I never knew the importance of one-on-ones until I started running them myself — When you become a manager of people, there’s always someone who will emphasize that with great power comes great responsibility, as if they’re dropping some novel wisdom on you (and not cribbing from Spider-Man comics). However true this may be, there’s an actual bit of useful advice that isn’t forewarned…

A manager is only as good as their team — and mine is a mixed bag — Update 6/7/22: Level has a new home. You can read this article and other new articles by visiting LEVELMAN.com. There’s a difference between being a manager and being a boss — or at least I believe there is. In my opinion, a boss is someone who cares about the people…

New title. New money. Still Black. — Update 6/7/22: Level has a new home. You can read this article and other new articles by visiting LEVELMAN.com. I would say it’s been a long time, but these days, 24 hours feels like either 24 minutes or an eternity, no in-between. Instead, I’ll say it’s been a while since…

I keep it realer than most while on the job, but there are limits to how freely I’ll speak around my co-workers — Update 6/7/22: Level has a new home. You can read this article and other new articles by visiting LEVELMAN.com. Around this time last year, I had a professional breakthrough. Last summer, in the midst of various American institutions being taken to task for upholding systemic racism, I decided to shed…

America’s newest national holiday deserves exclusive access. Sorry not sorry. — Update 6/7/22: Level has a new home. You can read this article and other new articles by visiting LEVELMAN.com. After more than three decades of living in America, I’m rarely surprised by the goings-on in this country. But I must admit, the turn of events of the past 365 have…

When the challenges of remote work are all around you — The remote work revolution has changed life as we know it for corporate folks like myself. And while I’m on the record singing the praises of working from home, I’d like to set the record straight: It’s not without its faults. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve enjoyed my weekday afternoon…

Day trading with a day job is too damn stressful — Update 6/7/22: Level has a new home. You can read this article and other new articles by visiting LEVELMAN.com. The first step to solving a problem is admitting that one exists. Unfortunately, I’m not quite there yet. Turns out, there’s little time for self-reflection when your workdays consist of meticulously…

After more than a year of WFH, I can’t imagine it any other way — Update 6/7/22: Level has a new home. You can read this article and other new articles by visiting LEVELMAN.com. A couple of weeks ago, my manager, Richard, sent out an invitation to join him and a few other co-workers for a Saturday picnic in a local park. Prior to 2020…