This Is Not The Career I Ordered™ Blog
Savvy Professional Career Wisdom by Caroline Dowd-Higgins
This is Not the Career I Ordered is read by thousands of careerists around the globe. With savvy tools, inspiration, and resources, this timeless book empowers you to enjoy your career, and love your life!
The VUCA World of Work is Back with a Vengeance
If you haven’t heard the trending business buzzword: VUCA, it stands for volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous. The term originated at the US Army War College in 1980 to describe the global landscape after the Cold War and quickly found traction in the business world. The complexities of an interconnected global marketplace are VUCA and […]
Start by Loving Yourself This Valentine’s Day
It’s the time of year for cards with red hearts, chocolates, and flowers as Valentine’s Day is celebrated in February. It causes anxiety for some who are seeking affection, and bliss for others who are celebrating their love with someone special. This Valentine’s Day I encourage you to see it through a different lens. Celebrate […]
Maybe It’s Time to Step Up Your Game
I’m delighted to share this guest post written by Alicia Webb. Could your style be impacting your career trajectory? As companies continue to implement return to office policies, employee dress codes seem to be an afterthought—leading to a very casually dressed workforce. Maybe, it is time to consider stepping up your professional attire. According to […]
Don’t Wait to Be 100% Ready – Just Do it!
As a speaker, consultant and executive coach, I work with many individuals who are focused on making changes to their lives and careers to better align their values and strengths. But for some, their best plans often get stalled in analysis paralysis, which results in stagnation and a hard stop to forward momentum. Perfection is […]
Give Yourself the Gift of Time
Not a day goes by when I don’t hear from a friend, a colleague, or family member about how busy they are. Time is precious and with so many people overwhelmed with work and life – we are facing a human energy crisis. The research is showing that busyness is so prevalent – stress and […]
The Human Energy Crisis and the 4-Day Workweek Experiment
As someone with Futuristic in my Top 5 Clifton Strengths profile, I am fascinated by what’s coming down the road. Workplace futurists are predicting trends that range from multi-generational behaviors, remote/hybrid roles, and the 4-day work week. Futurist David Houle calls the 2020’s the most disruptive decade in history. The post pandemic journey has brought […]
Showcase Your Indispensability for Job Security and Growth
The Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous (VUCA) world-of-work has made us question job security. Gone are the days when company loyalty made you feel protected during difficult times. All sectors from corporate to non-profit, and higher-education have deployed downsizing, reductions in force, and lay-offs to navigate tumultuous times. Being indispensable in the competitive world requires […]
A Grown-Up Snow Day: How Will You Spend it?
Much of the country is being pelted with winter weather as I watch the beautiful snow accumulate outside from my warm and cozy perch at home. I’m in the mood for the stillness and peace that comes with a winter snowy day. ☃️ Before digital e-learning days, kids would wish for snow days to enjoy […]
2025: Let’s Do This!
As we begin a new year, the time is ripe to consider what you need and want to be happy, healthy, and gratified in your life and career. The pressure to pick a new year’s resolution can be stressful. Instead of a singular resolution that is likely to wane in a few months – here […]
Slay Perfectionism with “Good Enough to Go” for Career Momentum
As a career development and executive coach, I work with many individuals who are focused on making changes to their careers to better align with professional values and strengths. But for some, their best plans often get stalled in analysis paralysis, which results in stagnation and a hard stop to all forward momentum. Brave, Not […]
Savor Your Success
We live in a world where achieving success is a moving target. Whether your organization is focused on sales goals, fundraising targets, billable hours, placements, or some other measurement to quantify success – it’s rare to celebrate hitting the goal before the bar is quickly raised to a new and higher level. I get the […]
Meaningful Recognition Ideas for Colleagues
In the spirit of Thanksgiving, this an opportune time to consider how you can recognize people in your workplace for their service to your organization. The research indicates that when people feel valued and appreciated on the job it enhances their satisfaction, productivity, and organizational morale. According to Annamarie Mann and Nate Dvorak from Gallup […]
Ambition is Not a Dirty Word
The career landscape provides you with a myriad of choices about where to work and how to advance your career. Be proactive about how to become a promotable player and confidently consider the leaders with whom you want to work — or not. During a mock interview with my client Collette, I asked her if […]
Energy Follows Intention
I participated in an incredible women’s circle this week that recharged and reignited my energy, focus, and commitment about how I want to live my life and pursue my career. I learned that energy follows intention, and we must be clear about how we show up in the world and how we give and receive. […]
