Q. After several years, I finally left middle school teaching, a career I had come to hate. Now I feel like a failure. My skills mean nothing to the business world. I have considered becoming a librarian, journalist or social worker, but I can’t afford to return to school. And I need […]

As a career consultant, I mostly hear from clients who have experienced involuntary job loss: layoffs, firing, industry change, company bankruptcy and more. But more often my clients find themselves in the happy position of accepting a new job and saying good-by to a current employer. Surprisingly, many tell me they’re nervous […]

You spent ten years with one company. Now you’ve switched to a new organization - and possibly a new career. Your challenge is not only to learn but also to release old patterns that won’t serve you well here.
Here are seven tips to help you master this transition.
(1) It’s been a long time since you […]

Q. I am a manager with eight direct reports. I received a couple of Christmas gifts this last season and don’t know how to handle the situation. Should I give them back? What can I say?
A. Begin by digging a little deeper. Why are these employees sending gifts? Was there […]

According to a recent New York Times article, psychologists find that introspection can be counterproductive. Sometimes a “gut reaction” can actually be more accurae than analysis.
“Don’t Think Twice – It’s All Right” by Timothy D. Wilson, first published December 29, 2005. http://tinyurl.com/bxz5y
According to this article, we shouldn’t think “why,” but “what” and “how.”
And according […]

The toughest decision of all: Get out or get going!
By Cathy Goodwin, Ph.D.
Many of us are influenced by the sports ethic: Never give up! When a basketball team is down by 20 with 30 seconds on the clock, the players never stop working. Spectators might be filing out, and the winning team might be deep […]