Why is it so hard to take the wisdom that we gain from our most meaningful personal experiences and translate them into good practice at the workplace? Most of the time we accept that is just the way the world of work operates. As a result, the company culture sputters along with its impersonal systems.

I challenge individuals to think differently. Personal lessons do not have to stay within our private borders. In fact, they are a fountain out of which flows our public creativity.

By David Batstone

Three conflicting trends appear to be taking root in today's corporate work environment:

1. Most people are feeling more confident about keeping their job.
2. A significant slice of workers believe they have no chance of job advancement in their current workplace.
3. A vast majority of those currently employed believe it would be difficult for an out-of-work employee to find a comparably paying job.

A couple of weeks ago I took my family on a ski holiday to Aspen. In the space of a one-week trip I ran into sufficient customer service gaffes to confirm my suspicion that all too many American companies are giving up on the idea of customer retention. Their business model turns on actual transactions. It's gravy if they get the customer to come back a second time.

You are a star at your company. You consistently pass benchmarks with flying colors and are rewarded with ascending positions in the corporate ladder. Surely it's time to start looking outside the company and shop your talent in the open market.