Jeff Bezos' 25-year-old stress management theory—taking action rather than waiting for resolution—is seen as increasingly relevant in 2026's job market.

In 2001, Bezos argued at the Academy of Achievement Summit that stress comes from inaction on controllable problems, not workload. His remedy: make the first phone call or send the first email to address the issue, even if it doesn't solve it completely.

Lewis Maleh, CEO of executive recruitment agency Bentley Lewis, confirms the principle applies to job seekers today. He recommends reconnecting with five network contacts, writing publicly, taking a course, or picking up freelance work while waiting to hear back from interviews—because action restores agency, which kills stress.

Maleh advises employed workers feeling stuck to 'apply less, network more,' since most senior hires happen before roles are posted. He suggests deciding who you want to work with, reconnecting with old colleagues, training for the next role, and posting about it publicly to 'become the obvious answer to a question people are already asking.'