ex-lost. ex a lot of things. navigating corporate america, careers, management consulting, PE ops, and business. not legal, financial, or career advice.
@AlphaFierceDad this is def the case in most companies...the problem is that when you create layers in your org, you have to balance 2 things: (1) using a promotion as an incentive for people to work hard and (2) creating systems that select true leaders. modern co's did #1 and ignored #2
this is what wage bifurcation looks like. tech pulled the top end of white collar comp way up. a lot of “$250k do-nothing” roles only exist because companies had to compete with tech packages that included yoga rooms + franzia dispensers. while the bottom half of white collar never recovered from inflation.
@Kalshi ackshually... most white collar work is still at "AI as a smart assistant" level, not replacement. and for structural reasons, prob won't progress to full automation anytime soon in any function.
@KobeissiLetter Total job openings jumped in April (https://t.co/BpyC9lJGR6). Companies posting more reqs but dragging their feet on actual hires. Could be fake postings, or just general uncertainty.
Had a situation like this once. Was going to start a company with a supposed industry expert. But something felt off... he had some moments where he cut corners in the past. but i gnored it. until I was meeting with a mentor about something else and I just blurted it out.
He said: "Once a crook, always a crook."
And he turned out to be right. I didn't do the deal and it was the right decision.
if you want to tell your friend I'd do one of two things: (1) tell them a cautionary tale about a similar situation so they become more discerning, (2) send an anonymous note / letter / etc... (3) wait for them to ask you about it. Anything else = friendship destroying.
29-40 is the danger zone:
most careers either explode or flatline.
this is where you lay the foundation for the back half of your life...and you don't have time to waste.
if you're stuck, you have 3 real moves:
Accelerate, Restart, or Pivot...
Part 2: How to actually execute them: ⬇️
https://t.co/2evUHNET6c
@jaesmail can attest to this personally... but would also say don't stay too long. but if you leave at the right time, you still have lots of capacity & energy left to build something.
@BowTiedBull i used to always listen to music while working, but I've realized it's a waste of mental bandwidth. always on mute unless i need it for a particular purpose.
sounds crazy, but I believe it.
Break roles into more tactical jobs (like meeting setter) and AI can own them completely. Most companies still haven’t restructured, so most jobs bundle relational + technical work that’s hard to replace.
Here’s what I'm seeing across departments right now... most are stuck at Level 1-2. Marketing/creative is pushing into 3, but plenty will stay reluctant to go further.