I’m the type of person who needs to be shown why it pays to be grateful, happy and optimistic. Are you like that? I hated to admit it, but it is true—and yet I am still an optimist and I think most people would say so.  Why the change? I have learned the hard way over the years that my ability to find something that could go wrong with anything that crossed my desk, was in actuality, not an asset but a liability. Yes, being able to forecast numerous possible outcomes can enable a business to be prepared for various situations. But when it came to my personal and professional life, I was dragging myself down and paralyzing myself. Are you doing the same? (more…)

My friend, G.G. Collins launched her website Smart Girls Make Savvy Women and asked me to write the inaugural guest blog post. Thank you, G.G. for including me on such an important message—getting our children ready for the workforce.  Best Wishes in your success!

4 Career Skills to Teach Your Children Now for Future Professional Success

As a Job Search Coach and Career Development professional, I often get asked by well meaning parents if there is anything they can do to best prepare their teens and young children for the job market.  Or what are the best career options to pursue.   The latter question is best left to labor analysts and economists who  forecast what the domestic and international markets will require to determine which skill set will be in high demand over the next decades.

So what can parents do to best prepare their children to succeed within a chosen career? As a career professional, former recruiter, hiring manager and as a current parent myself, here are my suggestions of what parents can do outside the education system to best prepare their kids based on the clients I have worked with and prospects I have interviewed over my 16 year career:  (more…)

People want to feel good and look good at work—I am sure you are no exception. Being happy in your current job has to be paramount, since looking for a new job is not the right decision for everyone. If I can give you a suggestion to use that has a positive ROI that is both measurable and invaluable, that can provide positive corporate public relations and, in some cases, that can have new business ideas evolve by bringing together employees that don’t normally work together, you would want it, yes? Well, here you go…. (more…)