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The Comparing Trap

Harvard Business Review

Compared with my colleague, I had accomplished so little over such a long career; my two measly books were more like an embarrassment, given his output. Robert Merton was 46 when he won the award. Merton had the office on the other side of my office. Bob Merton was as gracious and supportive as the colleague I mentioned earlier.

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Three Times You Have to Speak Up

Harvard Business Review

I was thinking about that story by Thomas Merton during a recent board meeting. The CEO and CFO were marching through their 112-slide presentation. Early on in our careers, we might speak up without concern or context. Were they, I wondered, placing an imaginary stone (or two or three) in their mouths?

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