Pawlek keeps that positive outlook through all aspects of managing the 800-employee operation. One secret to keeping a positive morale: lots of dad jokes.

I need to encourage a manager to accept a religious accommodation request, as it is reasonable, in my opinion. The employee, who is Balinese Hindu, has requested a 10-minute prayer break at noon as part of her religion.

He’s sometimes crunching numbers in Excel, sometimes lugging sacks of potatoes and sometimes feeding hay to his cows. These are all wildly different tasks, but they’re all united by the same principle — giving.

I am considering stepping back from a managerial role to an individual contributor role. I am burned out… When I think hard, I just want to return to an individual contributor role and stop being responsible for other people. Will I destroy my career if I do this?

The apocalyptic tenor of the recent election made it seem disaster was inevitable no matter who won. But at least on the economy, the first half of 2025 should be a sigh of relief, letting most businesses stick to small ball. 

His trick for handling this responsibility? It starts with a coop full of chickens.