ClaireMolineaux.com

Today marks 7 years that I’ve been working in my position, doing marketing for higher education.  I am so blessed.  I love my job.  I love the people I work with.  And I love the mission to which I contribute every day I go to work. Over the past 7 years, I’ve been a part of many projects and processes, and through it all I’ve learned one very important thing: I have no idea what I’m doing. Don’t get me wrong – I sure do try, but so many days I’m left wondering what in the world my employer sees in me. ·      I am outpaced and outperformed by so many of my talented colleagues on a daily basis; but they keep me striving to achieve higher goals. ·          I am continually stumped by new problems that arise; but they give me an opportunity to expand my troubleshooting abilities. ·          I am dumbfounded by new systems and technologies that enter the m...

This morning as I opened my email and sorted through the various industry e-publications to which I subscribe, a headline caught my eye: "Top 40 Under 40 in Direct Marketing" As I read through the list of 20- and 30-somethings who have achieved great accolades in their various roles, I wondered how many countless others worked tirelessly to earn a position on this list, only to fall short - or to have their efforts go unnoticed. I'll be honest, I think it would be cool to be on this list someday. But let me take a step back for a moment. Don't these kind of lists set unrealistic expectations? Don't they highlight the early bloomers and ignore those who have labored their entire careers for such success? Why try to achieve so much so early? My entire life I've been labeled as a fast-burner, or a bit of an over-achiever. I finished high school at 16, consolidated a 4-year Bachelor's degree into 3 years, landed my dream job, bought a house, and ...

Last week I went to a local hair salon to get my usual trim.   The salon just opened in January and they’ve already seen huge success as they focus on top-notch customer relations.   I could go on and on about the personalized service I received – from the aromatherapy treatment to the hand massage – but that’s not the point. The point is, my stylist told me something incredibly insightful.   And we’re not talking small talk.   She had a life-sized moment of clarity to share with me.     She said: “One of the most damaging things you can do to a person is to do something for them that they are capable of doing themselves.”  Maybe that doesn’t sound groundbreaking at first glance.   But think about it.   The worst thing is doing something for someone that they can do for themselves .   Here’s why: It discredits individual achievement.   When you take away somebody’s project, you also take away their bragging rights...