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!
Career Pearls of Wisdom from 2022
As the countdown to the new year approaches, I have been reflecting on the many things I learned in 2022 on my career journey. I have been stretched and challenged to consider new ideas. My goal is to honor the values that support my life and career to provide me with meaning, purpose, and gratification. […]
What Might Happen if We Banished Our Obsession with “Busy”?
This is a guest blog post from my dear friend, Kris Taylor. She is the founder of Evergreen Leadership, an extraordinary coach, trainer, and speaker. Kris has taught me so much and graciously agreed to share her recent blog post about busyness. I’m confident you will learn from her as well. Enjoy! I admit it. […]
Making the Most of Your Time
Many people ask me how I juggled a full-time job with a private career coaching practice and still managed to get a book published. I’d be remiss if I said it was easy, but I did learn some excellent strategies that are applicable to anyone struggling to get time on their side. Here are some […]
A Gossip-Free Workplace
Recently, a coaching client in middle management was expressing frustration about the noticeable increase of gossip in her office, and it brought to mind a New York Times article from a few years back that made quite an impression. No Gossip Policy In a NYT Preoccupations column, guest contributor, Shayla McKnight shared her experience working […]
The Search Is On: 5 Tips To Improve Your Google Factor
Have you Googled yourself lately? It’s something I regularly ask my coaching clients and I pose the question to you…when was the last time you searched for yourself online? Your Name/ Your Brand While an impressive resume and interview skills are important to landing a new job, your Google factor is key as well. I’ve […]
Going Creative: Finding Your Best Career Fit
If you yearn for work that allows you to be more creative, you’re not alone. CreativeLive, an online education network, recently commissioned a study regarding creativity at work, and a sizeable percentage of those surveyed said they wanted more of it. According to CreativeLive’s inaugural Creative Jobs Report: Nearly 40% of U.S. adults have a […]
Just Say ‘Thank you!’ Receiving Compliments With Poise
Historically, women have been taught to be modest, and not boastful. The problem is, lots of women take the modesty road too far – to the point of devaluing themselves and their talents. While I’m not advocating becoming an out and out braggart, it is important to stand tall in your strengths and accomplishments and […]
Develop Your Charisma and Your Career
Last Fall, I had the opportunity to hear Charlotte Beers speak. The legendary retired Advertising CEO and former Under Secretary of State had us all in the palm of her hand at the Indiana Governor’s Conference for Women. We were riveted from the moment Ms. Beers took the stage. She was the personification of charisma. […]
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 […]
