James McCarthy, Worcester, Massachusetts resident, has over 7 years’ experience in talent management, workforce training, and performance evaluations. In his current role, he serves as learning and development senior consultant for Alden Credit Union. In addition to his work at this financial institution, James McCarthy is an adjunct professor at Anna Maria College and Quinsigamond Community College, located in Paxton and Worcester, respectively.
As a professor at Anna Maria College, Mr. McCarthy teaches courses in risk management, principles of management, and leadership. He offers individualized academic support, early-career coaching, and mentorship to first-generation and underserved students to help them with their academic progress and career readiness. In addition to teaching and coaching, he also organizes guest lectures and panel discussions with professionals in business, enabling students to understand and apply classroom knowledge to real-world applications in health care, finance, and the biotech sectors. He works with local employers, alumni networks, and regional business associations to create academic content that is aligned with labor market demands.
Mr. McCarthy teaches courses in economics and sociology to students at Quinsigamond Community College. His accomplishments in this role include creating interactive course materials within Blackboard and incorporating Open Educational Resources, instructional videos, and real-world simulations that support applied learning. He also provides early-career guidance to students interested in exploring business and the social sciences. He has earned strong student evaluations and departmental recognition for his innovation in course design.
What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?
A typical day in my life begins with a quick walk outside with my dog, shortly after I wake up. Getting outside is the first thing I like to do before I even think about work, projects, or eating my first meal. Once this routine is done, I begin structuring my day with what needs to be done. I write out tasks to complete on a legal notepad while sitting at my office desk. This is something that helps me stay on track of what needs to be completed. I employed this method from one of my favorite books, The Effective Executive by Peter Drucker. The author describes one of the methods used by an executive leader of an organization where he writes out the top three tasks that need to be completed. Once the first task is done, the list is then revised, as Drucker describes that upon completion of the first task, the remaining two items have likely changed in terms of priority. Throughout the day, I maintain a notebook which allows me to keep track of current projects, schedule upcoming events, and keep a personal record of interesting things I learn, read, or creative ideas that come to mind.
How do you bring ideas to life?
I bring ideas to life through a blend of structured planning while leaving enough room for some creative chaos. Whether it’s designing a learning curriculum, researching a topic of interest, or working on a new project in my home workshop, I start by identifying the core problem or opportunity, then conduct research to gather reliable data and collect insights from key stakeholders or subject matter experts. Once this is complete, I map out a framework to then start developing a prototype/concept. The action stage or execution phase is rarely a linear process, as I almost always run into an unexpected challenge or arrive at a new method for approach.
What’s one trend that excites you?
The rapid development of artificial intelligence and its integration into all aspects of life. This exciting trend has not only transformed the way many individuals complete everyday tasks, but it has also introduced a massive shift in all industries. This has resulted in a growing level of support by industry leaders, government officials, and tech enthusiasts to re-examine our current infrastructure and how it can be revolutionized to meet this growing trend. The most comparable trend I can think of that has inspired this much optimism and technological innovation is the American/USSR space race during the 1950s-1960s.
What is one habit that helps you be productive?
I try to reflect on what I did during the previous week and identify two things that were moments of significant achievement or accomplishment. One of those items needs to be something that I was working on for an extended period of time, while the other needs to be something that was a short-term or immediate action that resulted in a positive/successful outcome. This helps me maintain a positive outlook on long-term projects by recognizing the small milestones along the way. Additionally, it helps me appreciate the moments in which I helped achieve or accomplish something that was not anticipated. This outlook helps me when I need to align my daily work with broader goals, while staying grounded in my individual purpose.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Pursue your passions in life.
Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you on?
Job interviews should be treated as a two-way assessment. Candidates should evaluate whether the organization’s vision and culture align with their own values and career goals.
What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?
Try to do something that is entirely new or take on a task that you initially perceived as too challenging, hard, or overly complex. If you succeed, you prove that you are capable of accomplishing tasks much greater than you initially thought. If you fail, then you at least know of one ineffective method to accomplishing the original task.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
I step away from the task and go for a walk with my dog or alone. This allows me to think about something else entirely for a short period of time. Once I return to the task at hand, I often gain a new perspective or new sense of focus that I was previously lacking.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?
Maintaining a mindset that ensures a willingness to grow/learn is essential. Most of the challenges or obstacles that I have observed in my career was the result of individuals with a narrow way of thinking. I have always tried to learn something new when I’m meeting someone for the first time. This open outlook is essential, as it can help prevent group think, avoid significant risk, and depending on industry of operation, it can impact profit.
What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?
One example would be not leaving a role at an organization that was dealing with significant management failures. After my first week in this role, my gut instinct was telling me to start preparing my CV and apply for other jobs. Unfortunately, I adhered to the guidance and recommendations from others that were not aligned with my vision at the time, and I regret staying in that position for as long as I did. The lesson I learned from that experience is trust your gut.
What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
Notion. I use it as a second brain to track project workflows, organize lecture plans, journal ideas, and collaborate across devices. Its customizable templates make it an ideal tool for knowledge management.
Do you have a favorite book or podcast you’ve gotten a ton of value from and why?
One of the books I really enjoyed recently was Killing the Witches: The Horror of Salem, Massachusetts – Bill O’Reilly & Martin Dugard. Since I live in Massachusetts and I have visited Salem during the Halloween festival, I was familiar with the Salem Witch Trials, but this book provided a much greater level of insight surrounding the events.
What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?
The movie Ford v Ferrari came out a few years ago, but I just watched it for the first time. I thought it was an exciting movie and loved seeing all the vintage vehicles throughout the film. The vehicles during this era had such a unique style and purpose compared to the vehicles driven today. There is a stark contrast between the two: one focuses on style and speed, while the other is more economical and utilitarian.
Key learnings
- Structured reflection and planning can create lasting productivity.
- Trusting your gut and learning from setbacks are powerful career strategies.
- Mentorship and early career guidance are critically lacking among students today.
- Taking risks with complex or unfamiliar tasks fosters both confidence and insight.
- AI and digital infrastructure innovation signal a societal shift as profound as the space race.