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!
Keep, Stop, Start Your Way to Clarity, Purpose, and Wellness
As a career and executive coach, I work with many individuals who are stalled or stuck in a stagnant routine of life and career that zaps their energy and enthusiasm. The human body is constantly changing at a cellular level, so the process of transformation runs deep within our very being. I encourage you to […]
Parents Under Pressure: The Surgeon General’s Advisory on Their Mental Health and Wellbeing
United States Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy released a Surgeon General’s Advisory on the Mental Health and Well-Being of Parents, highlighting the urgent need to better support parents, caregivers, and families to help our communities thrive. Burnout, exhaustion, and overwhelm are causing a human energy crisis in workplaces around the world and for many parents, life at […]
Leadership Lessons from Ted Lasso and What to Ask Your Boss
The resources on leadership can be overwhelming from books to podcasts, to TED Talks, research, methodologies, and beyond. While I value the volume of resources available, these 12 lessons from Ted Lasso, the award-winning series on Apple TV about an American football coach leading a British soccer team are simple and powerful. The Ted Lasso […]
Does Your Company Have a Culture of Quiet Retaliation?
I read an amazing piece in the Harvard Business Review. Does Your Company Have a Culture of Quiet Retaliation? Quiet forms of retaliation are incredibly common and can be contagious in the workplace. The organizations that accept this form of retaliation as a standard practice have difficulty hiring and retaining great people. Retaliation — in […]
Celebrating My One-Year Milestone
A year ago, I left a senior leadership role in a large organization to pursue my executive coaching, speaking, and consulting practice full-time. My side-hustle entrepreneurial days morphed into a full-time venture, and I have never been happier. This was not an overnight decision. I had been pursuing my business on evenings, weekends, and precious […]
Older, Wiser, and Career Dynamic
I have several executive coaching clients in their late fifth and sixth decade of life who are navigating a career change due to lay-offs, or company mergers and acquisitions beyond their control. Others are career transitioning by choice and excited about designing a new chapter in life and career. My clients expressed worry about ageism […]
94% Currently Work Outside Their Preferred Hours (2023 Report)
This article originally appeared here: 94% Currently Work Outside Their Preferred Hours (2023 Report) and was republished here by permission of My Perfect Resume. 94% Currently Work Outside Their Preferred Hours (2023 Report) In the fast-paced world of modern work, flexibility is the new mantra reshaping how we approach our careers. No longer confined by […]
Gratitude with Specificity
This weekend I received a beautiful card in the mail from my dear friend Sonal Sheth Zawahri that truly made my day. Admittedly, my love language is “words of affirmation”, so cards, hand-written notes and messages feed my gratitude soul. She also included 2 of her signature Tru You Val-U cards that celebrate talents, characteristics, […]
The Power of Resting Deeply
It’s the height of the summer season and many are taking vacation hoping to rest, recharge, and rejuvenate. The reality is that many people need a vacation after the vacation because they do so much during their time off that rest is not a priority, and they return to work exhausted. I am a firm […]
Cracking the Code of Job Satisfaction: 2023 Study
This article originally appeared here: Cracking the Code of Job Satisfaction: 2023 Study and was republished here by permission of My Perfect Resume. Does your job give you an endorphin boost? Or rather anxiety, stress, and hundreds of reasons to complain? No matter whether you save lives or create memes, work from 9 to 5 or have no […]
It’s Time for a Mid-Year Career Refresh
My article was originally posted on Medium. My grandparents were faithful Christmas Club savers at their local bank. Starting in July, they would deposit money in a special account each month, so they could have savings ready to go for the holidays. While many retailers are now having Christmas in July sales, it’s also a […]
Achievement Intelligence is the Essential Guard Rail to Humanize AI
The benefit of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is taking shape with the aim of improving the lives of every person on the planet. In the world-of-work, AI is empowering users in every industry to increase sales, efficiency, and productivity. While there are clear business wins in doing and achieving more, the relentless focus on more is […]
Thriving Women Leaders: Executive Coaching Forum for Women Leaders in Higher Ed
As a certified executive coach, I have been trained in the stakeholder centered approach for impactful leadership. How are you showing up in your organization? How do others perceive you? Are you willing to get vulnerable, embrace humility, and address your blind spots to honor a growth mindset? It’s essential to bring others into your […]
Can Every Leader Benefit from an Executive Coach?
I attended the Gallup at Work Summit and I was energized by the many sessions focused on coaching. As a certified executive coach, I work with a coach – a few in fact, who help guide me on my career and life journey. My coaches have provided a space with psychological safety and confidentiality to […]
