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☆ The 2 most important things you need to learn in your first few jobs to advance your career faster
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-18 | by ( Henry Blodget | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

But what really matters early in your career is learning 1) what you're naturally good at, and 2) what you most like and want to do. But in my experience, skills are not the most important things you should try to learn in your first few jobs. What you're naturally good atWe're all gifted at some things and lousy at others. AdvertisementBut the most common and simplest formula for success is this:Do something you're naturally good at that you like doing. (Among other things, it revealed why I didn't like — and was bad at — an early production-assistant job at CNN).

Persons: —, we're, Malcolm Gladwell, It's, Henri, what's Organizations: Service, CNN

☆ Come on, everyone, let's buy TikTok!
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-14 | by ( Henry Blodget | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

So, in the wake of the (notably bi-partisan) House bill, some Americans are already volunteering to buy TikTok — such as former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. These investors would include private equity funds, hedge funds, pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, mutual funds, and, of course, banks. That's what Steven Mnuchin and everyone else who wants to buy TikTok are planning to do. That's why Mnuchin made his announcement on CNBC this morning — to let every investor on the planet who might give him money to buy TikTok know that he's raising money to buy TikTok. ("Wait — he's putting together a group to buy TikTok and he hasn't called us yet?

Persons: —, Let's, Steven Mnuchin, Mnuchin, Goldman Sachs, there's, Elon Musk, ByteDance, Steven Mnuchin's, hasn't Organizations: Service, Twitter, CNBC Locations: America, China, American, Banks

☆ Elon Musk would be the best owner for TikTok. There's just one problem.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-14 | by ( Peter Kafka | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

At one point, Elon Musk might have seemed like a great candidate to buy TikTok. Turns out my boss Henry Blodget is suggesting we all band together to rustle up the money to buy TikTok. You might recall Elon Musk from 2022. And that Elon Musk would be a great candidate to buy the US operations of TikTok. The sales pitch would be simple: Elon Musk.

Persons: Elon, —, Steven Mnuchin, doesn't, Bobby Kotick, Sam Altman, Henry Blodget, Henry, didn't, Joe Biden, ByteDance, that's, Steve Mnuchin, — Elon, Elon Musk, Guy Who, Esther Crawford, Musk, he's Organizations: Service, Activision, Street, Yahoo, Twitter, Elon Locations: TikTok, ByteDance

☆ How Biden (and Biden Alone) Can Solve His Age Problem
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Henry Blodget | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Based on recent polls, it does not seem that Biden is necessarily the strongest possible candidate. So, over the next six months, for the sake of his country, Biden needs to dispassionately assess whether he is, in fact, the strongest possible candidate. A third is that most Americans (a remarkable 81% of us) think that Biden is too old to run for president. (Most of us think Trump is too old, too, but fewer of us.) If, by early August, the analysis suggests that Biden is, in fact, the strongest candidate, then the best way to serve his country would be to accept the nomination.

Persons: —, Joe Biden, Biden, Trump, Kamala Harris, Ross Douthat Organizations: Service, Business, Democratic, Trump, didn't, New York Times

☆ Actually, it's a bad idea to bring your 'whole self' to work
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Henry Blodget | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

There's an idea going around that we should bring our "whole selves" to work. Only bring the parts of yourself that colleagues will perceive as respectful and professional and help you do your job. AdvertisementOne of the most bizarre work-culture trends in recent years is the theory that you should "bring your whole self to work." No one should bring their whole self to work. So, if you, too, enjoy communicating unprofessionally with friends, don't make the same mistake I did and bring that part of yourself to work!

Persons: I've, —, we're, we've, Harvey Weinstein's, We've, Travis Kelce's, Kelce, it's, Eliot Spitzer Organizations: Service, Kansas City Chiefs, Business, Wall, New York Locations: —

☆ I hate to say it but, yes, you should dress for success
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-15 | by ( Henry Blodget | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

And now, it's finally time to discuss the perennial and important work-related question: How should you dress? That usually means dressing professionally, the way most successful people in your organization and industry dress — those people whose jobs and reputations you eventually want. Also, "professional" clothes can be expensive and a pain to care for. "Dressing for success" just means looking professional and in keeping with your workplace culture — as opposed to how you might dress on the weekend or at home. Remember:AdvertisementAs with other aspects of professional conduct, dressing for success is not about you.

Persons: —, it's, I'm, Hayley Peterson, Robert Caro —, he's Organizations: Service

☆ When to fire your boss and take a new job
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Henry Blodget | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Even if your boss and job are great, you will likely eventually want to move on. AdvertisementThe first is that your current job just isn't working, despite your best efforts to manage your boss and make your relationship and job mutually beneficial. The second reason—a happier one—is that you have gotten everything you can out of your current job and boss and are ready to take your next career step. You've learned everything you can in your current job (or from your current boss) and are ready for your next career challenge. But money isn't the only factor in job satisfaction (far from it), and your current job, boss, and organization may be better for you in other ways.

Persons: —, we've, you'll, Jobs, You've, it's Organizations: Service

☆ How to manage your boss
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Henry Blodget | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

So you have to manage your boss. And, to do that — and to be sure that your boss is actually happy and not just "being nice" — you will likely have to manage your boss. (This is not necessarily because they don't want to be — but because being a great boss is hard.) All of this means: You don't want to leave managing your job and career to your boss, because your boss has other priorities and might not be great at it. Despite your efforts to understand and deliver what your boss wants, your boss may be so flaky that they just can't set and stick to realistic goals.

Persons: —, underpromising, isn't, Guy, Julie Hansen —, Julie, Henry !, I'm Organizations: Service, Business

☆ How to become a billionaire
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-23 | by ( Henry Blodget | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

But, according to one friendly billionaire, Mark Cuban, there's no downside to being one. But by far the most common way to become a billionaire in the US is to make tons of money. If that were Brady's only income, and he saved all of it, it would still take him 50 years to become a billionaire. Others are shares of partnerships (hedge funds or private-equity funds, for example) or licensing agreements (like billionaire Michael Jordan's deal with Nike). Mark Cuban also recently said that becoming a billionaire is all about luck.

Persons: —, Mark Cuban, year's, Forbes, Tom Brady, Michael Jordan's, Warren Buffett, Berkshire Hathaway, Luck, it's Organizations: Service, Business, year's Forbes, Forbes, NFL, Nike, Berkshire, Microsoft, Oracle, Google, Facebook, Bloomberg, Berkshire Hathaway, Amazon, Walmart Locations: Berkshire, America, Norway, Dell

☆ Figure out what you actually want to do, not what you think you should
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-17 | by ( Henry Blodget | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

One of your career goals is to figure out what you actually want. So when it came time to pick a profession, Prakapas chose… books. The source of his misery, he eventually realized, was that he didn't actually want to be a book editor. (Also, as a former book editor, he undoubtedly knew that, if I continued down that path, it would be a long and arduous one.) Most of my college friends had zero interest in finance and were mystified about why I claimed to find it interesting.

Persons: —, I've, Gene Prakapas, Prakapas, Karen Horney, didn't Organizations: Service Locations: Japan, New York City

☆ Luck is a bigger part of success than you think — but it can only take you so far
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-19 | by ( Henry Blodget | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Read previewA smart reader asked me to talk about an important element of career success — luck. The paper's conclusion — one I agree with — is that luck plays a much bigger role in success than most people think. But with the help of still more luck — and effort and, I think, some talent — I did manage, eventually, to build a life I wanted. AdvertisementBut we will all be doing ourselves — and our future careers — a big disservice if we imagine that success is all luck. Some of the hardest and most exhausting jobs in the world provide the fewest opportunities for advancement and success — at least financial success.

Persons: —, That's, we've, I've, Paul Conti, Henry Blodget Organizations: Service, Business

☆ The most important career question: 'What is success?'
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-15 | by ( Henry Blodget | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Or "achieving X by X date or X age." AdvertisementBut the definition of "success" is and should be different for each of us. It is, in fact, similar to my own definition of success when I was your age. AdvertisementYour idea of 'success' may changeOf course, you may also find — and here's where it gets tricky — that your definition of success changes over time. But it is also a reasonable and achievable definition of success, especially later in life.

Persons: —, Gen Z, I've, Zers Organizations: Service, Business

☆ What it really means to work smarter, not harder
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-13 | by ( Henry Blodget | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Read previewOne of the most common pieces of career advice is to "work hard." This advice is common because it's sound: You rarely meet successful people who don't work hard — or, at least, have never worked hard. AdvertisementSo you have to work smart in addition to hard. In a future article, I'll talk more about how to "work smart" in your current job. How to work smarter, not just harderLet's say you think you want to have a career in the restaurant business and the only job you can get is "dishwasher."

Persons: —, I've, you'll Organizations: Service, Business

☆ Yes, it can suck to work for 'The Man.' But so can working for yourself!
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-10 | by ( Henry Blodget | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewI gather that some Gen Zers are so appalled by the working woes of millennials that they've sworn off working for "The Man" and, instead, plan to go into business for themselves. AdvertisementI started a company, Business Insider, 16 years ago — and, before that, for many years, I worked "for myself," as a freelancer, blogger, and consultant. In fact, there's no better way to appreciate the joys of a steady paycheck from "The Man" than going into business for yourself. Put it that way, and working for The Man doesn't sound so bad! This includes both working for yourself and working for The Man.

Persons: —, they've, Slack, you've, Elon Musk, Jensen Huang, Elon, Jensen Organizations: Service, Business, Nvidia

☆ The kind of 'free speech' Elon Musk says he wants would be terrible
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Henry Blodget | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

AdvertisementEveryone has theories about why Elon Musk publicly insulted and threatened Twitter/X advertisers last week. (And anyone who works there — or at any other company — would be fired for saying what Elon said last week). I also think Elon wants to suggest that we should be able to say whatever we want without any consequences—and even that there is a Constitutional right for us to do this. I also, respectfully, don't think Elon really thinks that. I don't think even Elon would enjoy that!

Persons: —, Elon Musk, Katie Notopoulos, Katie doesn't, Elon, Tesla Organizations: Service, Elon, Twitter, Business, Tesla

☆ MAKE IT HAPPEN! A field guide to the working world for Gen Z and beyond
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( Henry Blodget | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

I was CEO and editor in chief for the first eight and just CEO for the second eight. A field guide to the working world for Gen Z and beyond. AdvertisementIn the series, I am addressing questions and challenges that I've seen, heard, and faced during my ~35 years in the workforce. What I have done is work as an individual contributor, manager, and leader at many different organizations. A field guide to the working world

Persons: Henry Blodget, I've, It's, Gen, I'm Organizations: Business

☆ JPMorgan boss Jamie Dimon was asked what he thinks of Elon Musk
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Henry Blodget | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon shared his thoughts on Elon Musk. Dimon said the Tesla CEO is "brilliant" and has "pluses and minuses." Dimon was speaking at the New York Times DealBook conference. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementAt the New York Times DealBook conference Wednesday, host Andrew Ross Sorkin asked JPMorgan chief Jamie Dimon about Elon Musk.

Persons: Jamie Dimon, Elon Musk, Dimon, Tesla, —, Andrew Ross Sorkin, Elon, Sorkin, pluses Organizations: New York Times, Service, Elon, JPMorgan

☆ JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon defends working with TikTok
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Henry Blodget | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon on Wednesday defended the company's work with TikTok. Dimon was speaking at the New York Times DealBook conference. He said JPMorgan wouldn't work with clients "doing things that we think are truly bad." AdvertisementAt the New York Times DealBook conference on Wednesday, host Andrew Ross Sorkin asked JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon why the company works with TikTok owner ByteDance, a company that some people believe is effectively an arm of the Chinese government and therefore a national security risk. "If some of those people are doing things that we think are truly bad, we would not bank them," he added.

Persons: Jamie Dimon, Dimon, —, Andrew Ross Sorkin, ByteDance, Nope Organizations: New York Times, JPMorgan wouldn't, Service Locations: China, American

☆ I'm a Nespresso guy, and I'm trying to make a latte that's as good as Starbucks. It's not going well.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Henry Blodget | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

I love my Nespresso machine, but it makes me sad to throw all those pods away. I love the simplicity and speed of my Nespresso machine. AdvertisementMy marvelous Nespresso machine. So imagine my surprise when, separated from my Nespresso machine by a trip, I got a Starbucks latte and found it… delicious. AdvertisementAnd then she explained the difference — water vs. steam, drip vs. pressure, Italy vs. France, night vs. day, etc.

Persons: —, Henry Blodget, I'm Organizations: Service, milli Locations: Ethiopia, Italy, France

☆ The best and worst career advice I ever got
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Henry Blodget | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

I've gotten some great career advice over 35 years in the workforce. AdvertisementOver the past 35 years, I've been the lucky and grateful recipient of some excellent career advice. I've also gotten lousy career advice, including this:Advertisement"Follow your bliss." The best adviceThe best career advice I ever got, meanwhile, came from one of my first bosses on Wall Street, an investment banker named Jonathan Morgan. Want to change your job, career, life, community, or world for the better?

Persons: I've, —, Joseph Campbell, Campbell, Sarah Lawrence, Jonathan Morgan, Jonathan, I'm Organizations: Service, Yale, Ivy League

☆ No worries, Gen Z! I hated the 9-to-5 work schedule, too. This simple mindset shift changed everything.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( Henry Blodget | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Gen Zers are sounding off about the soullessness and exhaustion of corporate work. Some members of Gen Z have gone viral recently for their frustrations with 9-to-5 hours and "soulless" corporate work. For one thing — and it was a big thing — the corporate job came with a salary and benefits. So, for me, despite a rough start, the soulless corporate 9-to-5 thing (more like 7-to-10 in that industry) eventually worked out. Eventually, your priorities may change, and corporate work and its schedules may seem less soul-sucking and more rewarding.

Persons: —, Gen Z, didn't Organizations: Service

☆ OK, Gen Z, let's talk about work!
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Henry Blodget | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Gen Zers have frustrations and questions about work. AdvertisementI gather that some Gen Zers are appalled by traditional 9-to-5 hours, "corporate soullessness," and other aspects of modern work. This job will also be work to get and keep, because a lot of other talented people will also want it. I've had jobs I've loved and jobs I've hated. I've had jobs I've been good at and jobs I've sucked at.

Persons: I've, —, Zers, I'm, euphemistically Organizations: Service, Business, Tennis, Corporate

☆ I was a CEO for 16 years. Here's the best career advice I know.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Henry Blodget | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

If you remember only one piece of career advice, I would suggest it be this: Be the CEO of your career. So, sooner or later, you'll be making your career decisions again. AdvertisementMost organizations, moreover, don't take responsibility for the direction and progress of your career. In other words, even if you don't want to be the CEO of your career, you are. AdvertisementAs CEO of your career, you'll be in charge of decisions that can increase your satisfaction and help you build the life and career you want.

Persons: —, you'll Organizations: Service Locations: lockstep

☆ If OpenAI's board was trying to save humanity from Sam Altman, it failed. So it's time to come clean.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Henry Blodget | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Sam Altman will be in charge of OpenAI's team and products no matter what. So the three remaining OpenAI Board members should explain why they fired him and move on. But, as Business Insider's Alistair Barr has argued, if the goal of the three remaining OpenAI Board members is to save humans from OpenAI's product, it's time for those board members to say so. As a member of humanity, I do thank the three remaining OpenAI members for maybe looking out for us. AdvertisementBecause Sam Altman is going to be leading the OpenAI team and continuing its product development either way.

Persons: Sam Altman, —, Satya Nadella, Altman, Board's, It's, Kali Hays, Adam D'Angelo, D'Angelo, Alistair Barr, OpenAI, humanity's Organizations: Service, Microsoft

☆ Insider Co-Founder Henry Blodget Steps Down as CEO Amid Strategy Shift
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Alexandra Bruell | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Henry Blodget says he will serve as board chair of Insider, advise Axel Springer on its U.S. development and go back to doing journalism. Photo: mike blake/ReutersHenry Blodget, one of the early pioneers of digital media, is stepping down as chief executive of Insider, a publication he co-founded more than 15 years ago. The move comes as Insider, now a unit of German publishing giant Axel Springer, is changing its name back to Business Insider as part of an effort to focus on business and technology news instead of trying to be a generalist publication. The change, effective Tuesday, is happening less than three years after the publication had shortened its name to Insider.

Persons: Henry Blodget, Axel Springer, blake Organizations: Business

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