Don't Say That at Work

I got fired for being right.

Not for being wrong. For being right—but saying it the wrong way, to the wrong people, at the wrong time.

Revised and expanded fifth edition.

Have you ever been right about something—but said it the wrong way? Have you watched less talented colleagues get promoted while you got overlooked? Do you send emails you instantly regret—or stay silent when you should speak up?

Michael Callaghan has spent 30+ years in tech at HP, Compaq, Dell, and startups as a developer, trainer, and educator. He's made every communication mistake in this book—so you don't have to.

Don't Say That at Work is 26 chapters of hard-won lessons about the soft skills that decide whether you succeed or sabotage yourself. Every chapter is a mistake the author made so you don't have to.

In this book, you'll discover how to:

• Adopt "The Answer is Yes"—the mindset shift that opens doors you didn't know existed
• Say yes to opportunities and no to obligations—without burning bridges or dreading every request
• Disagree without getting fired—the author learned this one the hard way
• Manage your temper when everything is on fire—and stop sending emails you'll regret forever
• Build trust through honesty while keeping professional discretion—so people actually want to work with you

Each chapter includes real stories from decades in enterprise tech plus practical strategies for your next meeting, email, or difficult conversation.

This book is for you if:

• You're great at code but suspect "the people stuff" is holding you back
• Technical skills got you hired—but won't keep you there
• You've ever said the wrong thing at work and watched it blow up

Readers also get a free bonus book on public speaking—details inside.

If you're a software developer, tech lead, or manager tired of watching communication derail your career, you'll find the frank, story-driven advice you wish someone had given you on day one.

Buy Don't Say That at Work today and walk into your next difficult conversation with confidence.