Are You, Your Family Prepared For a Career Disruption? This Conversation Is Critical
+PLUS: Importance of Being an Attentive Elite Listener
3 QUOTES
“Attention is the rarest and purest form of generosity.” - Simone Weil, a French philosopher and author
“If nothing is guaranteed, the best bet you can make is on yourself.” - Kim Perell, author, “Mistakes That Made Me A Millionaire.”
“In moments of suffering, you see yourself in a deep way than you ever did before. And in those moments of suffering, you can either be broken, or broken open. People who decide I want to transformed decide I’m going to be broken open.” David Brooks, New York Times columnist and author
CAREER NOTES:
Death Of the One Page Resume? The WSJ reported on Thursday that the “job seeker’s gospel” of limiting your resume to one page is being challenged. Never a viable option for senior executives in a hiring environment where employers are digging more deeply into quantifiable accomplishments, some AI recruiting officials are recommending that a two-page resume makes more sense. One issue is certain: emphasizing your value by showing quantifiable achievements is more important than ever.
LinkedIn Joins Layoff Trend - While the full force of tariffs on consumer spending has yet to be felt, companies are continuing to lay off workers. In 2025, tech has been hard hit. On Tuesday, 281 employees at LinkedIn were the latest casualties.
+PLUS: Tech Industry Hard Hit By Layoffs
As we reported on Wednesday ‘s BIG Idea, thus far in 2025 there have been 404 layoffs at tech companies affecting more than 97,000 people, or about 492 people per day. Link to Article.
Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition - In a tight job market, some executives frustrated with a lack of job vacancies are considering entrepreneurship, either building or buying a business. Popular options include creating a start-up, acquiring rights to a franchise, or buying an established business using owner financing. The safest option is to buy an established business with an excellent reputation and a positive cash flow, business consultants say. Franchises typically require significant upfront investment, and their failure rate is about the same as an organic start-up. A small service industry consultancy is another option. While a lower cost entry point is an advantage with this model, success depends less on the owner’s knowledge and more on his or her network to produce marketing leads or even actual contracts for service.
BIG Idea
Couples contemplating marriage or a long-term relationship should take the time for a deeply thoughtful conversation on how work and related professional commitments and possible relocations can be integrated into a balanced family life.
Many thought leaders in technology, services, retail and manufacturing envision sweeping changes as automation and technology dramatically reshapes the workplace.
A belief that how we work and where we work will not change is short-sighted.
This rapidly evolving trend, with ongoing strategic layoffs and the impact of automation and realignment of the workforce probably will lead to additional dislocation.
A belief that how we work and where we work will not change is short-sighted. The old career norms will be upended in many industries. When it comes to your family and your career, do not buy into the belief, a false hope, that nothing will change.
Get informed, and then engage in that conversation. You owe it to your spouse or partner.
QUESTION:
What prevents you from asking for help to elevate your career or to find a new job following a lay off? Is it the cost of engaging a coach or a belief that you have never needed help in the past?
FINAL THOUGHT
“Attention is the rarest and purest form of generosity.”
Our lead quote today from Simone Weil [V a y] speaks to the importance of paying attention to your spouse, partner, your children, employees, colleagues and friends.
Attentively listening to hear and learn, not to respond, is more important today than ever before.
“If you could only work on one thing to become a a more effective and trusted leader, this is it.”
As we witness the turbulence of change, this skill will be vital in defining who you are and the relationships you hold dear — at home, at work and in the community.
You do not have to be a billionaire, a successful CEO, or a community leader to be in an elite class with this skill. If you could only work on one thing to become a a more effective and trusted leader, this is it.
As the threat for potential geopolitical and domestic conflicts increases, as the economy upends many of the norms we have come to rely on, this skill will be valuable and valued to a high degree.
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AM NOTE:
Read John’s AM Note on immigration. Caution: You may not like what he has to say.