Dr. Mark Goulston is a former UCLA professor who helps high performing leaders, senior management and sales people reach their full potential using skills he learned training FBI and police hostage negotiators. He is a member of the National Association of Corporate Directors and the Worldwide Association of Business Coaches and writes the weekly Tribune syndicated career advice column, "Solve Anything with Dr. Mark" and columns on leadership for FAST COMPANY and Directors Monthly and is an expert at People Jam. He is frequently called upon to share his expertise with regard to contemporary business, national and world news by television, radio and print media including: Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review, Fortune, Newsweek, Time, Los Angeles Times, ABC/NBC/CBS/Fox/CNN/BBC News, Oprah, and Today. Mark Goulston is the author of The 6 Secrets of a Lasting Relationship, Get Out of Your Own Way: Overcoming Self-Defeating Behavior, Get Out of Your Own Way at Work and PTSD for Dummies. For more information visit: www.markgoulston.com.

• Guest Blogger Mark Goulston--

I was trying to figure out my mixed feelings after the Pennsylvania primary and where my ambivalence towards Obama and Clinton comes from.

I think it derives from the dissonance that both candidates trigger in me.  Dissonance occurs when what you see and hear doesn't match what you feel or "What are you going to do FOR me?"/"What are you going to do TO me?"

I see and hear what both Obama and Clinton are saying, and I think the mixed feelings I have towards each are as follows.

Obama = Can do but haven't done yet

Clinton = Been there, done what?

Obama lacks the track record and experience.  Clinton has the experience, but lacks the track record of being very effective.

So I guess it comes down to the Devil you don't know (Obama) vs. the Devil you do (Clinton, and for that matter McCain) which makes for a devilish decision come election time.

More from Mark Goulston:

Gore/Obama '08, Obama/? '12

Obama V. Clinton: The Smiles Have It!

Barack Obama's Wholly Un-American Speech

Update on Apr 24, 2008 by At Basil & Spice

Seen At The Palm Beach Post!