In Stop Sabotaging Your Career I define career derailment as any unexpected change in career momentum.  Last week we witnessed how quickly a hard-earned career can derail with one thoughtless comment made by Pulitzer Prize-winning author, Harvard professor, and Barack Obama advisor, Samantha Power.  You may recall that during an interview Ms. Power called Hillary Clinton a “monster.”  It’s not the comment I focus on today, but the career and credibility that was damaged because of an off-the-cuff remark.  And this is often how derailment happens.  You spend years building your reputation and watch it go up in smoke in a moment.  To avoid the same fate as Ms. Power follow my maxim:  Never make a presentation that you haven’t prepared for — and every time you open your mouth it’s a presentation.  In other words, think once, think twice, think three times before you speak — especially if it’s with the media.  A book I recommend to clients is You Are the Message by Roger Ailes.   

TAGS: Barack Obama, career derailment, Communication Skills, roger ailes, samantha power