Unasked-for Advice: Getting it, giving it

 Conventional wisdom is, "Don't give advice unless it's asked for." But in the real world, we get and do give unasked-for advice. My Psychology Today article today offers thoughts on when and how to deal.

Life Lessons from Show-Tune Lyrics

Musical-theatre lyricists are forced to compress ideas into tight spaces, yet be powerful enough to stand out above the music and the plot. So, it’s not surprising that their lyrics often contain important, concise messages. My Psychology Today article today offers some. For each, I offer an amplification or a yes-but.

The Case Against Overachieving

We’re all told to strive: "You can do it!"

Under-considered is whether giving it your all is always worth it. My Psychology Today article today offers a composite example and invites you to consider whether you are or want to be an overcachiever.

Finding a Good Version on the Cheap

It’s exciting to think big. But if you’re short of money or are risk averse, you may want to choose a shoestring competitor. My Psychology Today article today offers examples.

8 Ways to Support Under-Served High-Achieving Kids: A particularly potent use of your time

Children of the well-off are likely to get significant support toward achieving their potential. Kids from the multigenerational poor may face challenges that make major improvement difficult. So it may be wise to focus on a middle-ground: high achievers from working-class or blue-collar backgrounds. But how? My Psychology Today article today offers eight ways you might be of value.

The 3 Pieces of Career Advice I'd Most Want to Give New Grads

A speaker's bureau has asked if I'd like to give talks to college seniors about careers. They asked me to submit the three most potent ideas I'd present. Perhaps you or someone you care about will find them of value. So I wrote them as my Psychology Today article today.

Break the Rule? Rules are sometimes wisely viewed as rules of thumb

It’s wise to follow the rules . . . usually.

But as readers of my work know, I’m more a fan of the gray than of black-and-white. So my Psychology Today article today offer some admittedly anomalous composite examples of my clients breaking the rule wisely and successfully.