Being Bold (Part I)

Recently, when walking through a makeup section of a store, it was apparent that the color palette for this season is bold, bold, and bolder still. There were advertisements for bold nail polish, bold lipsticks, bold eye shadow, even bold hair colors. They looked lively and fun, but It made me wonder about the average woman and when and where they would use such colors. Casual settings would be fine, but would they be appropriate for the office and board room? The answer is it probably ... Read more

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You Can Find a Job, But Can You Find a Career?

There are times when individuals can’t actually find a job—any job—but more often, they can’t find a job they want to do or which relates to the career path they are trying to forge. If you are in this position, it may be time to take a hard look at whether or not you are being realistic. Do you actually have the needed skills and experience for the job you desire or are you hoping to grow into a position once you secure it? Are your salary demands in line with your experience ... Read more

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Regrets, I’ve Had a Few

We are all beginners when we start up that career ladder, and most of the time we have to “learn as we go.” Generally, you can’t get very far before making a wrong turn, a bad decision, or a poor judgment. Everyone has negative work experiences, and much of the time, these are minor. We simply self-correct and keep moving forward. Sometimes. however, what seems relatively minor can lead to some fairly major regrets. Things like even slightly falsifying an expense report or ... Read more

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Own Your Power

Many people don’t fully understand power. Others think power would be great to have, but never actually work toward it. Still others decide they don’t want the responsibilities that go with power, or they feel that power is simply unattainable. Alice Walker, author of The Color Purple, has said, “The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any.” Too often, this statement relates to women in the workplace. How can women achieve ... Read more

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How Useful is Rethinking?

You’ve been the lead on a big project. You inspired and encouraged your team. You planned carefully and stayed within budget. You’ve tried to be a big thinker while paying attention to details. All seems to be in order for the final presentation, but you have an uneasy feeling that something isn’t quite right. Are you just tired, or is there really something you missed? You and the team are anxious to have the project finished and on your boss’ desk, You don’t ... Read more

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Bosses and Bad Behavior

No matter what your political affiliation, you probably are similar to many other Americans when we hear the President criticize and disparage members of his staff. It’s one thing to be displeased with someone’s performance, it’s another to publicly humiliate them. The same is true in the classroom, in team sports, and in the workplace. Sometimes, teachers, coaches, and bosses use their public criticism as an excuse to bring about peer pressure or to bolster team effort, ... Read more

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Thoughts Have Power

Recently I found a copy of “The Magic of Believing” by Claude Bristol. It was written in 1991, but I had never read it before. One phrase, in particular, stood out: thoughts have power. We know we can talk ourselves into (or out of) doing something. We can use our thoughts (and our self-talk) to bolster our confidence or undermine our efforts. While most of us can’t actually project our thought power and manipulate others (or a ouija board) simply with our minds, we can ... Read more

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Your To-Do List May Be Holding You Back

Do you keep a list? Is it on your cell phone, or laptop, or perhaps, even on paper? Do you update it on a daily or weekly (or hourly) basis? Are there categories such as long term and short term goals? Do you divide it by work projects, social engagements, and personal items, or is it all jumbled together? Do you love crossing things off your list, or do you just put things on your list and forget about them? Importantly, is your list functional and useful, or does it make you more and ... Read more

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Character as Well as Capability

Recently, an employment consultant was discussing a new trend in job interviewing. She noted that in this age of cookie-cutter, online resumes and responses, employers are looking for a way to differentiate one capable candidate from another. The answer may be character. How can character be defined and determined? How can you, as a candidate for a job prepare for this new interview thread? Several questions may provide some guidance: • Tell me about an autobiography you have read? What ... Read more

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How to Leave a Job…and Your Work Friends

“Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver, the other gold.” —Joseph Parry (1841-1903) You knew the time was right to leave your current position, and you worked hard to find a new job that moved your career forward. Despite the rightness of your decision, it does mean change, and even positive change can be difficult to manage. You’ve adjusted your schedule, your commute, and your work content. Now what do you do about your work friendships? • First of all, ... Read more

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