ruminations on the modern balancing act and doing it well
If you are thinking about advancing your career or are currently job searching, it is likely that you have been thinking about networking. Networking via industry networking events are a great way to connect with professionals in your field whether or not you are job searching. When job searching, you can use these events as ways to find out about openings or meet people who are working at the companies you are interested in.
When thinking about ways to continue differentiating yourself, think about yourself as a skills-based professional rather than an industry-based professional. This is a strategic and beneficial way to move through your career. Not only will you avoid being limited to your original career path, but you will naturally open up new doors to opportunity.
It is easy to get bogged down by the day-to-day and forget how far you have come, not only in life but your career. Taking time to stop and look around (including in the rearview mirror), we are able to see the big picture and gain some perspective.
When things change at work, it is normal to have strong feelings about it. Changes such as a new manager, new leaders in administration, or a new process or policy can leave us feeling off kilter. Change in the workplace can bring about all sorts of feelings, it can feel scary and unsettling. What we once trusted as the norm is thrown off and it can leave us (and our job) feeling threatened.
Work-life balance has become a trending topic over the years, as people work to find ways to integrate their personal lives and professional lives. It is worth reflecting on the fact that the 40-hour workweek started during a time when the cultural norm was that one individual in the household (typically a man) would work and the other spouse (typically a woman) would be responsible for homemaking and child rearing. Since then, cultural norms have shifted quite a bit.
In early childhood, adults often ask young children what they want to be when they grow up. Elementary schools hold career days in which the children learn about career options. High schools introduce students to career assessment tools that give them a list of careers based on how they answer a set of questions.
Often, when considering a new job opportunity or deciding whether we want to stay in our current position, we think about the opportunity for growth that the role or company provides. Whether it be opportunities to learn new skills, make more money or flex those leadership skills, it is only natural to look for ways to grow.
Upon the many times that I have realized that I have not blogged in quite a long time, a few different emotions have come to the surface - feelings like shame, embarrassment or frustration. But lately, I've felt motivation (finally!). It is very easy to allow the negative feelings to take over when we slack… Continue reading My Dear Blog, It’s Been a Year (!)
I've always prided myself on being adaptable. If I have plans to clean the house but a friend wants to get together, I'll prioritize the friend. If I'm working on a project at work and someone needs help, I typically drop my project to help. I think being adaptable is a good thing - the… Continue reading When Adapting Becomes a Bad Thing
Not a person who runs naturally on routine, I prefer to live by the seat of my pants. I am a Perceiver based on Myers-Briggs Personality Type. Perceivers prefer to keep their options open and dislike sticking to a set routine. But here's the thing, I'm starting to yearn for routine. In fact, I’ve been… Continue reading Thriving Over Surviving
Working Living Well 