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!
Older, Wiser, and Career Dynamic
I have executive coaching clients in their fifth and sixth decade of life who are navigating a career change due to lay-offs, or company mergers beyond their control. Others are career transitioning by choice. My clients expressed worry about ageism as they consider what’s next on their professional journey and seek employment that honors their […]
Hire the Least Likely Candidates and Win with The Underdogs
I am so fortunate to meet and work with incredible thought leaders who are changing the world and Gil Winch, a guest on my Your Working Life podcast is no exception. When Gil learned that he had terminal cancer and a shortened expected lifespan, he decided to take on the challenge of changing the world regarding […]
Knowing When to Say NO!
The hand goes up in the air and we can’t believe our ears as we hear ourselves, once again, saying “Sure, I’ll do it” – even though every fiber of our being is imploring us to “Just say no!” The ability to graciously decline, when it’s in our best interest, is key to maintaining a […]
Break Out of Your Comfort Zone: 5 Action Steps To Make A Change
Change can be so challenging, especially when it comes to career. We are creatures of habit – hard-wired to seek comfort in the perceived safety of routine and what’s already known. Whether it’s clinging to people, places, things, or the way we think and the actions we take, resisting change can cause stagnation and even […]
Self-Care Is Self-Aware
When the subject of self-care comes up, it’s common to hear the airline safety analogy about putting the oxygen mask on yourself first come up in the same conversation – and with good reason. Many women today are being pulled in a multitude of directions – taking care of family, managing the household, and possibly […]
Are You a Workaholic? Balancing Work and Home
To say that my life has been hectic over the past several years is an understatement – I’ve always thrived in a fast-paced environment where I’m moving at break-neck speed. However, when I started feeling chronically overwhelmed, and friends and family started using my name in the same sentence as the ‘W’ word – workaholic […]
More Sleep, Less Stress – Equals a Better Life and Career
Stress is a hot button topic for many of us these days. When my coaching clients, family, or friends, talk about how stressed they’re feeling, one of the first questions I ask is whether they’re getting enough sleep. April is National Stress Awareness month, and it’s a good time to assess your stress levels and […]
Will You Be Ready When Opportunity Knocks? Start Preparing Now!
You may have heard the saying about ‘luck’…that it’s more than just happenstance…that ‘luck’ is when preparedness and opportunity intersect. So the question is – are you prepared for opportunity to knock? If you’re a first-time job seeker or a career changer, here are some tips to help you prepare, so that, when those new […]
How to Be Successful in the Job Hunt: The 5 P’s
In my coaching business, I meet many women looking for a ‘magic bullet’ for career success – a ‘no-fail’ formula that will lead them to the job or promotion of their dreams. While there is no one formula for landing that perfect job, there are qualities that, when tapped into, can make a difference in […]
Go Ahead, Be Ambitious: Let Your Goals Be Known!
If you’re one who tries to mask the fact that you’re ambitious, or squelches even the thought of it, you’re not alone. Many women I’ve worked with in my career coaching practice are hesitant to admit to the trait. In a mock interview, during one coaching session, I asked a client (I’ll call her Dana) […]
My Weekend With Marshall Goldsmith
Recently, I participated in the Indiana University Alumni Association Goldsmith Leadership & Executive Coaching Academy. Indiana University alumnus, Dr. Marshall Goldsmith certified the first group of IUAA Executive Coaches from around the globe and empowered us with tools for his positive behavioral change process. As Executive Coaches, we will work with IU alumni leaders and other […]
Ask For What You Want: You’re Worth It!
In my coaching practice, and in interviews I’ve conducted around the country, I see women, time and time again, waiting in the proverbial wings of their organizations – hoping and praying that they’ll be given a raise or promotion. As the saying goes, ‘hope is not a strategy’. If you’re at a point where you […]
Business Sense and Sensibility: Taking a Cue From the French
You may be familiar with French author Mireille Guiliano’s series of books sharing the sensibilities of French women on everything from food to facelifts. If you’re not, do yourself a favor and check them out. I just picked up Women, Work, & the Art of Savoir Faire, Guiliano’s enlightening book on career, for the second […]
Be Good to Yourself
One of the greatest joys in my career is helping others discover what gives them strength so they can honor their passion in life and career. But I’ve noticed that many people spend a lot of time beating themselves up for not being where they want to be, or doing what they really want to […]
