Water Cooler

Information and insight about your career and the workplace at large
January 2006

News and Views

Green technologies are going to be the industry of the 21st century, said Thomas Friedman, in a December 20, 2005 interview on the Charlie Rose show. Friedman is the author of the best-selling The World is Flat: A Brief History of the 21st Century . He also had this to say about succeeding in this or any other field: (1) It's not what you know but how you learn that's important; (2) Your work-and you-must be memorable, so invest yourself in and personalize your work; and (3) Be a collaborator on projects.

Some people always seem to get faster promotions, make more money, and generally stand out on the job, in any economy. Why is that? Because they do three small things that pay off big. Find out what they do and how they do it

Happiness, rather than working hard, is the key to success, according to research published on December 20, 2005. Cheerful people are more likely to try new things and challenge themselves, which reinforces positive emotion and leads to success in work, good relationships, and strong health. Details

Toolbox

Seven lessons learned at college can help you succeed at work, writes Tiffany Young, community relations coordinator for Literacy Volunteers of America-Brazos Valley. If you're looking for a fresh start on how you approach your work life, check out her article at FabJobs.com

NEW: Blogging, Anyone?

I'd like to hear from you whether you are in the DC metropolitan area (where WaterCooler originates) or in the world at large did you know we have readers in South Africa?).

I'm thinking of turning WaterCooler into a blog.This would give you a chance to share YOUR news and views, rather than just hear about mine. It would also be an opportunity for networking—you could post comments to WaterCooler content, or link to your own blog, if you have one.