At the end of the year do you make New Year’s Resolutions? Many people do. For some it’s a time to feel hopeful for a chance to start over. For others a time for self-recrimination when the year’s resolutions sound a lot like last year’s. Weigh less, exercise more. Make more, save more. Spend more time with family. Learn _________. (You fill in the blank) You may tell yourself that … Read More
The Best Christmas Present You Could Ever Give Yourself . . . And It’s FREE!
Christmas is less than a week away! Regardless of what you celebrate, everyone is abuzz: parties, presents, food, family, friends. And expectations. This time of year everyone has expectations of others and of ourselves. My friend June is just now laboring under expectations (mostly self-imposed) that she has to deliver the perfect Christmas for everyone in her family – meeting all of their expectations. I know that one well, and … Read More
Getting triggered – Cutting Off Your Nose to Spite Your Face
There is nothing so precious as our sense of worth – Elizabeth Crook In my consulting business, the end of the year is a time to renew agreements with client companies. We look at their needs for the year, where I can add most value, we consider their budget and come up with something that seems fair to both of us. Sometimes what companies can benefit from and what they … Read More
The Gift We’re Afraid to Ask For
A couple of weeks ago John, one of my all time favorite clients, called me up almost in tears. John is a teddy bear of a guy, the size of a linebacker with a genius IQ. As a successful software engineer, he’s done well in his career so far, and yet his company just passed him over for the second promotion in a matter of months. “They didn’t even interview … Read More
The List That Can Change Your Life
Is this you? I haven’t been happy at this for the past five or six years. I didn’t really choose this career. I don’t even know what I want to do. Every time I think about leaving it, I feel guilty. Shouldn’t I be grateful for what I have? If you feel this way, you are not alone! Take Susan, a professor with tenured status, who came to me after … Read More
Can Absolutely Anyone Really Have Work That Makes Them Say Yippee?
“Give me but a firm spot on which to stand, and I shall move the earth.” ― Archimedes, The Works of Archimedes I’ve been out of the office for two weeks, so I scheduled an hour catch up with my right-hand woman Joni, on both personal and business matters. Joni and I have worked together for eleven years. We share a value of “no elephants in the room”. That means … Read More
Is Your Pink Cloud of Optimism Floating Away?
What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun? Or fester like a sore– And then run? Does it stink like rotten meat? Or crust and sugar over– like a syrupy sweet? Maybe it just sags like a heavy load. Or does it explode? Langston Hughes Have you ever gone to an event, attended a workshop, read a book or consulted a career … Read More
Are You Putting What You Love in Second, Third or Even Fourth Place???
You have to do what you love to do, not get stuck in that comfort zone of a regular job. Life is not a dress rehearsal. This is it. Lucinda Bassett, motivational speaker Do you have more than one job? If you are working and also looking for work that will make you say Yippee, the answer is YES. I have more than one job and sometimes it seems like … Read More
VOTE! — for yourself . . .
Not to decide is to decide-Harvey Cox, Harvard Theologian Both parties are spending millions of dollars and thousands of hours trying to get you to vote. Yet in spite of their efforts, less than half of voting-age Americans head to the polls (!) They’re afraid their vote won’t make a difference, they forgot to register, they don’t like any of the choices. But choosing gives you power. Every day you … Read More
How to Know if Your Job Doesn’t Fit
When you go to work do you feel constrained and uncomfortable? You know the feeling. It’s like pulling on a shirt or sweater that’s too small. You can’t wait to get it off, it’s driving you crazy. And it looked so good on the shelf! That’s how it feels when you work for a company whose values don’t match yours. In today’s economy, you may ignore the warning signs of … Read More