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!
Out of Work? Game on!

Lay-offs, downsizing, and right-sizing are terms that leave an emotional wake in the world-of-work. The shifting of talent supply and demand has become ubiquitous in all sectors and whether you have been let go, or left on your own accord, it’ time to consider what’s next. Silver Lining While it’s hard to see the bright […]
Celebrate Women Leaders

In honor of International Women’s month, it’s time to shine a spotlight on the transformational impact of women leaders. Women are paving the way for a style of leadership that is confident, authentic, and highly effective. Catalyst reports that the share of women in senior management is increasing incrementally. We still have a long way […]
Brave Not Perfect – Part II: Counteracting Perfectionism

If you’re looking to shake off your fears and move forward in your career, I highly recommend Reshma Saujani’s latest book, Brave, Not Perfect. Saujani, who founded Girls Who Code in 2012, says that, for women to succeed in the business world, it’s about more than just leaning in or boosting self-confidence – she says it’s about finding courage. […]
Brave Not Perfect – Part I: Taking Bolder Risks

With social media permeating our daily lives at every turn, things can seem pretty darn perfect out there. In this Instagram world where makeup is done to a ‘T’, hair is in place, and family and friends seem to always be having the time of their lives, it’s easier than ever to fall into the […]
Being Busy is Not a Badge of Honor

Busy-ness is a dangerous trap that relinquishes our control to find meaning and fulfillment in life and career when we are stuck in the quicksand of being busy. I am on a mission to disrupt the busy culture and focus on a life that is measured by meaning, value, fulfillment and other factors we can […]
The Best Leaders Have a Coaching Mindset to Develop Others

There are a myriad of resources and methodologies in existence to empower great leaders. One of the most important attributes of a successful leader is their ability and commitment to grooming and developing others. It is a tremendous responsibility that can also be truly gratifying. Whether you are the leader, or you are vying for […]
The Gender Pay Gap: What’s Being Done to Resolve This Stagnant Issue

Geraldine Carver is an advocate for women’s rights and has long been an advocate of gender equality in the workplace. She is a guest contributor to this blog. Being a woman today can be a challenge. While more and more women take to the streets to fight for their rights and as Good Morning America outlines […]
Empathy 101 for Better Relationships at Work

Regardless of your ideological views or political persuasion, these are turbulent times around the world. I’ve noticed a sense of angst, heightened anxiety, and a palpable change in how people treat each other both personally and professionally. It’s time to get back to what distinguishes us as human beings – treating one another with compassion, […]
Be Your Own Valentine

It’s the time of year for cards with red hearts, chocolates, and flowers as Valentine’s Day approaches. 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. By all means celebrate […]
Consider What To Keep, Stop, and Start to Reinvigorate Life and Career

A friend shared recently that every seven years she goes through a change that impacts her life and career in new ways. She looks forward to the new lens through which she sees life and embraces the process of transition. The human body is constantly changing at a cellular level so the process of transformation […]
Reinvent Your Career with Design Thinking

Has your career path stalled? Maybe you need a shift in your mindset. Savvy professionals around the world have adopted the process of design thinking—a series of steps for generating options, testing strategies, and seeking feedback—to reinvent their careers. Design thinking was used previously as a tool in product development (focusing on the end user) […]
It’s Time to Stop Dreaming and Start Activating

So many of us have waited for the perfect job description to magically appear and make all of our career dreams come true. Or, a perfectly balanced life with less stress, more time to exercise, well-behaved kids and the ideal life partner. What are you waiting for? It’s time to stop wishing for great things […]
Forget Unrealistic Resolutions and Achieve Micro Goals Instead

We all know that most New Year’s resolutions fall flat by the end of January. The goals tend to be too big and we lose focus and motivation to follow-through. Consider a micro goal that is realistic and achievable to reframe your resolution mindset and celebrate everyday wins. Here are some ideas to get you […]
Ring in the New Year with Reflection

Consider a new tradition as you begin the calendar year. How will you design the next 12 months to honor yourself and what you value? Instead of focusing on resolutions that are often hard to keep – take an incremental approach and begin by asking yourself questions to help clarify what’s really important. Give yourself […]