Why California, Oregon and Nevada got it right to make non-compete clauses illegal — I took a road trip to my alma mater and fell in love with my Suzuki rental. As soon as I sat in the driver’s seat, I knew I was buying this make of a car. Shortly after returning from Missouri, I went to the annual Chicago Auto Show. I…

Idle time does not work out well for those who will not wait — What exactly is your endgame? It’s a question I find myself asking often, especially if I talk to someone who wants to see change in an event, an organization or a person. Recently, I’ve grown fed up with a series of duties that a nonprofit is refusing to do. I’d…

Why is the most inactive group so loud? — Writer’s note: Non-U.S. readers, please do not get in the comment section and leave complaints about how “Americans vote.” There would not be two political parties and we wouldn’t be at each other’s throat every election season if we all thought from one brain. Additionally, as a black woman, I…

Whether I want to take a nap or not, my eyes (and age) are the boss of me — No one has ever described me as a liar. I’ve been described as “blunt” and told, “You don’t have to say everything you think” on occasion.” Never dishonest. There is one exception when I become a brown girl version of Pinocchio though. It is Movie Night. …

Why tech-centric jobs may be better suited for a tech-embracing crowd — Ihave no idea how people have the patience to file frivolous lawsuits. Filing legitimate ones are so tedious that they can make you ball up into a corner and call your mother for a Bitmoji hug. There’s a reason people hire attorneys to handle the paperwork. …

When a juror finds the defendant attractive, does this make it harder to be fair? — I was in a meeting when the guy next to me whispered a joke near my ear. I let out a loud laugh before I could stop myself. My boss at the time scowled at me and told the two of us we’d have to sit in different seats if…

For top-rated freelancers, I don’t see the appeal in fixed-rate jobs — As a full-time freelancer for the past four years, I’m still surprised by how long I’ve been on Upwork. Since the days before the merge of oDesk and Elance, I’ve been toying with the idea of working remotely on an exclusive basis. When I quit my last corporate job and…

How have I become the Weirdo Whistler? — If there is a weirdo in any crowd, there’s 100% chance he will find me. Like having a dog whistle, they flock to me as though I’m making Weirdo Whistle noises. I thought about that recently while I stood in line at a Dollar Tree. …

When a client invites 269 people for a two-person job, is this a little suspicious? — Writer’s note: On Nov. 2, the job recruiter invited me to the same job. They’re not even taking note of who they turned down during previous tests. I’ve declined and blocked this candidate as of today. On Nov. 9, they sent another invite. …