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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Electronic Books Now Available

We are pleased to announce that our books, 100 Ways to Start Smart and Get Ahead in Your Career and 100 Ways to Stay Smart and Keep Your Career on Track are now available in e-format on all major platforms (iBooks, Amazon, and Nook). Quick and easy tips to succeed in your career are only a click away! Join thousands of women in learning how to lead and succeed in nonprofit organizations. 100 Ways to Start Smart and Get Ahead in Your Career You work for a whiny boss, your co-workers are slow ... 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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The Downsides of Efficiency

I love efficiency. I seek it in most things, and I admire it in the efforts of others. Little is as upsetting to me as having to redo a task, or having to take the long way around, or having a project or outcome stalled or derailed. However, someone recently pointed out (jokingly, I hope) that my need for efficiency may be borderline pathological. That gave me pause, and made me think about the downsides of efficiency, especially in the work setting. I believe most people want to be ... Read more

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The Pros and Cons of Working Offsite

Your company is rather small, and management usually doesn’t approve of people working offsite. However, some significant changes in your life now make it necessary for you to work from home for 6-12 months. You have been an excellent employee and you know they don’t want to lose you. Besides that, you love your job and are good at it. You carefully prepare your request and argument. Then you meet with your boss and explain the possibility and how you feel you can be as ... 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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What’s Your Higher Purpose? Do You Still Have One?

Think back a few years ago to the moment when you decided what your career path or life work would be. Perhaps it was the day you declared your college major or when you were offered your first job. Is what you are doing now what you expected to be doing two or five or ten or more years later? Did you set out with a purpose—with a higher purpose? Has that changed? You may now work for a nonprofit (a for-purpose) organization, and, on a daily basis, be involved in helping to meet their ... 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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