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!
Stop Waiting to be 100% Ready – Just Do it!
As a career development and executive coach, I work with many individuals who are focused on making changes to their lives and careers to better align their values and strengths. But for some, their best plans often get stalled in analysis paralysis, which results in stagnation and a hard stop to forward momentum. Perfection is […]
Demystify Executive Presence and Project How You Want Others to Perceive You
Executive presence used to harken images of expensively attired corporate employees who walked the walkand talked the talk to inspire confidence and yield influence for success in lavish offices and board rooms. After the COVID pandemic, the world has destigmatized remote work and the hybrid work model will be the new norm for much of […]
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 […]
Honor the Introverts and Give Them Space to Be Heard
There is a cultural bias in the United States that favors gregarious extraverts in the world-of-work. They speak up, think quickly on their feet, and rarely hesitate to share their point of view when interacting with colleagues and stakeholders. The perception of extraverts is not always based on the content, or the quality of the […]
Prioritize Mental Health in Your Life and Career
May is mental health awareness month and it’s time to pause and reflect about how you are honoring your mental fitness needs at work and at home. The U.S. Surgeon General, Vivek H. Murthy, M.D., M.B.A. released a report providing a framework for Workplace Mental Health and Wellbeing. The report is a call to action to lift the […]
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 […]
