I’ve spent most of my career in Relationship Marketing – digital, social, and CRM. The goal of this discipline is to continue to deepen relationships with customers. I believe there are three primary phases of the process: Initiate, nurture, and deepen. Relationships...
The word networking can cause delight or dread depending on the person. Some love connecting with other people. Others get nervous and would like to avoid it at all costs. Yet, connections are important. They provide an opportunity to support one another on our...
When it comes to our careers, there are two primary approaches. Offense and defense. Some of us are better at playing one side of the game, others are better at the other. The challenge is that most people don’t realize they are playing in one mode. They aren’t aware...
Side hustles are in the news all the time to make more money. They talk about using the hustle to fund a vacation. Provide discretionary monthly spending. Cover unexpected bills. Start a retirement savings. And more. My Perspective While this is a great outcome, I...
We talk a lot about resilience. How to bounce back. Stay strong. Keep going. But we don’t talk enough about creativity. Not the art kind. The kind that rebuilds us. The kind that reimagines our next step when the old path disappears. The kind that says: I may not know...
It’s awards season! The time of year when Hollywood rolls out the red carpet. The world tunes in to celebrate the best performances, breakthrough moments, and unforgettable achievements. But why should movie stars have all the fun? Q1 is also performance review season...
We are all faced with boundary testing every day. We are asked to stay late at work for a project or meeting. A volunteer project comes up that you are asked to lead. We set guidelines on what we can and can’t take on. Until things get tricky. The ego boosts come in:...
When we think about our work, we tend to look for autonomy. The ability to work when and how we are at our best. We want control. Determining an approach. Crafting a message. Moving toward an end that fits our goals. My Perspective I think there may be a tipping...
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™....
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....