When we talk about work, we use words like jobs and chores. Typically, jobs are paid, and chores are unpaid activities for maintaining our homes. Within jobs and chores, we have duties, tasks and assignments. The tasks are ongoing work. Duties imply work are obligated...
We all want to be picked. To be on the team. Get the job. Go on the date. Win the award. The list goes on and on. The feeling we get when we are picked is hard to describe. Yet, at the core, it validates that we matter. We are “right”. We meet the need that someone is...
Early in my career (20+ years ago), I had a wonderful leader who shared a story that I still remember. He said he had a friend whose daughter was applying to her dad’s alma mater. She didn’t want to go there but was going along with his request. Her strategy was to...
Mirium-Webster defines ambition as an ardent desire for rank, fame, or power. Google suggests it’s a strong desire to do or achieve something. While ambition can be about titles and promotions. It can also mean living with purpose, peace, and alignment. Coming from an...
On December 12, 2011, Drinks to Design was born. The company where I brought together my loves of branding, jewelry, and wine. The brand that let me express my creativity in a new way. Inspired by upcycling and drawn to beer and wine packaging (labels, corks, etc.). I...
Even if you haven’t been laid off…yet Layoffs aren’t just something that happens to “other people”. Careers are unpredictable. You might be laid off from a job you love. You might decide to quit because it’s no longer right for you. Or life might demand you step away...
There is a lot of conversation about the growth of the freelance economy. Another work alternative on the rise (although much smaller) is job-sharing. This is when 2 employees divide the 40 hours of a single employee position. The division can take many forms dividing...
Back in early 2024, I wrote this post based on the Gartner Future of work trends. The post was never published, and I thought I would update it based on the 2026 trends. However, after looking at the new report, the focus of this year’s trends leans heavily into...
I recently read an article titled "Stop Hiring Trophy Collectors -- Start Hiring Gardeners”. This was right on the heels of reading the book What’s the Point? In both cases the focus is where we put our career energy. The article highlights that trophy collectors...
When I think about corporate leadership, teachers come to mind. The lessons that could be learned from the classroom would create a new kind of environment in the workplace. The image below (source) notes just some of the responsibilities of a teacher. Roles of the...
We all age. We all have a need to ensure we have the finances to support ourselves in our later years. Yet, over the last several decades, small changes have been happening that have slowly shifted the savings burden over to employees. The changes in industry,...
When we think about the financials of our career, we often go straight to salary. When considering job moves, we also compare insurance and days off. However, we rarely put all the financial aspects of our career on paper. We don’t consider the cost impact of...
NOTE: The below was written a year ago, but never published. I feel the content is still relevant. Over the last two years, I’ve written about the challenges middle managers face. They are squeezed in the organization between policy and execution. I wrote about this...
Today, there are many occasions where you might be presenting on camera. A work presentation. A guest speaker at an event or conference. An interview. A videotaped podcast. A video recording for your social media or website. The list goes on. In all these situations,...
When navigating the job market, choosing the right platform can significantly impact your success. LinkedIn and Indeed, each offer unique features to aid your search. Let's explore their differences to help you determine which one to use when. LinkedIn: Your...
This is a question we ask ourselves and others all the time. The questions can then lead to more questions. If we want to go out to dinner, we need to decide the type of food. The location. The details set the tone for the night out. Defining the vibe we want to...
Change is a word to mark something different. We alter or evolve the current state. Changes can be small like adding a 5-minute habit to our day. Or life-altering like losing a loved one, getting a divorce, or losing a job. These changes can be our choice or the...
I follow Joe Pulizzi through his newsletter and podcast, and when I attended Content Entrepreneur Expo back in August, he was just releasing Burn the Playbook: Are You Made for More? Build a Life on Your Terms. The title drew me in because in the last couple years I...
Each year we have goals we want to achieve. At work, we often think about goals that are in the hands of other people. A promotion, a raise, a job change, etc. With these goals, we don’t control the outcome. I think a better question for the year is if we need to...
Your network = Your net worth. That quote is often shared. Yet so many people don’t nurture and protect this important asset. Our first connections are easy; we see them often and communicate regularly. Beyond that inner circle, things get murky. We meet people at...
Life moves fast. Careers move even faster. Reorgs happen. Leaders change. Strategies shift. Layoffs are abundant. Career insurance is the practice of keeping yourself steady no matter what’s happening around you. It’s about being prepared. Confident and in control no...