  

At around 4:00 P.M., after we arrived in Carrizo, we packed up the Jeep…

How do some organizations continually separate themselves from the pack?  Why do some teams always win, while others continue to lose?  Why do some companies struggle with day- to- day operations, while others make it look so easy?  The simple answer is the people.  Without the right people in place, nothing can be accomplished.…

Here is a quick video, introducing myself.  I hope you enjoy.  Have a Happy Thanksgiving! My phone number is 512-970-8161. 

http://bit.ly/UTfS1x  

The digital age is wonderful.  You have information at your fingertips in the matter of seconds.  With the internet, texting, smart phones, tablets and personal computers, who needs to talk on the phone anymore?  Who needs to handwrite anything anymore? 

I am the first one to admit, rather than picking up the phone, often times I will shoot over…

At least once a week I get a call about advice for someone who is contemplating a career change. This is a topic that is near and dear to me, as I know it all too well. Let me first start by saying a career change is not for the weary at heart. It is much harder than anyone who is thinking about making a change can imagine. I want to share with you a very…

The definition of fearless according to Merriam-Webster is quite simply "free from fear; brave". Some synonyms of fearless are bold, courageous, gallant, gutsy, heroic, stout, undaunted, and valiant. Any successful business professional has some or all of these traits. 

In recent history, with the emergence of technology, I can think of many examples…

As a recruiter, I receive Linkedin invitations daily. I would say that 85% of them I do not know. In today's world it is all about networking. This being said, before you click "accept", there are a…

Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. Waking up at 5 AM is never easy. It is the winter, so the warm blankets feel good, and another couple of hours of sleep is tempting. You went to bed around midnight hanging out with some good friends, and it had been a long week. Nevertheless, you roll out of bed, put on your longjohns, jeans, boots, sweater and a warm coat and head…

Yikes. Today wasn’t how I expected it to turn out. What do you mean, "pack up your things"? After all, you have been working here 15 years! You have given your blood, sweat and tears to this company. You have worked overtime; you even came home early from your family vacation so you could help out. What do you mean, “let go”? Frustrated, Confused, Sad…

Saturday night I was watching the ALCS. The Detroit Tigers were playing the New York Yankees. Coming into the playoffs, the Tigers were one of the hottest teams in baseball. Baseball had its first triple crown winner in 45 years with Miguel Cabrerra, and the team fought their way through an up and down season and won their…

Something happened to me in January 2005. I had been in sales for eight years and decided to make a change. I started my career in recruiting in 1995 with an agency and left in 1998 to pursue other opportunities in sales. I had decided I had enough. I never wanted to be a sales person with a quota again.  

I enrolled at St. Edward’s University…