Alan Henry
Journalist, Author, Speaker, Recovering Physicist
The real tools for career success and work satisfaction for anyone feeling undermined or marginalized at their job, from a productivity expert and editor at Wired.
For over twenty years Alan Henry has written about using technology and productivity techniques to work and live better for places such as Lifehacker, the New York Times, and Wired. But he found that as a Black man he didn’t have access to some of the more powerful ways to hack your job—like only checking email once a day or blocking out time on your calendar to do deep work. In fact, he found that even when he landed a prestigious title at the Times, there were moments when he was still overlooked and excluded from the most interesting and career-boosting work.
This led him to first explore these struggles in a Times piece titled “Productivity Without Privilege.” Now he goes even deeper, interviewing experts across multiple fields to come up with powerful tools to overcome the forces of marginalization. In Seen, Heard, and Paid, Henry shares the new work rules that may finally allow people of color, women, and LGBTQ+ folks to have the same access to career advancement and rewarding work as those with more privilege, including:
How to Be Seen: Only spend time on work that gets you attention.
How to Be Heard: Figure out your unique contribution.
How to Get Paid: Data is power and power is money.
Whether you’re dealing with microaggressions, trying to get the glamour work instead of the office housework, weighing the plus and minuses of working remotely, or deciding it’s time to look for a new opportunity, Seen, Heard, and Paid will help you feel informed, supported, and empowered.
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Hello! You made it!
By this point, you'll know about the book. It was years in the making, and wouldn't be possible without the help of some amazing people. But it also wouldn't be possible without you, and your support, and for that I'm eternally grateful.
If you're like to read more discussion of productivity, privilege, office culture, and how we can all not just survive, but thrive, sign up for my newsletter, Productivity, Without Privilege! It's twice a month, and I think you'll enjoy it.
“Being able to cite comparative data, both within the company and across the industry, is the key to salary negotiations, although having a record of achievements is also critical. Henry sets out his points in a logical, clear manner, and the result is a solid, useful package.
For members of minorities who want to navigate the corporate jungle, this book is an essential guide.”
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Email: alanhenry@novawerks.net
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Writer. Editor. Blogger. Gamer. Streamer. Classy geek. Recovering Physicist. Unapologetically Black. Severely Opinionated.
Alan Henry is a service journalist and editor who writes and commissions stories that help readers make better use of their technology and embrace a healthier relationship with it in their lives.
He is currently the service editor at WIRED. He was previously the Smarter Living editor at The New York Times, and before that the editor in chief of the productivity and lifestyle blog, Lifehacker.