DEAR HARRIETTE: I work in finance. Two weeks ago, I was told that I am being taken off of the project I'm working on and will be reassigned two new projects. I had no issue with this, but now my life at work is stressful because all of my time is still going to the project that I'm being transitioned off of, but there is no set date to when I will no longer work on this project. It's frustrating because I want to be researching my new projects as I'm also starting to have meetings added to my calendar, and when I start, I'm expected to know the project goals, context and key stakeholders. Currently, I don't even have time to look over the documents, so I feel like I am being set up to fail. I don't want to look disengaged on my old project, but I also don't want to look unprepared on my new ones. I'm worried this will reflect poorly on me, even though the situation feels out of my control. Should I speak up and risk sounding like I can't handle the workload, or do I just try to power through and hope things settle down? -- Overloaded

DEAR OVERLOADED: Speak to the supervisors of each project and explain your situation. Ask for advice on how to handle your responsibilities efficiently. Being proactive will show that you are conscientious and will also alert leadership that you need help.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I recently started an organization with a group of friends. It has been a great experience, and we have been able to contribute significantly to our community. We have curated a safe space that attracts others while continuing to be organized and results-driven. Although I am extremely proud of what we have built, it can be hard to be a leader in this space due to the familiar relationship we have as friends. Our personal relationships can often interfere with our ability to operate as a collective, with some of us not wanting to give critique to protect the friendship. This can affect the efficiency of the organization, which is our No. 1 priority. How do I curate an environment that nurtures our friendship but still puts our organization's mission at the forefront? -- Leader of Friends

DEAR LEADER OF FRIENDS: Talk to your team about roles and responsibilities. Create an organizational chart that identifies structure. Discuss how information should be shared and how everyone can be accountable. Suggest weekly meetings to review the status of all projects.

Most important: Schedule debrief meetings after each event or project concludes. Encourage everyone to share unfiltered feedback about what worked and what didn't work so that you can all learn and grow. Be respectful in those meetings, but also direct. By establishing a rhythm of communication about the status of your work together, you will create a level of comfort with each other professionally. Agree to speak both candidly and nonjudgmentally. Listen when others speak, and assume the positive. Over time, you can develop an ease of honest communication even though you are friends.

(Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams. You can send questions to askharriette@harriettecole.com or c/o Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)

DEAR HARRIETTE: I am in my last semester of college, and I think I should feel confident in my career choice and prepared for my industry; however, I feel as confused as when I first stepped on campus. Over the course of the last four years, I've switched my major a couple of times, searching for the best fit for me. While testing out different departments at my institution, I realized that I was not receiving the support I needed when it came to cultivating career confidence. I find myself unsure about my next steps, yet I feel pressured to make a decision as soon as possible. Although I was busy with on- and off-campus extracurriculars, I sometimes feel like I didn't take my time in college to explore as much as I needed to. How do you think I can take advantage of my last few months to become clearer about what's to come after graduation? -- Grad

DEAR GRAD: The good news is that you don't have to decide your entire future right now. That said, you do need to choose an area to pursue in order to be gainfully employed. Look around. What types of jobs interest you that you will be qualified to do? Think about your extracurricular activities and how they might support your pursuit. Can you include them along with any jobs on your resume? What can you say about yourself that will make you appealing to a potential employer? Work on that now as you also look for a job. If your university has a career center, go there and learn about any opportunities they know of. Look in your hometown and ask everyone you know for leads. You may not find something that's a perfect fit, but look hard for any job that can get you started.

Once you have a job, put forth your best effort, but also keep your eyes open to see what is on the horizon.

DEAR HARRIETTE: As the peacemaker in many of my friend groups, often I find myself in the middle of friendship disputes. My usual approach is simply to comfort without blaming or pointing fingers at anyone. These conversations often sound like "I understand that" and "I see how that made you feel." I do my absolute best not to pass judgment and tear down my friends, no matter what. However, I do not want to make any of my friends feel like I am invalidating their feelings. I do not think I need to choose sides when my friends are arguing, especially if I was not involved in the situation. I always recommend they communicate directly with one another rather going to other people in hopes that they reach a quick resolution. How do you suggest I create boundaries with my friends so I stay out of these uncomfortable situations? -- In the Middle

DEAR IN THE MIDDLE: When you don't have the bandwidth to listen to your friends' problems, say so. Before allowing them to dive into their drama, stop them and apologize as you explain you just can't listen right now. You can add, if you want, that you have some other obligation or you need quiet time. Feel comfortable drawing the line when you don't have the energy to be a sounding board.

(Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams. You can send questions to askharriette@harriettecole.com or c/o Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)

DEAR HARRIETTE: My 16-year-old daughter is going through a rebellious phase. She has a lot of jealousy toward her friends because they come from wealthy families. My husband and I are middle class, but this is not good enough for my daughter. She often comes home from school and yells at me and my husband for not making enough money. She wants to have the same things and experiences that her friends have, and because she can't, she feels less than them. I tell her that her dad and I worked hard to get where we are today. We came from poor families and have overcome so much. We have a beautiful house, all the necessities and more. However, this still doesn't compare to her friends' families in her eyes. Their families go on extravagant vacations, drive luxury cars and wear designer clothes. She constantly asks why we can't give her the same lifestyle. What hurts the most is that she speaks about our financial situation with embarrassment.

I know she's young and doesn't fully understand the value of money yet, but her words hurt. I don't want to raise a child who believes her worth is tied to money. How can I help her have gratitude regarding our financial situation? -- Perspective

DEAR PERSPECTIVE: Your daughter needs to learn that the world is filled with people who have all kinds of experiences, advantages and disadvantages. Rather than constantly comparing herself to others, she must learn to appreciate who she is and what she has. Being exposed to wealth through these friends is an eye-opener to her, but unfortunately, it is creating anger.

Do your best to teach your daughter that she will have to work hard to build a life for herself, not based on what others have but on what she can create. Encourage her to stop looking outward and to focus on her own potential, just as you did. It will likely be rocky for some time, though.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I met a guy at a vulnerable time in my life. He was kind to me, and I fell for him. I realize now how desperate I was. This guy was nice, but he had nothing to offer -- no job, no money, no ambition, no cooking skills, all with a macho attitude. He hardly makes time for me. I figure if he doesn't have money, the least he can do is show up to be a friend. Am I so pathetic that I find myself chasing after someone who has so little to offer? Right now, he's not even offering that. How do I get myself together? -- Sad and Lonely

DEAR SAD AND LONELY: You have answered your own question about this guy: He is not the guy for you. If he were still being kind and attentive, the things he doesn't have might matter less, but it sounds like he isn't present. Turn away from him and toward yourself. What do you want? What do you deserve? What do you need? Do what you can for yourself. Look around to see who in your life can be a friend to you. Look for kindness -- not from him, from life. It is there. Notice that. Cultivate that.

(Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams. You can send questions to askharriette@harriettecole.com or c/o Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)