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!
End 2023 Strong at Work

With days left before the beginning of a new year and the holiday season in full swing – it’s an opportune time to finish out the calendar year with intentionality at work. The economic predictions about inflation, a potential recession, and company lay-offs are conflicting at best, so take advantage of the opportunity to demonstrate […]
The Great 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 […]
Are You a Multiplier or a Diminisher?

From academia to the non-profit arena, as well as the corporate world-of-work, I have had many clients who complained about bosses who were ineffective leaders. Were their leaders intelligent and talented people? Yes. But, were they able to lead a team, motivate others, and empower success in their colleagues? Not always! I have come to […]
Hop Off the Fence! The Power of Decision

When it comes to making important choices or taking risks, for many of us, it’s easier to make the decision not to make a decision. I’ve certainly been there, done that… I was ten years into my opera career…my dream profession…the career I’d spent half my life training for…when I started feeling that the life of […]
The Changing Landscape of Work

By Goodwill Industries International Vice President of Mission Advancement Jennifer Davis It is on the news, in magazines and books and in workshop sessions at conferences. Everyone from the Federal Reserve to you and your colleagues are paying more attention to the changing landscape of work. Many of these thinkers and doers are responding to fears […]
Goodwill® Can Help You Jumpstart Your Career

Most people know Goodwill as the community place to bring used clothing and wares to be sold in stores and online. What you may not know is that Goodwill can also help boost your career. The U.S. Department of Labor reports that unemployment is the lowest since March 1973, but many are still looking for […]
Navigating Between Work and Family: 5 Tips That Can Help

We hear a lot about “work-life balance” these days, but, if you’re raising kids or caring for an older parent while bringing in a salary, is balance even possible? Dana Brownlee, mother of two young children, and founder of the Atlanta-based corporate training firm, Professionalism Matters, says trying to achieve work-life balance is akin to […]
Video Conferencing Etiquette Tips You Cannot Overlook

Technology is outsmarting itself with every passing second. It makes work easier as well as faster, and one such tool we all are familiar with is video conferencing. It provides an instant connection with the audience. It makes idea exchange an easier process where physical distance would have previously been a barrier. Below are a […]
Emotional Intelligence Part II: 7 Signs of Strong EQ

In the tenth anniversary edition of his bestseller Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ (2005), author Daniel Goleman quotes a search firm executive who says, “CEO’s are hired for their intellect and business expertise – and fired for a lack of emotional intelligence.” Many of us grew up believing that high IQ […]
Emotional Intelligence Part I: The 5 Competencies

How’s your ‘EQ’? It’s not a question you’re probably asked very often, if at all, but it’s definitely one to consider – especially when it comes to your career. For years, a person’s “Intelligence Quotient” or IQ was thought to determine how successful they’d be on the job and in life, however, over time, researchers […]
Time Off Helps You Thrive in Life and Career

It’s no surprise that most adults are overworked and overwhelmed but the counterintuitive reality is that many are not taking all the paid time off they’ve earned. According to Project: Time Off “After years of being asked to ‘do more with less’ workers are overstretched, stressed out, and exhausted. The always-on, 24/7 American work culture […]
Invite Your Boss to Lunch

The Chamber of Commerce in Bloomington, IN has a vibrant program – hYPe, which stands for helping young professionals excel. In this multi-generational workforce it’s imperative for professionals of all ages to collaborate well in the proverbial workplace sandbox in order for organizations to succeed. We’ve heard the complaints respective to each age group but […]
Write Yourself A Letter Connecting With Your Future Self

During a recent business trip, I was in a gift shop, picking up a card for a friend, when I glanced up and noticed a rectangular book with the cover made to look like an airmail envelope. It was entitled Letters To My Future Self. I was intrigued. I flipped through to find an assortment […]
LinkedIn Profile Perfection in 7 Easy Steps

Check out Leisurejobs.com ‘s terrific infographic about how to ace your LinkedIn profile for career success!