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!
Break Away from Meeting Palooza
Nobody enjoys endless meetings that suck the oxygen out of day and eliminate white space on the calendar to reflect, think creatively, and do the work. Savvy companies like Google have “no meeting weeks” and Slack’s “Maker Weeks” where people can turn notifications off and relish in meeting-free time to do focused work. You can […]
How The Future Works
This month marks the 5-year anniversary of the pandemic shelter-in-place order, which turned the traditional workday on its head out of necessity. The multi-year global case study in remote/hybrid work has irrevocably changed how many people want to work moving forward. With the Worker’s Market driving change, savvy organizations are rethinking the way we work […]
Don’t be a Career Loser – Take All Your Paid Time Off
As a recovering workaholic, I strive regularly to integrate life and career to honor my personal relationships and my professional ambition. My life often resembles a roller coaster with ups and downs of activity and never a consistent steady balance – and that’s OK. This reality check has allowed me to navigate the ultra-busy career […]
Leverage Executive Presence to Project How You Want Others to Perceive You
Executive presence used to harken images of expensively attired corporate employees who walked the walk and talked the talk to inspire confidence and yield influence for success in lavish offices and board rooms. The world has de-stigmatized remote work and the hybrid work model will be the new norm for much of the global workforce. […]
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 […]
