I went to work at political consulting firms, graphic design and communications firms and ultimately, magazines. Today, my career is in the media business. And more specifically, I'm in the "words" side of the business as opposed to video or music.

There are not enough forums where institutions invite their workers to share their failures in a constructive way so the organization can move forward.

As you climb of the organizational ladder, you have to redefine your role in the value chain from player to captain to coach to manager, and for some, to owner. These are different roles and you won't be able to succeed as a manager when you're acting like a player.

I grew up in a modern business environment and did not experience the kind of prejudice that my mother and grandfather experienced.

There is a direct line between the communications work I did to protest tuition increases at my school and what I do today. Plus it had one other benefit...it got me kicked out of college!

I've got better things to do than to find my individuality in that particular area. But if it's important to me, I've got to seek my own path.

That doesn't mean we should be doing it, though. We should always be carving back those things that are comfortable and institutionalized but not necessarily impactful.