I knew I was going to be a journalist, and that was it.. full stop.

You should ask for a performance evaluation. Ask your boss, where do I stand? I need to know what I can do better and what I'm doing well.

Just keep asking questions. Does this job allow me to be myself? Does it make me smarter? Does it open doors? Does it represent a compromise I accept? Does it touch my inner being?

It's a choice that you make and there's consequences. It's something you have to own.

You've got to dig in [and learn about things you don't know] if you want to stay in the conversation.

We are perfectionists. We are hungry to work all the time. We are entertained by every aspect of business and we never want to stop working.

Embedded reputations - that's one of the most daunting dynamics that can happen. You start as a secretary, or assistant, and you have that plastered on your forehead. My advice is that you have to do something - change companies, get a degree, or go to a training program. Or ask to be on a very hard assignment or project that no one else wants. You can do it, but it doesn't happen without true exertion.