Recently this question was posed on a LinkedIn forum: Should you hire and fire?

Readers interpreted the question differently. Some said, “Hire slow and fire fast.” Most said, “Don’t hire anyone unless you’re prepared to invest in his/her retention and growth.”

Here’s my response (edited from what I posted):

With small companies, or companies going through fast growth, it’s best to hire contract workers rather than employees; they have a fixed term and you get a sense of who you want.

But you don’t get a completely free ride when you hire contract employees.

Performance reviews as well as decisions to put someone on probation, give written warnings, or (especially) fire  even contract workers can lead to lawsuites. Therefore, when setting up your processes, you must get advice from a good employment attorney. I’m not a lawyer so my comments are based on first-hand experience.

I’ve heard of contract employees bringing suit because they claimed they were not re-hired due to sexual harassment, discrimination or other causes. These suits will eat your time and money budgets; they cause deep rifts in a company, destroying your most precious asset: a productive group of employees.

In a growing or changing environment, be aware that reference to “age’ or “career stage” can be interpreted as age discrimination (and in fact it probably is, in my non-legal opinion). If the EEOC gets interested, they will ask about documentation, so you need to be ready.

Apart from saving the hassle of a lawsuit, you’ll save everyone a lot of misery when you do things right the first time. I’ve seen first-hand what happens when a confused manager starts inventing stories to justify a poor evaluation. It ain’t pretty.

What do you think? If you don’t see a comment box, click on the title of this post and share your thoughts.

What motivated you to sign up? Why are you interested in learning more about career change? Reply to this post and share your reasons. Each comment will be moderated so if you prefer, your comment can be edited to remove your name and other identifying details.

Job search, like almost everything else, has changed in the 21st century. For instance, you may be wondering, “Is it still correct to use ‘Dear Sir or Madam’ in a cover letter?”  (Actually not..)

This question provides the opening for a provocative article in Business Week. Read the full article here. I’ve added my thoughts in this post.

There are two reasons to avoid outdated search tactics. First, you could be branded as ‘older.” More important, as a new hire of any age, you are supposed to bring a fresh wave to the company. You’re expected to show that you’re up to date on trends and practices.  As this article notes, if you haven’t noticed that ‘Dear Sir or Madam” hasn’t been used in the past 30 years, what else aren’t you noticing?

You might say, “That’s an unfair question.” I would agree. After all, how often do we write letters to anyone, let alone strangers in a business environment? Why would we even notice?

Career change and job search represent critical points in a person’s life for which we are usually unprepared. Other critical points include surgery and buying a home. We just don’t do these things enough to learn how to make wise decisions. And time pressures usually preclude the kind of careful research we would like to undertake.  That is why so many people seek out professional advisors, such as case managers in health care or  career coaches for careers.

Outdated Tactic #1: Your job search doesn’t require special stationery. Often you will send resumes and cover letters via the Internet, where they will be printed out on plain white paper. It’s okay to use a heavier stock than the default option from your neighborhood copy shop. But skip the “nubbly beige or pink or stone-grey resume paper.”

On this point, I agree 100%.

I also recommend getting simple cards printed up with your name and home phone number, so you’ll have something to share at networking meetings. This step is especially crucial if you are unemployed or job-hunting in secret.

The author says it’s a 1980s idea but I suspect you’ll find resume consultants today who are making these recommendations.

Outdated Tactic #2: Quaint cover letter phrases. The author refers to “Creaky Cover Letter Language,” such as “Dear Sir or Madam.”   Instead, find he name of the hiring manager, using LinkedIn, if at all possible. If you are responding to a blind ad, you can omit the salutation altogether. I still see people saying, “Good morning.”

What you don’t want to use: “Dear Hiring Manager…” or “To Whom It May Concern.”

I’d also avoid phrases like “prior to” (instead of “before”). Write the way you speak.

Outdated Tactic #3:  Groveling and begging with an “I will do anything …”   You’re expected to present yourself as a specialist who talks to the hiring manager as an equal. After all, you are arranging a win-win business deal. You aren’t desperate.

The easiest way to avoid this mistake is to make sure you don’t need this particular job. Start your own small business (hey, my dog walker made more than some teachers last year.). Have many irons in the fire. Don’t end your job search until you have a written offer, with a salary and a start date, and you have accepted, in writing.

Outdated Tactic #4:  A Bevy of Bullets. Identify 2-3 accomplishments for your past jobs. Each bullet should represent an accomplishment, written up as “problem, solution, outcome.”  Your resume tells a story in simple, everyday language.

My own comment: If you’re over 16 you don’t have ‘”tasks” or “duties.” You have responsibilities and more important, you’ve created accomplishments.

If you’ve had several jobs, include details in the last two or three job listings. After that, a summary should be enough.

Outdated Tactic #5: Show-off-y research.  You absolutely need to do your research. Sites like ZoomInfo, LinkedIn,  Glassdoor.com, and other company-research sites will give you a leg up on the company. The firm’s own site will tell you what they claim as the official party line.

What’s more important is the way you present your research. Bring up a few points casually. Even though you are on a job search, the idea is to come across like a consultant who may be taking on an engagement. Anything that smacks of seeking brownie points or groveling will lead to a loss of credibility.

What About the X Factor In Your Job Search?

Finally, one comment to the original article pointed out that a lot of hiring is based on personality. A job search strategy may include finding as much as you can about the personality of  the person who will hire you.

Many people are gifted at picking up vibes in situations so they’ll instantly grasp the personality of the interviewer. I’m not sure how much you can learn ahead of time. People sometimes take on different personality traits during an interview, so company insiders won’t be able to give you an accurate perspective.

However, you may be able to research the company’s culture. During the interview, you’ll notice different things.

For example:

Are you invited to meet your future colleagues? One of my own clients called after he had been on a job for a few months. He realized he had made a horrible mistake. Going back, we could see clues. He had been interviewed in a conference room, far from his future colleagues. He met one other manager. Sure enough, when he reported for work, he realized his manager was a control freak and the corporate culture was secretive and tense.

What do YOU think? What are some elements of the culture that should be emphasized in a job search?

What outdated tactics have YOU seen in the workplace?

Answer below. If you don’t see a place to comment, click on the title of this post and you will be taken to a page that allows comments.

Sunday’s New York Times features a section called the Career Couch. Each week a pressing problem is offered for career advice. This week, the question was about handling the difficult situation when your boss adds more tasks to your workload than you have time to do properly. Read the full article here.

Career advice from experts can be summarized as:

(1) Tell your boss the consequences of adding an extra project. Other projects may be delayed. You may need additional help.

(2) Ask for help. For instance, “Maybe we can get someone from accounting to run these numbers.”

(3) Ask your boss to set the priorities. “I’m already working on A. Does B get priority?”

(4) Work long hours if the new product will enhance promotion opportunities within the company or make you more marketable.

(5) Keep your management updated, as often as once a week. That way your management has a realistic sense of your workload.

So … what do you think?

If I were offering career advice to a client, here’s what I might suggest.

First, study your boss’s agenda. Newspapers and magazines like to give the party line. So do consultants and coaches who are being quoted for print (and posterity).

The party line is that your boss means well and has the company interests at heart. The truth? Sometimes your boss wants you to fail. Sometimes your boss is under pressure and passing the pain around. Sometimes your boss honestly doesn’t know because circumstances have changed.

Watch for pushback. For instance, you say to the boss, “The project you assigned will take an extra 20 hours this week.” Your boss says, “No way. When I did that project six months ago, it just took 8 hours.”

These are the kinds of questions I would encourage you to ask – not necessarily out loud but to yourself:

Are you inefficient?
Is the boss factoring in genuine differences, such as your unfamiliarity with the task or a change in circumstances?
Are you valued as someone who can get it all done, on time and error-free?

If you’re getting a series of “no” answers to these questions, you should start seeing red flags. Unreasonable requests can mean that (a) your boss is a clone of Dilbert’s pointy-headed boss; (b) you’re being targeted for bad things to happen; and/or (c) something is very wrong with your company or department.

As always, the best career advice will be, “Study the company’s culture.”

… What do they value? Some companies place a high value on saying “yes” and overworking yourself till you’re sick or dead.
… Who gets rewarded?
… Who else is getting extra work? Are they the winners who go on to great things? Or the losers the bosses feel they can use with impunity?

Finally, you may not have the option to say no. I am not a lawyer. However, in an informal conversation, a lawyer told me that refusing to do work can be grounds for termination. Now, I don’t know if that lawyer was right. I don’t know what circumstances apply. But I would really, really think about saying “no,” especially if something is in your job description. Again, I’m not a lawyer and it is not my intent to give legal advice.

But speaking as a non-lawyer career consultant offering career advice from my experience, I would encourage you to go through the motions and do the best you can, if your boss refuses to let you off the hook. Then you may have to recognize that this career or job is coming to an end. Think of how you can give it a decent burial while moving on to your next life.

If you’d like to get some career advice via one-to-one consulting, you can hire me for a single-shot Career Strategy Session. http://www.midlifecareerstrategy.com/careerstrategysession.html

Below is a guest post by Linda Hampton. If you are saying, “There are no jobs out there,” read on!

Did you know that many super successful businesses have been started during economic downturns, including Hyatt, Burger King, IHOP, The Jim Henson Company, Microsoft, and even MTV.  They started on a wing and a prayer with low start up costs, even in the garage of a parent’s home, and are now recognized the world over just by their names.

Aside from these well known businesses, people just like you created solo ventures, finding a new and exciting way to support their families and themselves. They might not be multinational billion dollar corporations but they do quite well supporting their family and their retirement years. Contracting, consulting, and other types of “home businesses” or entrepreneurship have exploded during this last recession just as they have during every other economic downturn we have had in our country.

Many boomers are looking to start a business with low start up costs that they can take their first steps while still working another job orwithout breaking the bank while a  spouse works. Either way, there are so many different ways to use your skills today that there is certainly something that you can start part time and build to a lucrative full time income over time. The trick is to look at what skills you bring to the table now, what skills you may need to learn, and how you can put that all together to come up with a business you can be proud of doing.

With the uncertainty in the economy today boomers want to minimize their financial risk by starting a business they can do from home. Having a home office is no longer considered an unprofessional thing to do. Many people are doing it, successfully, every single day. With the technology available today, and the increase of broadband access and high speed Internet which allows a sole practitioner to outsource to others who are also working from home, there isn’t much you can’t do remotely while appearing to others as a huge corporation with an entire staff at your fingertips.

Opportunities are created by changes in the marketplace, so it’s to your advantage to keep your eyes open to the needs that you can fulfill based on your unique skills and interests.  You can turn these skills into working as a consultant or virtual assistant, or even a coach to help others find their way to starting a business. There are so many ways that you can help people from your home office or kitchen table if you just start looking at what benefits you can offer others. Right now is a great time to do it because many businesses cannot afford to hire you full time, so why not work for four companies 1/4 time each? You’ll likely end up making more money than you do now, as well as feeling more fulfilled. Because, when you are the owner of your business you become the master of your fate.

About the Guest Blogger

Small business expert and author Linda Hampton founder of “Attract Clients Out of Thin Air.” Linda teaches smart, simple ways boomer women can use their skills, knowledge and experience how to attract more clients, create profit-making products and services, make more sales and ultimately live the life they desire and deserve. To learn more about how to Attract Your Ideal Clients sign up for more FREE tips like these, visit her site at: http://clientattractionmentor.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6799303

In this illustrated extended blog post, author Alison Green debunks myths that many of us have about the work place. Read it here. Ms.Green points out that we should distrust myths like, “Companies are required to be fair and just,” and, “The HR department will help you.”

A company’s HR department, ethics policies and “family friendly” promises may be genuine. Often they’re efforts to convince you that you’re dealing with a gracious, princely organization. In reality it’s a frog and always will be.

The best way to deal with difficult companies is:

1 – Have something going so you’re in a position to walk away from a tense or hostile workplace.

One reason employers get away with so many injustices – and even outright cruelties – is that employees feel chained to the company. If you have a weekend business – even if you’re walking dogs or mowing lawns – you’ll have a cushion to help when things go badly.

2 – Be aware of non-legal concerns that companies have, such as a desire to be viewed favorably by customers and potential employees.

Many years ago a San Francisco newspaper featured a story about age discrimination at I. Magnins. Apparently the store had decided they needed fresh, young faces on the retail floor. Of course many of their customers were in the demographic that the company allegedly attacked. The day after the story appeared, the floors were empty, as customers chose to shop elsewhere.

3 – Always have a Plan B.

I’ve met too many people who were stranded in a small town, with no other employment alternatives handy. I’ve talked to people who took a lower-level job “just to have a job” and then got so comfortable they were unmarketable 5 or 10 years later, when (a) their employer closed down or (b) technology made them obsolete.

4 – Keep building your skills.

If you’re working for a company, it’s hard to disconnect at the end of the day. Therefore it’s a good idea to take classes where you’re in a structured, live learning environment.

5 – Don’t get too comfortable.

Too often I’ve heard people say, “I just lost my job … and we had just bought a big house.” Or, “Well, this job is good. I don’t have to think about the future.”

A job that’s fun in your 30s and 40s can feel like an albatross in your 50s and 60s.
A job that’s enjoyable because of your boss, office, or location will seem intolerable when any of those things change.
You may wake up one day and realize, “I don’t want to do this anymore.”

Of course you want to enjoy luxuries and perks. I recommend consulting with a licensed financial planner to discuss your “what if” scenarios and make plans.

To discuss whether you are dealing with a frog (or have somehow missed the princely elements of your own organization), see http://www.MidlifeCareerStrategy.com/services.html

I wrote this “poem” in 1998 after I’d just bought a house in
Florida. I moved in right before Christmas. And just this year
I bought a condo in Philadelphia and moved in right before Christmas.

Some things just don’t change …

Santa Visits a “Just-Moved” Newcomer in South Florida

Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, just the Mac and the mouse,
When all of a sudden a wail filled the air
As the burglar alarm detected a hair.

I ran to the keypad, pushed down on the code
Hoping neighborly tempers would not explode.
The phone rang and I told the guard I was fine
When over the rooftop came a great whine,

Then four beeps, a grunt, a groan and a sigh
And a deep voice bellowing down from on high:
“Things have come to a pretty pass, I have to say,
When the elves install car alarms right on my sleigh!”

He was dressed for South Florida, wearing shorts and a tee,
With the logo of Lauderdale-down-by-the-sea.

Brakes squealed as a sleigh wheel got caught in the gutter
And Rudolph’s hoof smashed up a hurricane shutter.

“I’m glad you dropped in,” I wanted to say,
But thoughts of a homeowners policy got in the way.

They don’t cover sleigh wheels, or santas, or deer,
So I’d soon be in debt for for this holiday cheer.

“Have a soft drink?” I offered, to get him out faster,
But at moochng this guy was clearly the master.
“Soda? For children! Just give me a brew.
Molsons preferred, but Corona will do.”

“Gee, Santa,” I said, as I eyed his big sack,
“I still have twelve boxes left to unpack.
Instead of a gift this year, maybe your elves
Could help me assemble my lamps and my shelves?
And move this big table and hang all those prints –”

But all of a sudden I saw Santa wince.
“I have a long drive,” he said with a frown,
“And the elves union says they have to put down
Their tools after midnight, or I travel alone
And call for repairs on my cellular phone.
A mechanic on holidays? I don’t do magic
And delaying these gifts to good kids would be tragic.”

A last sip of beer, a quick wave of the hand
And Santa was headed away from my land.

The sleigh was still on the roof, so I cried,
“Take special care as you climb up the side!
Those screens are secure, and they have little wires
To sound an alarm against burglars and fires –”

Too late! A boot crashed and the sirens began
And ’twas back to the keypad before they could scan
My sensors again, for twice in one night
Would give any alarm system cause for a fright.

I’ll be spared Santa’s gifts when I wake Christmas morning
So I’ll just take some time to post a new warning:
“No trespassing: Elves and santas beware!
All visitors must offer to do home repair!”

… so don’t stop by and visit for awhile!
Happy holidays!!!

Today’s Guest Post comes from best-selling author Barbara Winter.

When funnyman Steve Martin’s book Pure Drivel came out it enjoyed critical raves and enthusiastic sales. Although the author has long been recognized for his fertile comic mind, he told the Today Show’s Matt Lauer that the book would not have happened if he hadn’t taken time off. His sabbatical unleashed, Martin said, an avalanche of creative ideas.

Martin is not alone in discovering that taking time away can reap enormous benefits. Nicola Freegard was a successful (and frazzled) Hollywood music production executive. After a particularly stressful project, she decided to spend a year driving around the United States with her cocker spaniels as companions. Eventually, she settled in Tucson and began to clarify her goals. She decided she wanted to combine design and textile production with her concern for the environment. Furthermore, she wanted to work with great people and travel to exotic places. Today she heads Earth Works, a company that markets environmentally sensitive products for the home.

Despite numerous stories extolling the profound rewards of taking time away, it’s an idea that is not being as heartily embraced as it might be. In fact, many people find the whole notion downright terrifying. Not surprisingly, I’ve noticed, these are people with the least to lose.

Because the notion of regular sabbaticals throughout our lifetime has been so ignored in recent times, there’s some confusion over what constitutes a true sabbatical. People often claim to have taken a sabbatical when they actually took a sidetrip — usually not one of their own choosing. Divorce or a job loss frequently sends people into a tailspin, causing them to drift until they get their bearings. Calling such times a sabbatical diminishes the true objective of time off.

My definition of sabbatical is time away with a purpose. The purpose of such a time is not to abandon your life, but to enrich it. In the original concept, first defined in the Old Testament book of Hebrews, a sabbatical was to be taken by everyone, every seven years. During this year off, fields were to lie fallow, debts were to be forgiven, relationships were to be repaired and introspection was encouraged. Over time, of course, the notion disappeared and today many people don’t even observe a weekly Sabbath, much less consider taking an entire year of restoration.

After taking my sabbatical seminar a few years ago, Veneta Masson wrote an inspiring article about it for a health care magazine. In the article she said, “In 1998, I will have been an RN for 35 years. I should be coming up on my fifth sabbatical. …What if nurses, especially nurses in clinical practice, were granted time away from the physical, mental and emotional intensity of patient care for personal renewal? Wouldn’t nurses nurse more effectively if they themselves are well cared for?”

Obviously, my answer to the questions, “Who me? Take a sabbatical?” is a hearty, “Yes. Why not you?” And I’m not alone in singing the praises of such an adventure. The authors of Six Months Off interviewed over 200 people who had done so and without exception they all found that doing so enhanced their lives and careers. I have never met any sabbatical-taker who doesn’t rank it as a top life experience.

Like every worthwhile undertaking, a sabbatical requires thoughtful planning plus a creative approach to shifting gears for a while. Just like starting a business, taking time off seems fraught with obstacles until the right idea occurs. Then enthusiasm for the envisioned project begins to create momentum and attract necessary resources.

A good starting point for thinking about your own sabbatical can be as simple as this little exercise. Start writing down your own thoughts by completing this sentence:

I want time away in order to accomplish  __________________.

Once you have the big picture in sight, begin to list all ideas — both tame and wild — about how you might fulfill the mission. Then get busy carrying out the logistics.

Whether you want to see the world, find time to complete a project without interruption, study a new language or jumpstart your creative spirit, a sabbatical is an old idea that deserves to be rediscovered and put to use by those serious about discovering their biggest selves.

Is It Time for Time Away?

Here are several signs that it is the perfect time to consider a sabbatical:

You can’t remember the last time you had a new idea that you were excited about.

You’ve reached all of your goals.

You’ve reached none of your goals.

Your kids think you’re a nerd and you suspect they’re right.

You have a nagging suspicion that you’d be really good at something if you only had time to learn how.

You get wistful every time a plane flies overhead.

Nobody ever asks you what’s new.

A longterm relationship or job has come to an end. It’s time to write a new chapter.

You’re tired of being an armchair traveler and want to see distant lands for yourself.

You’re ready to find a new hometown.

You feel drawn to donate your time and talents to a humanitarian cause.

You need time to do research or start a long-term project.

Your soul is weary.

Barbara Winter, author of the bestselling book, Making a Living Without a Job: Winning Ways for Creating Work That You Love, is also a business owner, itinerant teacher, and self-employment advocate who found her own right livelihood after overcoming her early notions that work was meant to be drudgery. Be sure to check out her Winning Ways newsletter publication and various Teleclasses and Workshops at www.JoyfullyJobless.com or www.BarbaraWinter.com

If you are thinking of changing careers, you’ll probably get advice along these lines.

1 – Review your history. What have you done well? What do you get praised for doing?
2 – What are you passionate about?
3 – What would you do if you won the lottery?

and (my favorite): What do you want your survivors to write on your tombstone? Mine will probably say, “She was more lucky than good.” But that’s another post.

Here’s an alternative approach.

To find your new career, look outside your career. What do you do when you have free time? What do you always make time for?

If you’ve been working a long time at a time-consuming career, you probably don’t have a strong inventory of things you really like. Your challenge is to find things to do beyond work. The first time you do this, you may be challenged and you may make mistakes … well, not mistakes, but you won’t make the best use of your time.

For instance, I was totally caught up in my academic career for many years. I loved research. I usually liked teaching (except when the students told me they should get an “A” because they paid tuition – yes – they really do that). I read mysteries and went to the gym. Sometimes I toured art museums. I went to the ballet.

What’s wrong with that?

Well, except for the gym, my activities didn’t really get me involved. I didn’t “engage,” the hot new buzzword. I didn’t use different parts of my brain. For instance, I was writing all day so what did I do? Take a writing course!

Fast forward a year when I took off from working. I started learning about music and taking pottery classes. Now, when it comes to pottery, nobody’s worse than I am. Years after that first course, my creations still look like something a third grader would turn out. But I’ve learned that working with clay seems to activate certain parts of my brain. I’ve always been un-handy; most of my do-it-yourself projects ended up in splinters. I’m much more confident at using my hands now.

Since then I started taking improv classes. I’m an experienced, capable speaker, but improv is a whole new way of relating to an audience. I’m taking sketch writing which is more about comedy than writing.

So here’s what I’ve concluded. If you’re ready for a career change, look outside your career. Find things to do that force you to engage with your environment in a new way. Include a physical component. Develop a skill that you didn’t have previously. Relate to people who are different from those you work with.

Don’t expect to feel good at first. One of the hazards of these projects is that you’re on a learning curve and it’s not always fun at the beginning. At some point you have to decide if you’re going to stick with it. I recommend at least finishing a course (if you are taking one) or a time commitment you’ve made to yourself. Sometimes you need to give up. I will never “get” cross-country skiing. Ever. That was a smart decision.

But awhile back I was ready to give up on my own pottery class. “I have no talent,” I said. (Nobody disagreed.) “I could be using this time for something else.”

But I kept up because (a) for me, pottery is like therapy but cheaper; and (b) I’d already paid for the course.

Suddenly I got a shift. My pots started looking almost good! I was so thrilled. People noticed. It was like I caught the spark.

The same thing happened with my sketch comedy. My first sketch was SO bad. Nobody even smiled. Everyone gave me that supportive, sympathetic look you don’t need when you’re trying to do something good.

But again the magic happened. We were assigned to rewrite the sketch. I went home and suddenly it hit me: I needed a new twist to transform this piece into something good. I caught fire and next time – it worked. I felt SO good.

One major source of relocation stress comes from choosing which apartment to rent or which house to buy. This decision is critical. Make a wrong choice and you’ll be miserable – not to mention you could lose thousands of dollars from moving again … and again.

Trulia’s real estate realist dispenses answers to a common question. “I’ve looked at a dozen places. How do I know which one is right for me?”
Read the full post here:
http://bit.ly/p1ECVG.

Here are 5 signs she suggests:

- You feel possessive immediately.

- You minimize the home’s flaws or decide they’re really virtues.

- You don’t get turned off by the bathroom or kitchen.

- You start imagining your own pictures, furnishings and family in the new space. You imagine moving a wall or changing the carpet.

- You lose interest in seeing other homes.

I’d agree with these indicators. However, I’d say that these indicators would place this home on the “Maybe” list at best. At this point you are interested. But keep looking. When you start thinking, “I MUST have this home,” it’s easy to make a bad decision.

In particular, I would be concerned if you start to ignore the home’s flaws. I’d say, “Before you look at places to live – especially if you plan to buy – get a checklist in place. Give the checklist to your agent, if you are working with one. Don’t give up on the checklist to easily.

For instance, you might find a place that’s got the perfect layout. Okay, you wanted a view of the sea and sky – or at least a few trees – and now you’re got a view of a parking lot. “No big deal,” you think. But six months into your new home, that view will start to grate on your nerves.

Or imagine that you fall in love with the perfect condo … and then discover the walls are thin as paper. You now have a beautiful home but you can hear people walking overhead. Maybe you hear music or voices from next door. Can you enjoy your life there? You may be too stressed to enjoy the beautiful layout.

On the other hand, I would pay attention to the way your possessions fit into your new home. For some reason, I find a new home works best if your furniture and artwork seem to be made for the space. You can come up with a woo-wooey explanation, which is fun, but it’s also true that your former possessions reflect who you are. IF you can take yourself with you into the new home, you will be much happier and have a smoother transition than when you start over.

For more tips on relocation, download my ebook, Making the Big Move.