Org Bite
“I don't care how many people sign that fucking petition," said JP Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon, referring to the efforts by some employees to retain hybrid work arrangements. I have some thoughts on his candor… as well as the possibility of bank employees unionizing. Check the video.
Talent
Need a corporate learning professional while you scale? I know a dynamic leader with experience scaling growth initiatives in workforce development, education, community-building, and strategic communication who’s looking to make an impact in corporate learning.
Looking for IT systems or help desk support? A mutual friend in NYC is job-hunting after a recent round of layoffs.
Is your company in an early stage? If so, I have the perfect ops person for you – logistics, fulfillment and ops are their superpower.
Message me if interested!
Friday Roundup
Remote Work is Worth a Pay Cut—for Some (HBS)
A Harvard study finds that 40% of employees would take a pay cut of 5% or more to work remotely, with nearly 10% willing to forgo 20% of their salary. That still means 60% of workers wouldn’t take a pay cut! Women were more likely than men to trade income for flexibility, but childcare responsibilities didn’t fully explain the difference.Is Growth Mindset Bullshit? (Substack)
In case you missed it, this week’s formal Newsletter was about America’s favorite academic crossover: growth mindset.Training Leads to Performance… Even When Training Isn’t Good? (Journal)
A LinkedIn post by Dr. Morelli highlighted a fascinating paper: A 119-study meta-analysis shows that training directly improves organizational performance… regardless of quantity and quality! The benefits increase over time and vary by country, but industry type, company size, and technology level don’t appear to influence the effect. Yes, you read that correctly— even ineffective training has benefits! A lot of funny takeaways from this one.Taking You to School: Five features of Job Analyses (LinkedIn)
I’m teaching my I/O psych graduate school class again this semester and posting topic overviews on LinkedIn. Each week of class, I’ll highlight a bit about the topic. First up: Job Analysis.Famous Movies Corporatized (IG Video)
Don’t know how I am just first seeing this… but this comedy bit of renaming famous films with corporate titles is very funny. I actually laughed out loud at the last joke—did not see it coming.
Musings
I’m continuing my experiment with a new section here – just a handful of random thoughts I’ve had over the past week.
I’m not on many social media websites, but I am on Instagram. Convinced that it was using me more than I was using it, I took a full week off in January. Honestly? It was much easier than I expected. I just deleted the app from my phone. And here’s the thing: my relationship with it has completely changed since then. I still use it, but significantly less. I wonder if there’d be mutual interest in a group-wide one week sabbatical where we all take a week off social media together?
Children’s television is so much better today than when I was growing up… but the abundance of shows that are always available is problematic. My daughter is learning that she never has to tolerate something—there’s always another option right there. I’m working on it. But that gave me a thought: television apps need a ‘linear mode’ for children where parents preset a playlist of episodes and they play, in order, nonstop, and can’t be altered. Don’t like what’s on? Tough. You have to enjoy it or do something else until another show comes on. It combines the best of both worlds: better shows without bad habit formation. Would this work, or am I overlooking something?
I’ve enabled financial pledges for WorkWise and I’m pleased to say that after just one week, I am up to a grand total of FOUR paying subscribers! Only two are blood-related. Don’t worry, all posts will remain accessible to everyone… for now…
Speaking of children’s television, I’m going to start writing episode reviews of my absolute favorite show, Bluey. Why? I’m not sure. Probably because the show is insanely brilliant and I can’t get enough of it. Here’s an explanation of the elaborate rating system I came up with:
Four Categories – 1-5 Stars each
1. Creative Brilliance
Creativity & Conceptual Design: Is the core idea of the episode fresh, surprising, or clever?
Execution of Theme: How well does the episode handle its main concept (e.g., a new game, childhood play, or unique situation)?
Real-Life Reflection: Even if the idea is playful or fantastical, does it cleverly mirror real family life or childhood experiences?
2. Entertainment Value
Storytelling & Flow: Is the episode engaging from start to finish?
Humor & Fun: Are there amusing moments, jokes, or playful scenarios that keep it lighthearted?
Rewatchability: How excited am I when it comes on?
3. Emotional Resonance
Heartfelt Moments: Does the episode tug at your heartstrings or showcase a tender side of family life?
Relatable Feelings: Are the characters’ emotions (joy, disappointment, frustration) portrayed in a way that resonates?
Deeper Themes: Does the story invite conversations about empathy, kindness, or other meaningful values?
4. Parenting & Life Lessons
Role Models: How are the adult figures depicted? Do they handle challenges in a way that’s helpful or inspiring?
Practical Takeaways: Can parents (and kids) use the strategies or lessons in real life—such as conflict resolution, patience, or creativity in play?
Moral & Ethical Dimensions: Does the episode offer a gentle moral or life lesson (e.g., sharing, inclusion, perseverance)?
I’ll just randomly pick an episode to review. Here’s my first attempt:
Episode: Hammerbarn (S2, E1)
Summary: Jealous of his neighbor (Lucky’s) pizza oven, Bandit takes the family to the hardware superstore, Hammerbarn, where the kids constantly nag Chili for everything on the shelves.
Review: An impressively accurate depiction of shopping with kids who want everything – especially what their sibling gets. There’s a pair of terrific humor moments, too. First, when Bandit is solo-shopping by the pizza ovens and pretends not to hear Chili scream “Bluey!” after Bluey breaks a garden gnome. Second, when Chili tells the kids “there’s no magical place where everything’s just free” and the kids stumble upon the giant display of endless free paint swatches. Plus, there’s some parental sweetness in the end when the pizza doesn’t look all that appetizing. Great way to kick off Season 2.
Creative Brilliance: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Entertainment Value: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½
Emotional Resonance: ⭐️⭐️⭐️½
Parenting & Life Lessons: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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