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As a business humor writer, Bob Goldman believes that his readers should skyrocket ahead in their careers and make tons of money. What sets Bob apart is his belief that his readers should have these advantages without going to trouble of actually having to do any work. Toward this end, he provides the practical tips and attitude adjustments that guarantee laughter, if not financial success.
Born in White Plains, N.Y., Bob graduated from Colorado College. Using the writing skills he honed while not doing any schoolwork, he crafted an essay that gained him admission to the prestigious University of Chicago School of Business. Intent on proving his success-without-effort philosophy, Bob ended his first semester with four F's and one D, prompting his adviser to comment, "You obviously spent too much time on one subject." Sensing that his gifts might be better applied to the practical world of business, Bob left the ivory tower to become a successful advertising copywriter at huge multinational firms in whose bureaucratic superstructure he always found a place to hang his hat--and his hammock.
In between writing ads for detergent and computers, he found time to write articles for The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, GQ and Rolling Stone. His column, Work Daze, is a finger in the eye for business blowhards and boardroom braggarts.
The father of three children, Bob lives near San Francisco in a newly remodeled house for which he will be paying for many happy decades to come.
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Bob Goldman (Dec 23, 2011)
WORK DAZEBY BOB GOLDMANRELEASE: THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2011 AND THEREAFTERThe Boss Gift
Since you are the perfect employee, the idea that you would have to give your boss a... more
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Bob Goldman (Dec 15, 2011)
Be honest now -- what's your favorite part of the annual holiday office party? Is it the magical moment when the entire marketing department strips to their skivvies and does... more
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Bob Goldman (Dec 08, 2011)
Does your little mind wander, Wanda? Having trouble staying focused, Fred? If you find yourself so distracted that you can't do your work without taking a break every twenty... more
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Bob Goldman (Dec 03, 2011)
Brace yourself, senior executives -- according to the recently released "2011 Cisco Connected World Technology Report," there is something the latest generation of employees... more
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Bob Goldman (Nov 28, 2011)
Funny, I never noticed it before, but Janie Sharritt and I have a lot in common. We have both been newly promoted middle managers, and we both prefer "to wear a ponytail,... more
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Bob Goldman (Nov 24, 2011)
Really, I can't imagine why anyone in the workplace wouldn't like you. You're smart. You're good looking. You're very often on time for work, and when you do show up, you do... more
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Bob Goldman (Nov 10, 2011)
Those of you who have been keeping score know that I recently wrote about a very revealing self-help book titled, "Congratulations...You're Hired." What set this tome apart... more
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Bob Goldman (Nov 03, 2011)
I don't believe in reincarnation, but just in case it's true, let me go on record. I want to come back as an human resources director.Talk about a glamour job! Talk about... more
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Bob Goldman (Oct 27, 2011)
If you're really bad at your job, that's OK. People who are really bad at their jobs can enjoy wildly successful careers. If you doubt me, take a look at your management... more
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Bob Goldman (Oct 20, 2011)
I don't want to worry you, but the minute you stop reading this column, you are going to lose your title, your job and your parking space. Yes, I know everything seems... more
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Bob Goldman (Oct 18, 2011)
It's bad enough that our managers expect us to be productive, submissive and committed. Now, it appears that we also should be happy.
As reported in a recent article in The... more
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Bob Goldman (Oct 14, 2011)
WORK DAZEBy BOB GOLDMANRELEASE: THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011 AND THEREAFTERMillionaire 101I don't want to be a millionaire. I was looking forward to trips in my private jet,... more
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Bob Goldman (Oct 08, 2011)
Of course you're depressed. It's a workday. You probably think you are doomed to be depressed at work, and you may even think you know why you're depressed. Wrong on both... more
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Bob Goldman (Sep 29, 2011)
WORK DAZEBY BOB GOLDMANRELEASE: THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2011 AND THEREAFTERHuman Resources, You Serious?What's the easiest way to get fired? You could tell your managers what... more
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Bob Goldman (Sep 22, 2011)
Do you ever have doubts about your ability to deliver? Do you never give up until you reach your goal? Do you always say exactly what you think? Do you hate being asked... more
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Bob Goldman (Sep 15, 2011)
I know! You don't get the respect or the money you deserve. But thanks to Marsha Friedman, you can get the fame you deserve. All you have to do is "Celebritize... more
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Bob Goldman (Sep 01, 2011)
I hate to tell you, but you have a big problem. You're too nice.It's true! You're so darn charming, considerate and agreeable, that you've been branded with one of the worst... more
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Bob Goldman (Aug 25, 2011)
Admit it! You were always destined for stardom. Your exceptional good looks, your massive ego, your emotional immaturity, your fantastic wardrobe of designer sweat suits --... more
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Bob Goldman (Aug 19, 2011)
If you're looking for emotional support in these terrible economic times, if you'd like someone to put their arm around your puny shoulders and assure you that everything is... more
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Bob Goldman (Aug 05, 2011)
Does your job make feel fretful? You're not alone. According to management consultant Robert W. Goldfarb, writing in The New York Times, feelings of fear and trembling are as... more
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Bob Goldman (Jul 28, 2011)
Really, I don't understand this brouhaha about unemployment.
Sure, it's tough to lose a job. You have to say goodbye to all the dear work friends who stabbed... more
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Bob Goldman (Jul 21, 2011)
I really don't know why I am so enamored of the macho website askmen.com. After all, they didn't include me on their list of the Top 49 Most Influential Men. On the... more
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Bob Goldman (Jul 17, 2011)
Sex in the workplace is an issue with which many businesses struggle. Entire HR departments are writing entire employee manuals designed to make co-workers stop "doing what... more
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Bob Goldman (Jul 07, 2011)
Quiz time! Can you guess the No. 1 fear for most people? No, it's not being caught reading this column. It's being asked to speak in public.
The fear of public speaking --... more
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Bob Goldman (Jun 30, 2011)
Congratulations, fellow Americans! According to the latest "American Time Use Survey" conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, we now know that, on the average, Americans... more
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Bob Goldman (Jun 26, 2011)
A reader recently wrote to complain about a boss who wanted her to share her "feelings." The reader was willing to state her opinions or provide judgments based on her... more
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Bob Goldman (Jun 16, 2011)
It isn't often that a job sounds so good that it makes me want to quit my present position and start disappointing a brand-new employer. My current job isn't so wonderful,... more
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Bob Goldman (Jun 14, 2011)
Let's start a conversation about starting a conversation.
I don't want to put you on the defensive, but we all know that you aren't the life of the party. It's not that... more
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Bob Goldman (Jun 09, 2011)
Considering just how macho you are, it will not be easy to admit that you're scared by a book. But trust me -- Jim Muehlhausen's "The 51 Fatal Business Errors and How to... more
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Bob Goldman (May 27, 2011)
WORK DAZEBY BOB GOLDMANRELEASE: THURSDAY, MAY 26, 2011 AND THEREAFTERWhat a Waste!It isn't easy to preach the virtues of effective time management to someone who chooses to... more
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Bob Goldman (May 12, 2011)
Call me an alarmist, but reading this column could be dangerous to your career health.In the next few paragraphs, I am going to reveal secrets so powerful that you will no... more
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Bob Goldman (May 06, 2011)
It really is pathetic! There are members of the work force so depressed with their job situation that they compensate for their misery by stuffing their faces from 9 to 5.... more
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Bob Goldman (Apr 29, 2011)
When it comes to getting healthy, there's only one exercise that works for me. The instant I see a copy of "Men's Health," I start to run. It's true! Avoiding this evil... more
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Bob Goldman (Apr 22, 2011)
If you think that nobody at your company listens to you, think again.
Based on what I've just learned from a Ki Mae Heussner article on abcnews.com, your co-workers are not... more
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Bob Goldman (Apr 15, 2011)
Be honest now -- does your manager treat you like a dog? Does he or she scratch you behind the ears when you do a good job and smack you in the nose with a rolled-up... more
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Bob Goldman (Apr 07, 2011)
The economy is improving. The employment picture is looking brighter with every passing day. Once the eleven million people who are currently unemployed find jobs, some... more
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Bob Goldman (Apr 01, 2011)
Hey, it's one thing to lose your job because your work is bad and your attitude is worse. This is something you've been expecting since Day One. But to be doing really good... more
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Bob Goldman (Mar 28, 2011)
There aren't many people in the world that I really admire. There's you, of course. And me, of course. And, of course, there is Jack Nadel.You say you've never heard of Jack... more
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Bob Goldman (Mar 17, 2011)
I've always been a big fan of Google. It's not their product I like, or their stock, or their corporate culture. What I like about Google is the fact that employees can get... more
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Bob Goldman (Mar 09, 2011)
Call me an ungrateful wretch, but if any more know-it-all brainiacs attempt to improve my mental health, I'm going completely mental. Yet I have to admit, I am helpless to... more
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Bob Goldman (Feb 28, 2011)
Bad news, girls and boys. Recent scientific discoveries prove that if you pretend to be happy at work, it's bad for your health. On the other hand, if you're truly honest... more
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Bob Goldman (Feb 17, 2011)
When you really think about it, it's not the mind-numbing work, the mission-impossible assignments, the dumb-headed management team or the constant threat of immanent firing... more
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Bob Goldman (Feb 11, 2011)
What's the climate in your workplace? I don't mean the temperature. Like most employers, your budget-conscious management probably turned the furnace off in 2008, leaving you... more
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Bob Goldman (Feb 04, 2011)
You know who has a really good job? Your boss! Not only do bosses have you under their thumbs, they also have you on hand to make them look good, 24/7.There's only one answer... more
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Bob Goldman (Jan 21, 2011)
There are terrible fates that can befall a working person these days. You can be downsized, or outsourced, or simply upended, but the very worse fate is even more... more
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Bob Goldman (Jan 14, 2011)
It may not be the uptick we've been wishing for, but statistics show the pace of hiring is accelerating. This is definitely good news, especially if you've been hungering for... more
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Bob Goldman (Jan 07, 2011)
With all the fun activities available to you these days, it's difficult to imagine that a company would expect you to jump through hoops, simply for a chance at employment.... more