Everybody’s telling you to avoid so many meetings. Here’s some opposite advice. It’s almost a cliché that people hate going to meetings, and many of the complaints are legitimate. Meetings take up a lot of time. They distract people from important tasks. To add insult to injury, if you’re the one who called the meeting, some are focused on other things such as daydreaming, looking at their...

“Efforts and courage are not enough without purpose and direction.” John F. Kennedy Having a sense of purpose and striving towards goals that enable you to express your purpose gives life meaning, direction and satisfaction. It not only contributes to health and longevity, but also enables you to succeed in uncertain times. If you're in harmony with your purpose, you're also in sync with the energy of...

I shared the story of my career transition from Opera into the Professional Development work I do today. Making that change eighteen years ago was a huge challenge. My career journey all of the sudden took a turn into uncharted territory and I was shaken to the core, but also changed for the better. If you find yourself in the midst of a career change where you find yourself “off-roading” away from the safe o...

Frank, a brilliant project manager, was demoted. His colleagues and clients thought he was abrupt, critical and aloof. Effective communication nurtures relationships, increases career advancement opportunities, strengthens confidence and helps manage stress. When we communicate effectively and feel understood, life and work are satisfying. We feel in control, valued, trusted and respected. When communication breaks down,...

When it comes to career, there’s a lot of pressure in our culture to achieve our goals…to “make it”… to “get there” – yet each time we “get there”, there’s always a new “there” to get to. We reach a goal, and that brings us to ‘What’s next?’ – and then we’re off again – working toward the next new goal on the...

I spent 18 years in corporate life, and experienced some great successes that I’m proud of. But I also faced some dismal failures. The failures weren’t around outcomes I generated, or projects I launched – those tended to go well. The failures centered around my emotional and physical well-being, how I was treated, and the lack of integrity, meaning and purpose I felt doing work that wasn’t aligned w...

Are you considering a career transition? Are you unemployed? If so, you'll need to manage money wisely. Here are some tips: Prepare. Planning and the willingness to live on less temporarily will stretch the time you can go without a full-time job. You'll not only have more time to fin that ideal position, you'll also eliminate a financially controlled deadline. Before making a career shift, determine how...

Striving for work-life balance isn’t a zero sum game. Being fully present wherever you are is what matters. Right up there with “win-win” in the office lexicon, you’ll be familiar with the tired term, “work-life balance.” But, in truth, there is no such thing. In fact, I’d go so far as to say that the very idea is an insidious lie. It implies that “work” and “li...

How Good Deeds Help Your Cause, Boost Your Skills and Add a Spark to Your LinkedIn Profile Volunteer work often involves skills and responsibilities that translate nicely to the workplace, but people tend to neglect those activities and say “it wasn’t a real job.” Volunteering as a Big Brother was challenging and satisfying for me. I connected with a delightful young man and watched him grow. In addi...

When it comes to our work lives, the one sure thing is change and challenge. We may moan and groan when faced with hurdles large or small on the job – but these are the experiences we’re most likely to remember for the growth and wisdom they bring. Through my coaching practice and travels for speaking engagements, the most heartening stories I hear about career challenges are the ones that have led to positiv...