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!
2023: Let’s Do This!
As we begin a new year, the time is ripe to start fresh and consider what you need and want to be happy, healthy, and gratified in your life and career. The pressure to pick a new year’s resolution can be stressful. Instead of a singular resolution that is likely to wane in a few […]
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. […]
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 […]
Happiness and Workplace Influence
It’s no mystery that happy employees are more productive but unhappy employees can become extremely debilitated and unwilling to follow leaders. This lack of influence leads to a breakdown in organizational morale, positional power and stability within organizations. Crystal Miller wrote a great piece on Blogging4Jobs about how asserting influence is not a passive thing […]
Define Success on Your Own Terms
You alone have the right to define what success means to you. Resist the temptation of letting others persuade you into absorbing their values. Focus on what you want so you can clearly measure what success means to you.
Pass the Turkey, and the Career Advice!
The stress of the holidays can be difficult enough without having to worry about finding a job or reinventing your career. If you dread the inevitability of well-meaning family members asking “How’s your job search going?” – consider tapping the wisdom and expertise of your friends and family and activate your warm network. Turn the […]
The Power of In-Person Communication
In this technology driven age people rarely communicate face-to-face anymore. Emailing, texting, and Tweeting have kept us hidden behind computer screens and handheld devices. It’s time to dust off your professional communication skills and speak to people, especially if you are searching for employment. In-person communication is always the best option so you can utilize […]
What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up?
The beauty of career reinvention is that you can change direction at any time. You should feel comforted that you have the power to control your career destiny so your “grown up” career can be redesigned multiple times. Research has shown that values: core beliefs and motivation, are the greatest predictors of career satisfaction. It’s […]
How a Coach Can Distinguish You in the Workplace
Having a personal career coach for C-level executives is expected as part of their continuing professional development and it also makes great business sense. Coaches can also be helpful for non-executives in various stages of your career. A coach can help polish your communication skills, develop and implement effective leadership strategies in your workplace, and […]
Navigate a Conference Wisely to Get the Most Out of Your Professional Development Dollars
Seeking out professional development opportunities is essential for the modern day professional. From webinars to continuing education or conferences and workshops – you must stay current and continue to grow in order to remain relevant in a competitive market. Professional development can also be a retreat for your mind, body & career spirit. It’s a […]
A Personal Brand Audit!
Linda Coles’ latest book is called: “Start with Hello” (Wiley) and talks about meeting more people you don’t currently know. It also shows you why your personal brand is important. Recently, Linda wrote a fabulous piece on LinkedIn about how you should perform a personal audit on your professional brand. What is the professional persona […]
My New Team of Introverts
I started a new job last month and had the first meeting with my team over lunch. My team consists of 3 amazingly smart and productive women so I was thrilled with the opportunity to get to know them and discuss our professional futures together. Within 60 seconds of arriving at our table, these women […]
Martha Stewart, Charlotte Beers and CDH
What do Martha Stewart, Charlotte Beers, and I have in common? We’ll each be speaking at the Indiana Governor’s Conference for Women on November 5th in Indianapolis. I hope you can plan to attend! The Indiana Governor’s Conference for Women will feature Martha Stewart,founder of Martha Stewart Living OmniMedia and Emmy Award-winning television show host, entrepreneur and best-selling author. […]
Do You Have The Sunday Night Career Blues?
Are you mopey on Sunday nights because you dread going to work the next day? If you’ve lost the passion for your job and feel like you are in a professional rut, it’s time to take stock and assess what you really want out of your career. When is It Time to Change Jobs? If […]
