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!
What Are You Waiting For?

This was a big week for me. 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 are over – bring on the full-hustle! This was not an overnight decision. I have been pursuing my business on evenings, weekends, and precious […]
Hone Your Emotional Agility

As we continue to navigate the VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous) landscape and the ongoing pandemic journey, mental unwellness is at an all-time high. The World Health Organization reports that depression is the single leading cause of disability globally. Savvy organizations are offering more comprehensive wellness support like access to therapy as part of […]
Your Body Language Speaks Volumes
You always communicate over two channels: the verbal and the non-verbal. The latter is often ignored but it can be a deal breaker, especially in a negotiation. I have been getting a lot of questions about salary negotiation on my CBS Radio Show Career Coach Caroline http://sky.radio.com/shows/coach-me/ lately and with the gradual uptick in the […]
Communication Tips From a Distinguished Lawyer
Jim McElhaney is the Baker and Hostetler Distinguished Scholar in Trial Practice at Case Western Reserve University School of Law and also serves as the Joseph C. Hutcheson Distinguished Lecturer in Trial Advocacy at South Texas College of Law. He has had a 25 year run as a Litigation columnist for the ABA Journal and […]
Don’t Be Your Own Worst Career Enemy
We’ve all been in job situations that weren’t ideal but if you are looking to move up or move on, your professional attitude is something that will pave the way for a new opportunity. I read a great piece in Gamut News about self sabotaging career behaviors that you need to be aware of. When […]
Are You “Leaning In” to Your Career?
It takes courage and conviction to seek out your career destiny so it doesn’t happen by default. So many people let the momentum of a job take them on a path that leads them to a place they have no desire to go. Power is not given but taken. You have the power to take […]
Career Opportunities and Sage Interview Advice – Cummins, Inc. Has Both!
In order to land the job you must first ace the interview. Cummins Inc., a global power leader, is a corporation of complementary business units that design, manufacture, distribute, and service engines and related technologies. Not only do they have 5,000+ global jobs they are eager to fill, Cummins has designed the Excellerator: Career Development […]
Practice Saying No
We’ve all heard it a million times – just learn to say no, make time for yourself and put your own oxygen mask on first. I still believe in this philosophy but I also know it’s easier said than done. True confession time – I don’t always practice this mantra as much as I preach […]
The Girl Scout Oath Needs A Rewrite
I have dedicated my career to the empowerment of individuals, especially women so I have a bone to pick with the Girl Scouts of America. Having never been a Girl Scout I only came upon the Girl Scout Oath recently when the difference between the Girl Scout Oath and the Boy Scout Oath was brought […]
Jumpstart Your Career Passion
According to a Gallup survey, 71% of US employees are disengaged and this is not just linked to productivity but your health and wellbeing. I read a great piece in The Glass Hammer by Henna Inam about reigniting your career passion. Sometimes we all need a little jumpstart to reinvigorate a fading career passion when […]
The Science of Gratitude
You may have heard about the power of gratitude but you may not know that Psychologist, Robert Emmons is leading a research team studying the positive effects of daily gratitude and how it can actually change a person’s life. Dr. Emmons’ University of California Davis research team says the payoff for gratitude can be significant […]
Catpult Your Career
It’s tough out there for women and if you want to advance your career you need a strategy and the resolve to follow-through with your plan. Stephanie Chen wrote a great column for CNN Living detailing ways that women can get ahead in the workplace. Interviewing a group of business experts, researchers, and authors, Chen […]