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!
Can You Benefit from an Executive Coach?
As a certified executive coach, I work with a coach – a few in fact, who help guide me on my career and life journey. My coaches have provided a space with psychological safety and confidentiality to allow me to explore, discover, self-reflect, and polish my strengths, and mitigate my blind spots, so I can […]
Showcase How You Are Indispensable for Job Security
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 current competitive world […]
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 […]
There is No Mind Reading in The Career World
Gone are the days when working hard was enough to earn recognition or a promotion in the career world. Take control of your career trajectory and design your unique path. In addition to mapping out your career future, be sure to tap the wisdom of those who can empower you to achieve your goals. Keeping […]
Enhance Your Career with a Side Hustle
The gig economy is alive and well and many people are taking control of their professional lives by activating a side hustle to add a supplemental income stream or flex entrepreneurial muscles. Nick Loper identifies himself as a Chief Side Hustler and created Side Hustle Nation to help those committed to the side hustle career […]
The Health Benefits of Spending Time in Nature
You’ve probably heard a million times that spending time outdoors is essential for your mental and physical health. But did you know that the benefits go beyond a simple breath of fresh air? Below, we’ll explore the myriad rewards you can reap by spending some quality time with nature. From boosts in creativity and increased […]
Is There An Entrepreneur In You?
Ever had an idea for a business that just keeps tapping you on the shoulder…and have you ever thought of throwing caution to the wind and actually doing it? If the thought has even crossed your mind, there may be an entrepreneur in you just waiting to be unleashed. In my book, This Is Not […]
The Importance of Empathy in Our Lives
Even though it is frequently mentioned by many people, empathy is something that is hardly practiced or prioritized. Up to 98 percent of people are capable of empathizing with others, with the exception of sociopaths, psychopaths and narcissists who are incapable of understanding or relating to the feelings and emotions of other people. People with […]
