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!
A Career Letter to The Class of 2023
Dear Class of 2023: As you head into the career world you have an opportunity to design your own career destiny and I encourage you to tap the power you have within you. You earned your credentials with a tremendous amount of time, effort, and more than likely a big financial investment that may also […]
Everboarding is the Key to Talent Retention
The Association of Talent Development (ATD) reports that the amount of information new hires learn in the first few days and weeks can be overwhelming. Unfortunately, many organizations consider onboarding a one-and-done process with tutorial videos and copious digital resources to comb through on your own. It’s a victory if you can find the bathroom […]
7 Tips To You Put Your Best Speech Forward in Your Career
Over the years, a number of my coaching clients have expressed a desire to improve their public speaking abilities – especially if they’re being called upon to make presentations at work. For many, speaking in front of a live audience is a daunting proposition. Some clients have admitted to feeling like “a deer in the […]
In Praise of the Walking Meeting
I always appreciate a well-run meeting, and, these days, many of the meetings I attend are not only well run, but well-walked too. I’ve recently become a devotee of walking meetings, and I join an ever-growing contingent dedicated to getting up and out of the office to meet on-the-move. Feet First, a website that promotes […]
Got The Sunday Night Career Blues?
The way we feel about our job at any given time can vary depending on a wide array of factors: how a particular project is going; technical issues; how well staff is performing; etc. However, when you have a chronic case of the Sunday Night Blues – dreading the return to work each Monday – […]
Confidence, Courage, and Failure – A Formula for Career Success!
Recently, I spoke at the Indiana Governor’s Conference for Women. It was a day brimming with professional development to empower women to lead and take control of their careers and lives. Confidence was a key theme throughout the day accentuated by the luncheon keynoters Katty Kay and Claire Shipman, co-authors of the best selling book: The […]
10 Ways to Overcome the Career Imposter Syndrome
Joyce Roché has been a trailblazer in the corporate world for 25 years, as Avon’s first African American female vice president; COO of Carson Products Company, now part of L’Oreal; former CEO of the national nonprofit Girls Inc.; and a board member on five Fortune 500 companies. Her book about overcoming impostor syndrome is The […]
Present Ideas to Your Boss With Confidence
Pitching a new idea to your boss does not have to be daunting or intimidating. Some practical tips from eHow magazine will help you on your way and give you the confidence and courage to share your ideas with conviction. Gather information that supports your idea. Find statistics that show the potential success of your […]
The Art of Failure and Why It’s Good for You
Years ago I was in an interview for a big freelance opportunity and my almost future boss asked me – “What was your biggest professional failure?” The question really freaked me out since I did not want to expose my vulnerable side or my true weaknesses. I was trying to land the job and show […]
How to Gain Trust With Your Colleagues
Building and maintaining trust in the workplace is vital to a healthy environment where colleagues feel valued and respected. Attempting to build trust amongst employees has become a major challenge for many organizations and lack of trust often leads to disgruntled colleagues and frequent turn over. Lisa Carver from Associated Content shared these practical tips […]
The Power of a Career Brand and Why You Need One
As a career coach, I often work with people that brand products or services for an organization but have no real awareness of their personal professional brand and why it matters. It’s time to take stock of your own brand and use it to achieve your career goals. Your Story Matters – when was the […]
Confidence On Tap – Part 3 Keep On Learning!
In my previous blog posts ‘Confidence On Tap’, Parts 1 and 2, I discussed how practicing bold body language and taking continuous action steps towards goals can have a positive affect on your confidence level. Since it’s ‘Back-to-School’ season, I thought it would be apropos to continue the confidence discussion by focusing on the positive […]
Vacation Matters: Don’t Be A Work Martyr!
Since the summer vacation season has drawn to a close, I invite you to take stock of the time you’ve had off so far this year. Have you taken all the vacation that’s coming to you? According to an eye-opening new study commissioned by Travel Effect, an initiative of the U.S. Travel Association, forty percent […]
Gail Sheehy’s 10 Dares to Take in Your 20s Part II
Gail Sheehy’s new book Daring: My Passages is a memoir of life experiences from a woman who knows how to embrace life – the good, the bad, and the ugly. Gail very generously agreed to allow me to feature her Huffington Post blog about 10 Dares to Take in Your 20’s – here is Part […]
