Project Otter
Where Work Meets Play

Where we stand
Project Otter is based on several beliefs. Work can be play. Everybody can find work they enjoy. But some of us take longer figuring it out. Or we don’t know where to start.

Whether you’re just starting out or looking for a second or third career, we’re here to help you find your way back to who you are, so you can find the work you love.

This website is for you if:

  • You question whether you’re on the right track
  • You feel dead to the world, because work depletes, rather than energizes you
  • You feel stuck in a job
  • You’ve been downsized or fired
  • You dread going to work
  • You don’t know what to do next
  • You dream of doing something more creative
  • You’re ready for something different

Every week, Project Otter tells you about people who managed to make their work play. You’ll hear what motivates, inspires, or drives them to new heights of creativity. Our interviews with everyone from career coaches to psychologists and researchers shed light on tips to help you discover what you were really meant to do—based on your interests, what motivates you, and your willingness to work toward a goal.

You’ll hear the stories of people who made a difference in the world, because they figured out what they wanted to do. We’ll home in on how they knew and how they got there. What obstacles did they face? Who helped them along the way? You’ll also hear inspiring tales of people who reinvented their work lives. How did they do it? What kinds of sacrifices, decisions, and hard work did it involve? You’ll learn all that here.

From how we move ahead to how old assumptions hold us back, Project Otter draws on expert voices and insights to help you find the work that fits you best.

Project Otter’s members forum will offer a safe place to ask questions and get answers from people who have no special interest in your taking one path over another. Consider it liberating. Your friends’ and families’ preconceived notions about who you are and what you should do won’t be a part of the discussion.

Who is behind Project Otter?
Project Otter was conceived by Sandra Yin, a writer who serves as CIO, or chief information otter.

What we don’t do
Project Otter does not touch on the ins and outs of working with headhunters, how to win interviews, or how to write a cover letter. You won’t find job postings here. If you’re looking to contort yourself or your resume into a job opening, this won’t help you do that.

Why Project Otter?
Otters by nature are playful. They always seem to enjoy themselves, even when they’re at work, catching the day’s meal. The mindless industry of the beaver, bee, or ant is not for them. Otters treat work as play. So can you.