“Tuna” Happens: Chapter 5 - 3 Lessons of a 20-Something Blogger

by Jared on December 18th, 2006

Many people call today’s 20-somethings the next, great generation. As a member of that group, I can tell you that might just be true. However from an insiders’ perspective, the questions I think still remain are 1) if our generation is indeed prepared for the realities of the modern office environment and 2) if the modern office environment is ready for the realities of our generation?

Think about it; college provides theories and internships provide the experience but in the end, corporate America is very much a unique being unto itself. Not surprisingly, that’s not the only lesson I, and hundreds of other 20-somethings like me, have had to learn the hard way in our first few years out of college. More

“Tuna” Happens: Chapter 4 – “Just Be Happy?”

by Jared on September 30th, 2006

Great jobs, much like great wines mature and evolve over time. Unpacked and right out of the box, the wine is fresh and perhaps takes a bit of time reach its full potential. Let it sit too long and it just might cross that line between a rich and beautiful experience into something you have to toss out, a victim of bad timing.

The problem with jobs, particularly ones frequently held by 20-somethings, is that the pressures that dictate whether or not the job comes into its full potential very much depends on the environment evolving with the position. The question I pose in this entry is whether or not this is actually fair to ask of an organization or a boss?

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“Tuna” Happens: Chapter 3 - Get A Life

by Jared on August 4th, 2006

One day during an obscenely deep discussion (i.e. kind you can only have over a bottle of wine and a playlist of Nina Simone), I asked a friend of mine to summarize her life’s manta. She replied, “to get a life before life gets me.”

Interesting, I thought, I had always assumed she had a life. “Not at all,” she said.

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“Tuna” Happens: Chapter 2 - Beating A Dead Horse

by Jared on July 31st, 2006

Ever wonder where we get such fantastically morose idioms like “Beating a Dead Horse?” Wouldn’t it work just as well to say something like “YES – I get the point now stop it!”

I mean, come on…I love descriptive language as much as the next marketer but who the hell wants to be told over and over again that what they said/did was wrong?

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“Tuna” Happens: Chapter 1 - Get Over Yourself

by Jared on July 26th, 2006

If I had to nail down one thing that I believe systematically destroys people and organizations, it would be ego.

Ego makes people do the stupidest things, particularly in office environments. Ego makes people think they are more important than they are. Ego makes people think they are more entitled than they are. Hell, the whole concept of a blog is that it harnesses the power of someone’s ego to produce content!

Its not that I think that ego is anything to be ashamed of, it’s just that I think the world would be a lot better off if people stowed their egos and got to work. If I had a nickel for every time someone’s ego got in the way of a well-intentioned timeline, a good idea or even someone’s personal advancement, well….let’s just say I would have enough money that I wouldn’t have to be writing this right now.

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“Tuna” Happens: Preamble

by Jared on July 25th, 2006

Pramble

So, I have been playing around with an idea for a running series of blog posts. They would all be on one particular subject and would be unabashedly frank about the way I feel about certain things.

This concept – I kid you not - has been in development literally since I was 17. It’s all about this one particular personality quick I have about being outspoken in the workplace and how it can be your best asset and worst liability - both at the same time.

The series is going to be called “Tuna” Happens. In each chapter I am going to highlight certain things about the modern office environment and why the more things change, the more they are always going to stay the same.

It’s not about being PC or even seeking to tell all about situations I deem ‘unfair.’ It’s about the quest to balance results, social etiquette and still manage to have fun at your job.

Not all offices were made equal but darn it, I still think that intelligent people who refuse to drink the kool-aid can still make it in the world.

Hang on because let me tell you, “Tuna” Happens to EVERYONE!