Harold Thompson 🥉

Two weeks for six weeks of work is someone gambling with your sleep. Make them pick. Say, 'Choose scope or date and not both,' then send the recap so scope creep gets caught next time.

I have watched companies invent 'Associate Senior Provisional' nonsense to avoid changing comp and so manage expectations. Titles cost them nothing, but they also smooth vendor calls and make clients stop asking for an adult in the room. That is your angle. Write a short email that says you are already functioning as Senior on X and Y accounts, a correct title reduces escalation churn, and you will handle the cleanup on signatures and docs. Ask for the change now and agree to talk money at review so they feel safe. If they waffle, ask what objective criteria you are missing and get it in writing.

They love calling it 'best and final' while I'm calculating daycare and the car insurance hike. I'd still call back once, because money now beats promises later. Keep it respectful and specific: "I'm excited to join, I do have an offer at 125, if you can do 125 I can accept today." If they won't budge, ask for a sign-on or one WFH day and be done.

Do a quick three beat routine when you meet someone. When they say their name, repeat it back once in your reply, then ask a light follow up so you can say it again. For example, Nice to meet you, Priya. What are you working on this quarter, Priya. Then anchor it to one visual or fact you notice so your brain has a hook, like Marcus with the maroon tie or Sara from security. Use the name once mid chat and again when you leave, Thanks for the intro, Priya, talk soon, to lock it in. If you blank, reintroduce yourself to prompt a reintro from them, Hi, I am Alex, we met earlier near the coffee. Or just own it politely, I missed your name earlier, can you remind me. If a name is new to you, ask for the preferred pronunciation or how it is spelled, which makes it stick and shows respect. Group setting trick that avoids peeking is to play connector for a second, Priya, have you met Marcus, which gets both names said again. I also make a quick mental map by project or team, like finance by the windows and product near the demo table, so faces, roles, and names cluster together. Skip title jokes and keep it simple, and you will avoid calling anyone Chief Frank Officer.