As the year ends, there are many things we can reflect on. I’ve been reading a lot lately about professional connections. The ideas on how and why we build them and keep them strong. I went into 2024 wanting to foster more connections. People I’ve worked closely with...
Each year, we learn and grow. This comes from our day-to-day experiences in life and on the job. However, it is also something that can be more intentional and cultivated. I think it’s interesting to do an end of year “learning” audit. Going back and documenting the...
When considering a business brand, an audit is often a first step. We look at the brand footprint – their online site(s), social media, physical locations, and more. Assess the current brand sentiment. Explore at the personality and main message the brand portrays...
When it comes to our personal brand, not all branding is created equal. We are all at different phases of our career. With different education and experiences. With different goals and aspirations. As such, there is no “one size fits all” approach to our personal...
A couple weeks ago, I wrote a post titled Career Insurance. I’ve had conversations with several people about the post and the concept. This got me thinking even deeper about the topic. In the post, I suggested those in their 40s start considering their personal career...
This year, we are going to start the reflection with our occupational wellbeing. For those who work full time, we spend roughly 35% of our waking hours at work. This doesn’t even include commuting. This is why starting with our work is a good analysis of our...
This morning, I was thinking that careers are more like jungle gyms than they are a ladder. A quick search online tells me this isn’t an original idea. Likely, I soaked in the concept when reading “Lean In” by Sheryl Sandberg years ago. From a Forbes article in...
I know, there isn’t a career insurance product. It’s interesting when you think about it. We insure our homes. Our cars. Our health. Protecting ourselves if something bad happens. We have a financial “safety net” for unplanned events. When it comes to our income… Our...
A MeEO realizes their role is to be the Chief Executive Officer of their life & career. They are in charge and accountable to the “Board of Directors” of their choice. I searched for the “Top 10” responsibilities of a CEO and adapted the list for the MeEO. The...
Yesterday, I thought I had a thought: What if a company created job share roles that created a partnership between an experienced and a early career employee? My theory was that the pairing would provide benefits to all involved. The structure could be set up in...
Networking is a funny thing. Some love it and some don’t. Books have been written about different types. The book Networking Personalities, identifies nine types of networkers described below: The Master Networker: Considered the ideal, with a balanced approach of...
Personal branding and self-promotion – what is the difference? Some people blend the two together and use them interchangeably. Yet, they are not the same. Your personal brand is with you for the long term. Something you grow and nurture over time. On the other hand,...
As a reader, when I look at reading stats, I’m surprised. Looking at this chart, nearly half of people (46%) in the US didn’t read a book last year. Then, I wondered how many read professionally. Research suggests only 21% (11 in 100) of readers choose business books....
I continue to admire freelancers and solopreneurs. The tenacity to stick with their craft, find clients, and make the financials work. It’s not easy to get established. Everyone says it takes 3 years. From the outside, that seems crazy. On the inside, you get it. Many...
When we start to think about our career content, we often think about our resume. The place where we capture the highlights of our career. We think in bullet points, action words, and results. Is this enough? Do we capture the images, the emotion, the passion we felt...
There is more news these days about sabbaticals. These are extended breaks from a job that can last anywhere from one month to two years. The difference between a sabbatical and a career break is employment. If the intention is to return to an employer, you take a...
The way work is based on career ladders and titles is holding us back. Here, I don’t just mean individuals, I mean companies as well. Individuals don’t have the career opportunities that their skills could achieve. Companies don’t get the most out of the team they...
Lately, I’ve been looking back on my career and trying to pinpoint a moment. That moment when I shifted my perspective from wanting to expand my years of experience to wanting to contract them. I’m calling this the “years of experience” conundrum. Early in my...
Many organizations are in a vicious cycle. Employees feel overworked and under stress. When stressed, we react using our amygdala, not our pre-frontal cortex. This means we are making decisions driven by fear and emotions, not rational thinking. When business...
After watching the video that inspired yesterday's post on Squiggly careers, another popped up that caught my attention. This talk by Emilie Wapnick featured the concept of multipotenialites. Emilie believes we are trained to think that we can only become one thing....
This week, I found a TED Talk with Sarah Ellis and Helen Tupper. They were talking about concepts from their book – The Squiggly Career. They say the challenge in moving to squiggly careers stems from the “legacy of the ladder”. Climbing the ladder is engrained in the...