Career Life Designs: Designing Great Careers!

Working Mother 100 Best Companies

I couldn't wait to get it in my mailbox! And I know that other working moms were looking forward to it too...

Working Mother magazine has finally released their yearly list of the 100 Best Companies for Working Mothers. Each year in October, Working Mother publishes this up-to-date and informative  list for working moms to check out. And each year changes are occurring in the workplace!

This year Working Mother writes: "More companies are embracing customized careers that bend to the changing needs of working moms. They're creating results-oriented work cultures -- rather than time-centric ones -- that give working mothers more control over how, when and where they work."  Is this awesome or what?

These companies offer benefits that so many working mom's want and need. And they rate well above the national average for companies not on the list.  They offer benefits such as flextime (99% of Working Mother 100 Companies); telecommuting (part-time basis: 99%); health care insurance (for part-timers: 99%); job sharing (99%); company sponsored child-care center (64%); and many more: such as fitness center subsidy; adoption assistance; paid paternity leave and parental leave (beyond FMLA).

Pick up Working Mother's October issue to check out these trend-setters or click here.

I couldn't wait to get it in my mailbox! And I know that other working moms were looking forward to it too...

Working Mother magazine has finally released their yearly list of the 100 Best Companies for Working Mothers. Each year in October, Working Mother publishes this up-to-date and informative  list for working moms to check out. And each year changes are occurring in the workplace!

This year Working Mother writes: "More companies are embracing customized careers that bend to the changing needs of working moms. They're creating results-oriented work cultures -- rather than time-centric ones -- that give working mothers more control over how, when and where they work."  Is this awesome or what?

These companies offer benefits that so many working mom's want and need. And they rate well above the national average for companies not on the list.  They offer benefits such as flextime (99% of Working Mother 100 Companies); telecommuting (part-time basis: 99%); health care insurance (for part-timers: 99%); job sharing (99%); company sponsored child-care center (64%); and many more: such as fitness center subsidy; adoption assistance; paid paternity leave and parental leave (beyond FMLA).

Pick up Working Mother's October issue to check out these trend-setters or click here.

Your Three Gifts From 2006

It's a beautiful time of year. The lull after the holidays and the calm after the New Year! Doesn't it feel like you still have gifts left to open? You do! These are the unopened gifts from 2006. Ready to open them to start your new year right?

Your Three Gifts From 2006

Answer the following three questions to "open" your gifts.

1. What were the most meaningful moments of 2006? (You may be surprised to find they weren't necessarily the biggest events, but may have been the quiet, intimate, most precious moments that you will remember).

2. What were your most important lessons you learned in 2006? (Did you learn more about your inner strengths and gifts? Inner strengths and wisdom that will help you overcome obstacles? These lessons will serve you well in years to come).

3. What are your three most important dreams that you want to make real for 2007? (This is your starting place for 2007. If you make your dreams a top priority in your heart, mind and body, then with attention, support and resources they can become reality. Consider hiring a coach to support you in your making your dreams a reality. It can absolutely change your life!)

It's All About Attitude!

Do You Need An Attitude Adjustment?

Do you hate the idea of having to look for another j-o-b?

Do you feel overwhelmed just thinking about it and don't even know where to start?!

Most people feel the same way! 

But do you realize that your attitude is the primary factor in finding work that you love, landing the perfect job, and negotiating for what you are really worth?

Your attitude can make all of the difference!

Let's take Sheila. Sheila is a 35 year old working mom who hates her j-o-b and wants to find fulfilling work in another field. It is so bad that it is affecting her marriage and her family life- not to mention her self-esteem. She hates the thought of going through the "dreaded job search process", but feels powerless to change anything - remaining stuck.

So what do you think Sheila will do? She probably will procrastinate and be miserable that she is not doing anything to move forward, staying stuck in her unmeaningful, hateful j-o-b.

It's her attitude that is keeping her from finding something more meaningful.  Because she thinks the job search process will be grueling, she believes this is true and avoids it at all cost. She may even hope that magically something better will just come along.

(Does this sound like you?)

What if she knew that her job search could be meaningful, enjoyable, confidence-building, and extremely profitable?

What if she absolutely knew it would be filled with new opportunities that could enhance her career, life and income?! Wow! Who wouldn't want that!

So, let's take Sherry. Sherry is pretty much in the same j-o-b situation as Sheila. But the difference is she knows that finding work that she loves is very do-able, she knows where to find the support she needs so that she can quickly move through the job search process to find something better, and she knows that she can make many opportunities and connections through the process and come out the other side with work she loves and probably make more income to boot! She reaches out for support- to experts who can guide her through the process. She worked with us, moving through each of our 3 powerful steps (Dream it > Discover it > Live it), step-by-step, building new connections and opportunities and choices to choose from.

What did Sherry gain? Confidence, clarity, connections and choices! She found that opportunites are everywhere and now sees opportunties instead of obstacles.

P.S. Sherry does find work she loves that fits with her growing family's needs and now earns what she is truly worth in today's workforce!

So, do you need an attitude adjustment? If you do, don't wait another moment in your unfulfilling job: contact me for a free, introductory one today!

Have a Love Affair...with Yourself!

"Loving yourself means honoring yourself and your own feelings first". -- Oprah

How much do you really love yourself?

Are you ready to give yourself a very special Valentine's gift?

Do you put everyone else's needs before your own?  Do your children, boss, co-workers, friends, extended family, or family pets always eek out a spot above yours? Do you spend more time taking Fido to his check-ups then yourself?

Do you have time for your own personal growth, career growth, exercise or play needs? Your needs and desires are very important and deserve to be set as a number one priority in your life! Of course, Moms & Dads with young families will need to put their young children's needs before their own, but as they grow up, your needs can start to take center stage again.

I know it's a challenge. With a new blended family consisting of myself, 2 and a half teens, and a new husband --things can get a little hectic at times! With wrestling practice, drivers ed classes, homecoming dresses, ortho and dental appointments, doctor visits, zillions of friends and extracurricular school activities...sometimes it feels like we are mainly chauffeurs for our teens! And those are just their wants and needs. We are exhausted just from helping them live a great life!

But you have to remember that no one else is responsible for your own health and happiness except for you.

So start taking the time and energy to set your desires as top priority and the other things will naturally fall into place. The earth won't stop spinning because you spend some time to take a break. The kids will still get to their soccer practice (although someone else might need to take them since you might elect to take a well-needed bike ride); the dog will get to the vet (tomorrow); and dinner will still get cooked (with a little help from the entire family). Everything important will get done, but it might not all get done by you.

Here are three strategic ways to get started to set Y-O-U up as number one today:

Surrender the Struggle

Do You Fall Into The Struggle Trap?

Many of my clients and friends fall into the struggle trap. You know the one, where all you seem to do is struggle with your life, tolerations, people, work and aren't having much fun. I must confess that I also take the fall occasionally and find I must remind myself, and my clients, that it is a vicious cycle... but there is a way out!

It was a hectic time for us the past two weeks, mainly due to a new puppy in our household who needs to play around the clock (what were we thinking?!!!), a mind-boggling schedule for our teens, and various seasonal colds and flu. I found myself grumpy and feeling under the weather until I reminded myself of the choice I have.

Struggle is Strictly Overrated!

Most people carry their struggle as a badge of honor looking frazzled and running around in a hectic frenzy, while some really happy people don't sweat it and don't struggle at all. My good friend, Kim George, author of the fabulous book "Coaching Into Greatness" says: Struggle is strictly overrated. I agree! I like to say surrender your struggle! Put it down! If its not helping you or serving you then let it go and find a better way.

What Do You Do When You Fall into the Struggle Trap?

When you get into the struggle trap, ask yourself "If I were to surrender struggle fully, what would my life feel and look like?"

Take a few minutes to answer this question for yourself and really feel how you feel when you actually let go of ALL struggle in your work and life. Surrender your struggle!

Here are some powerful answers my clients come up with:

• Easy & Effortless (trusting that it will all work out just fine; open to new opportunities)
• Fun & Playful (because I love what I do and who I share my life with)
• Stimulating & Exciting (because I'm stretching and learning each day and doing what I'm passionate about)
• Wellness & Prosperous (because I live well and reap the abundance of health, wealth, time, love and freedom to choose)
• Freedom & Unlimited Potential (no limitations except for the ones I put on myself)
• Giving & Receiving (most women easily give but have a hard time receiving. Make sure you are open to receiving from others and the world)
• Choices & Opportunities (the choice is yours: struggle or surrender to life. This opens the door for many opportunities instead of obstacles)
• Gratitude & Peace (make a list of all of the things you have to be grateful for! This is everyone's favorite!)

So start today. When you find yourself struggling with a problem or overwhelm, turn this into an opportunity and better choices: surrender your struggle and take the right action on your own terms. This might mean saying no, delegating it, or getting rid of some nasty tolerations.

The gift is that you have a choice. A choice to see it as an obstacle or as an opportunity. Look for the opportunity in everything and it will change the way you view your life! Try it and let me know what happens in your life.