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!
Single Task Your Way to a Healthier Life and Career
Multitasking used to be a sought-after professional competency thought to be a valuable skill for the busy professional. Research tells us that single tasking is more effective and can result in higher productivity and time efficiency. I can envision the woman working at her desk, reading this piece while eating her lunch, checking her email, […]
Approach Work Conflict with a Coaching Mindset
Most of us have experienced an uncomfortable situation at work with a colleague that resulted in a conflict, heightened emotions, or ideological differences. While some conflict averse individuals use avoidance to sweep problems under the rug, that technique does not solve the issue and often results in festering and rumination that can be emotionally debilitating. […]
Crack the Gender Code in the Interview
I read a fabulous article by Muriel Vega in Pink Magazine online about how men take credit more easily for their accomplishments and often see negotiation as a sport. In the end this often gets them higher pay rates. Connie Glaser, a communications expert and author of Gender Talk Works: 7 Steps for Cracking the […]
An Attitude Adjustment in Just 2 Minutes
Admittedly, there are times when the stress at work makes you want to tear your hair out or at least close your door and scream in the privacy of your own work space. So, when life gets complicated at work and you need an attitude adjustment or a breather to re-create a positive frame of […]
Interview Wardrobe Essentials
For many, this is a time for job interviewing and I have seen the good, the bad, and the ugly this season when it comes to dressing for success. The first impression is made within 30 seconds before you utter a single word so your professional image speaks volumes about how you will be received […]
Being Neater Could Help You Become More Efficient
According to the Delphi Group consulting firm, 15% of all paper handled in a business setting is lost. What’s worse is that up to 30% of employees’ time is spent trying to find lost documents. Not all wasted time is spent purely on paper shuffling since the volume of email has risen over 30% in […]
Proactive Habits for Success
While pursuing research for my book, I interviewed over 150 women around the world. Many of these career changing women went from working in an organization to starting their own business. According to Women’s Financial Network, twice as many women start their own businesses as men. Whether the entrepreneurial spirit is alive in you or […]
Motivation 101
If you are looking for inspiring strategies to get your team moving at work, it’s all about developing incentives that will help engage a desired behavior. Most people are driven and inspired by their beliefs, values, personal interests, and even by fear. But motivating your colleagues to do something will be entirely different than what […]
What is Your Purpose at Work?
I read a recent statistic that approximately 80% of employed adults are looking for more meaningful work. That tells me that people are beginning to really consider what they value in a career and finding a job with a purpose is driving many in their career development. Jag Sheth wrote an amazing book called Firms […]
The Birth of My Book!
After 2 years and 150+ interviews with amazing women around the world who have changed careers – my book is now available! This Is Not the Career I Ordered: Empowering Strategies from Women Who Recharged, Reignited, and Reinvented Their Careers is part self-help manual, part inspiration, and a valuable resource for those contemplating a career […]
The Ultimate Personal Branding Resource
I had a great conversation with Dan Schawbel who authored Me 2.0: 4 Steps to Building Your Future (Kaplan Publishing). Dan was named by Inc Magazine as one of America’s Coolest 30 Under 30 Entrepreneurs. At 27, he is a sought after internet guru who helps businesses and individuals with creative branding solutions. With 91,000 […]
Traveling for Work
Many of us have to travel on the job and while the lure of new destinations can seem exhilarating, the realities of airport schlepping can become tiresome if you are not a savvy traveler. George Clooney had traveling light down perfectly in the movie Up in the Air but it’s inevitable that women just have […]
I’ll Take Any Job!
In a tough economy, many unemployed or under-employed people are forced to work jobs outside their field or area of expertise to keep their financial heads above water. There is no shame in honest work but it’s important to keep your eye on the prize and continue to pursue opportunities that play to your strengths […]
Providing Constructive Criticism
Whether you are doling out constructive criticism or the recipient of this ever important feedback, the delivery of this crucial information can be awkward at best. I read an article by Stephen Marsh who turned me on to Jack Welch’s book Winning and I highly recommend this resource if you value promoting candor in your […]
