When you are in the right business / job, one of the benefits of taking a real break, as I did during the Christmas to New Years stretch is that your brain starts to work in new and fresh ways. Your creativity is sparked. You see new solutions to old problems and opportunities where they didn’t seem to exist back in November.

This has certainly been the case with me over the years, and this holiday was no exception.

Keyword = Buzzing.

Lots of great ideas, and new points of view. So, here’s to…

I have had the fortune to be acquainted with Penelope Trunk, aka the Brazen Careerist, business advice / career columnist for the Boston Globe, for some time now. Penelope has always impressed me with her insightfulness and fresh, no-nonsense, practical ideas about managing careers and work.

So, I was delighted to receive from her publisher Warner Books a copy of her new book, Brazen Careerist: The New Rules for Success. Simply put, it is a really good read, and a valuable addition to increasing …

Update: This article has been updated to Four Factors in Getting Promoted to an Executive Role

Are you ready to take on an executive role? You need to examine the “Nuances” of breaking through into the executive ranks. Readiness to take on an executive role depends to a large extent on the facts of your career history, the messaging, your in-person presentation, and the opportunity fit.

The Facts

Your career history might result in a dynamic career trajectory, or the exact opposite, one that …

Achieving career development through determination

I am so glad to be writing about this topic this week. You see, more than 80% of resolutions are dropped by January 17th. Great intentions at the beginning of the month slide away in the face of day-to-day pressures.

If you are intent on doing something with your career this year (and I hope you are…we should all be developing professionally), then you need more than will power.

You need to establish what you want. And then, you need to set firmly …

Blogging for Business

The marketing of your coaching and consulting services is almost all about marketing yourself. When someone buys your coaching or consulting services they are buying you - your skills, talents, knowledge, experience and interests.

Therefore, among the strategies coaches and consultants can employ to market themselves, establishing credibility and developing a relationship with your target audience should be high on the list.

You need to be aware of a new online technology that…

Okay. You’ve socialized. You’ve reflected and planned. What’s next?

Action!

On what?
Internal career development. Job search. Career change. Increasing your profile and personal brand in your market / community. Launching that product or service. Personal development. Personal or family projects. Health. You name it.

Some powerful ideas for getting a strong start to your year:

1. Schedule your year

Major events and milestones. Self-set deadlines for goal achievement. Vacations. Long weekends. Weekly f…