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 Power of the Pause: Why a Sabbatical Might Be Your Best Career Move Yet
We’ve all heard the mantras: Keep grinding. Push through. Success requires sacrifice. But here’s the truth nobody wants to admit – sometimes the most powerful career move you can make is to stop. I’m talking about a real pause. A sabbatical. A leave of absence. Time away from the hamster wheel to actually breathe, think, […]
10 Ways to Nurture Yourself at Work Without Feeling Guilty
Let’s get one thing straight: taking care of yourself at work isn’t selfish, it’s self-preservation. With burnout rates climbing and workplace stress becoming the norm rather than the exception, nurturing yourself during the workday isn’t just nice to have. It’s non-negotiable. Yet many feel guilty every time we step away from our desks for five […]
Beyond Wellness: Why Your Burnout Solutions Aren’t Working (And What Actually Will)
I’ve been having the same conversation repeatedly with clients lately – and frankly, it’s alarming. Talented, driven professionals are burning out faster than ever, despite their organizations rolling out wellness apps and lunchtime yoga classes. If you’re nodding along, wondering why your team still seems exhausted despite access to meditation apps and mental health days, […]
Leading Through Uncertainty: Why Clear Communication Matters More Than Having All the Answers
As I reflect on the challenges facing leaders today, one thing has become crystal clear: we’re navigating unprecedented turbulence, and traditional leadership playbooks simply aren’t enough. Recent research from MIT Sloan Management Review reveals something powerful—clarity doesn’t require certainty . When 80% of employees struggle to stay focused during disruptive periods, the antidote isn’t having all […]
The AI Career Reality Check: How to Future-Proof Your Professional Path
Let’s get real about AI and your career. While tech leaders have been reassuring us that AI will simply “enhance” our jobs, the headlines tell a different story. With nearly 950,000 job cuts announced this year and middle management taking the biggest hit, it’s time for an honest conversation. The truth? AI is reshaping the workplace […]
How Leaders Shape Team Stress – And What to Do About It
We’ve all been there – walking into a team meeting where the tension is so thick you could cut it with a knife. You know the feeling: shoulders hunched, energy depleted, and that collective sigh that seems to echo around the room. As leaders, we often think stress is an individual challenge, something each team […]
Quiet Cutting: The Silent Career Killer
As an executive coach and talent development consultant, I’ve seen many workplace trends come and go over the years. But there’s one emerging trend that deeply concerns me – what is now being called, “quiet cutting.” You’ve likely heard of “quiet quitting,” where employees do the bare minimum required in their jobs. Quiet cutting is […]
The Leadership Energy Crisis: Why Executive Burnout Threatens Your Entire Organization
In today’s fast-paced career world, we often celebrate leaders who seem to possess superhuman endurance, working tirelessly to drive their organizations forward. But what happens when these titans of industry start to falter? When the very individuals responsible for steering the ship begin to lose their way? Executive burnout is a silent epidemic that’s putting […]
Finding Your Ikigai: Unlocking Your Life and Work Purpose
As we navigate our careers and personal journeys, many of us find ourselves searching for that elusive sense of fulfillment and purpose. Recently, I’ve been reflecting on the Japanese concept of Ikigai , which translates to “a reason for being.” This philosophy emphasizes the intersection of what we love, what we’re good at, what the world needs, […]
A Burst of Energy From Your Dopamine Menu
Have you heard of the “Dopamine Menu”? It’s a simple but powerful tool to boost your mood and motivation! Create a go-to list of quick, easy activities that give you a natural feel-good boost. Think: favorite songs, short walks, calling a friend, or enjoying a cup of tea. ☕️♀️ When you’re feeling low or unmotivated, […]
Embracing Wu Wei: The Art of Effortless Action
I’m a Type A personality, driven and ambitious with a relentless work ethic. So, the concept of letting go, or surrendering to the natural flow of life would have left me skeptical, but now, as a burnout survivor – I’m a believer. Many thanks to my friend Sarah for sharing Wu Wei with me. In […]
Unleash the Power of Teamship!
In a world where challenges are complex and rapid change is the norm, traditional lone-wolf leadership is becoming obsolete. It’s time to embrace teamship, a transformative approach that fosters collaboration, innovation, and inclusivity. Today’s effective leaders build cultures where every team member feels valued and heard. Teamship is more than teamwork. It involves leadership mindset, one […]
Survival of the Fittest: The Human-Centered Approach to AI
Savvy leaders are discovering that AI integration isn’t about replacing people — it’s about repositioning them to have a greater impact. Organizations should structure AI to handle routine information gathering and data processing, which liberates knowledge workers to focus on relationship building, strategic problem-solving, and providing the personalized, human approach that AI can’t provide. This […]
Master Your Stress in Just 48 Seconds!
Feeling overwhelmed? You’re not alone. In today’s high-velocity and divisive world, stress seems inevitable, whether you’re juggling deadlines, family demands, or unexpected work challenges. What if I told you that mastering stress could take less than a minute? This 48-second Box Breathing exercise is easy and powerful. The Steps: Inhale through your nose for 4 seconds . […]
