Setting boundaries is the single most common issue my clients deal with in their personal and professional lives. Why do women find them so difficult to put in place? And what can you do if a lack of boundaries is standing between you and the career success you desire?
What are Boundaries?
Whether you’re working in the corporate world or running your own business, you need to develop and continually exercise strong boundaries. Boundaries are the environment within which you operate – mentally, emotionally and physically. They separate you from other people.
Think …

I’ve been following Anne Naylor in the Huffington Post and she comes up with some really good personal motivational posts.  This week I’m just pointing your in her direction without much of my own writing because she’s got some good advice that does just fine without my commentary.
I guess you could say, I’ve moved my ego out of the way and admitted she does it just fine.  No help from me required.
Click here to read Anne’s article.

Ann Naylor in her Huffington Post article mentions a Cannes Festival movie Biutiful and writes an interesting article on  powerlessness.   What is about loosing control of situations that brings out the possible best and worse in us?
I life and in this economy and job market, we have to deal with so many situations where we don’t have control and have to accept (or not accept) the circumstances pretty much as they are.  She discusses a total of fifteen things we can do in these situations of powerlessness.
I think it’s a worthwhile read to help us …

When people lose their jobs, the obvious comes to mind. No income. However, experiencing unemployment personally, I have learned the numerous benefits of work, along with the pains of unemployment. Understanding this and preparing yourself can mitigate the ways unemployment will hurt. It’s not only about money.
My initial caution to a client (my work was helping others become employed) is that a job search is like being in a boxing ring with your hands tied behind your back, sometimes with a blindfold. A potential employer demands all kinds of personal …

(This lesson continues where Lesson 2 left off.)
Do NOT Go at It Alone.  Get the Help You Need
In the book “What Color Is Your Parachute? 2010: A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers” Richard Nelson Bolles says that a huge percentage of job hunters quit after two months. They just check out and stop looking. Take a look at Parachute chapter 1 for the details and statistics. (You may have noticed I pull a lot of material from this book.  As I mentioned in …

Job Loss Sucks! P.S. You’ll Do Just Fine
If you’re reading this, you’re likely an the job hunt. You and your family are worried. You’re dealing with difficult emotions – fear, anger and anxiety. It’s like your life’s on hold.
I know job struggles and job hunts. “Been there done that” as the saying goes. Hellen Keller gave us a quote that describes it perfectly:

When one door of happiness closes, another one opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which is …

(Editor’s Note: Ken and I ran into each other recently and he told me this story. I asked if he would write it up and I’m really glad he did. Enjoy!)
Getting laid off is never an easy thing. I have been working since I was 15 years old, working is what I do. The last time I was out of work was the last construction down cycle in 1977 and that was for two weeks. I remember how hard that was then and it …

I just ran into “Get the Right Balance“, a blog post written at a simple blog site”Welcome to the Occupation” written by Paul Smith. Paul identifies himself as “an HR manager at a non-profit organization in the Northeast.” A simple guy promoting a simple way of life per this article.

Paul’s article chronicles a documentary he saw on Arthur Kane, the bass player for New York Dolls. Back in the ’70s, the New York Dolls were a thing, but by 2004 things were much different. The …

I recently wrote my Devil Wears Prada article discussing the potential outcomes of the choices we make. Few of us go out and make an intentional life or career blundering decisions. I, however, have made a string of smaller decisions, or better yet, no decisions at all that over time got me someplace all together wrong.

I’ve done it with Christmas, too. I let Thanksgiving go by without giving much thought to what comes next. The time slips by and before you know it, I shorted myself. …

For this article, I went through the dozens of books I’ve reviewed in Career Jockey’s Book Review topic and forced myself to pick only three books.  I had to make some tough calls, but these are the ones that together contain the meat of what every job seeker needs to know.
Book #1 – What Color Is Your Parachute? 2010: A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers by Richard Nelson Bolles
I wrote my What Color Is Your Parachute book review within three weeks of launching CareerJockey.org. I’ve recommended it to almost …

The way I see it, human beings are hard wired to connect with something much greater outside themselves. We’re like the little guy in the E.T. movie that just has to phone home. We have this drive in common, but we go about it in so many different ways.

The thrill seeker searches by jumping off a bridge, skydiving or racing at high speeds. Long distance athletes works towards a chemically induced “runner’s high.” (I’m a long distance runner. This can be cool.) Soul seekers and yoga practitioners quiet themselves ignoring …

This may seem like an unlikely book for me to review, but my daughter grabbed “Eat, Pray, Love” and she liked it. Two ladies that went on vacation with us last year brought this book along and they both raved about it. It my attempt to stay in synch with the feminine thinking of my household (I have a wife and three daughters) I read it too and found this bestseller to be spiritually interesting.
I’ve read and reviewed “Silence on Fire” (follow link for my review). I’ll …

Here’s a very short blurb from me on some positive news. CNNMoney.com reported today that a job recovery may be on the way. I’m just reported the news they published.
Here’s a quote:
“There has been a real sea change in the leading indicators over the last few months, which now gives us very objective reasons to be hopeful that the recession will be drawing to a close,” said Lakshman Achuthan, managing director of Economic Cycle Research Institute.
Follow the link here for details.

You might wonder to yourself, “Why is this guy blogging about yoga on a career information site.” Well I attribute much of my inner strength and creativity at work to my efforts to stay fit.

Years ago a friend from work who knew I trained for marathons (Yes, I’m one of those nuts who runs alot), asked if I had considered yoga. I was very polite in my response, but inside I was thinking, “What’s all that navel gazing got to do with running? If I need to …

My brother buried his father-in-law today. My wife and I witnessed his wife of 50 years saying her last goodbyes. While hugging her youngest granddaughter with tears rolling down her face, she left him behind. You could see how much more she was leaving behind – things she painfully hoped she could take with her.
Cecilin, as most called him, never said much. He had lost an eye in an accident years ago which left him disabled. He was a low-profile, solitary man and, as a result, I never got to …

Losing your job is traumatic. You may have lost your ability to provide for your family. It brings on financial stress. It comes with feelings of betrayal, shame and guilt all at the same time. If you relied on your work to bring purpose and significance to your life, that was taken away from you. You are now left with finding a way to fill the emptiness. You may be asking yourself. “Who am I? Why am I here? Why am I alive?” All these can lead to anxiety, depression, …