This week’s browseworthy links…

1. While browsing through posts from my Linked In groups I came across DivaToolbox.com. In addition to career related information the toolbox hosts articles on family, money, and business. Great find: Be Fierce at Work and Five Things Every Newly Self-Employed Woman Should Know.

2. Who’s To Blame for the Digital Ceiling, posted on Fast Company’s blog,makes a great point about the lack of women highlighted as or sought out as experts in technology. The article offers five tips for how women can better promote themselves. My favorite tip:

Be optimistic and toughen up. While it’s easy to get depressed if you feel overlooked, channel that anger to stand up for yourself and your fellow techie women, speak out, and take action.

3. Looking for answers from the perspective of a manager. Check out Ask a Manager. Blog categories to drill down into: salary, good management, and work habits. Recommended read: Helping a boss manage his  time better…my time management rant. My favorite steal from her blog roll: Evil HR Lady.

4. You’ve have heard of guerilla strategies for marketing – how about guerilla strategies for landing a job HR. This post from Success in HR shares 4 quick and targeted interviews. Best bet: Strategy #2 Getr brutally clear on the job you are going after.

5. Are you planning your entrance into the entrepreneurial world? Or maybe you are halfway there – with one foot firmly in yoru full-time gig and another impatiently tapping in your part-time passion pursuit. Browse Entrepreneur.com’s Summer Reading List for books and podcasts. Ready and waiting on my Kindle: Reality Check by Guy Kawasaki. Looking forward to downloading: podcasts from the SBA.

As “The Career Makeover Coach”, Tai Goodwin is on a mission to help ambitious individuals reinvent their professional lives by centering on their passion and purpose. Holding as a core belief that we are all called to divine purpose and gifted with a unique passion, Tai uses a results driven, spiritually grounded approach to help clients create career paths to support the lifestyle they desire. Whether it’s helping people go from embittered to empowered professionals or making the transition from employee to entrepreneur, Tai is committed to helping clients tap into their own potential for brilliance. Tai has been empowering others through teaching and coaching for over 14 years. A gifted and insightful communicator, Tai holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Drexel University and a Master of Science in Education from Capella University. She has completed ASTD’s (American Society for Training and Development) Coaching Certificate program and is pursuing professional coaching certification through the International Coach Academy. Originally from Philadelphia, Tai currently lives in Delaware with her daughter. She is currently working on her first book: Reclaiming Your Brilliance: Seven Ways to Take Your Life from Bright to Brilliant.

Web site: http://www.careermakeovercoach.com

Do you need to sharpen your skills in your current position? Or are you considering going back to school in order to make a career transition?

Continuing your education is critical for professionals who want to:

• maintain a competitive edge in a shrinking job market
• stay abreast of changes and trends in their industry
• leverage relevant and up to date knowledge and skills in building their career

Don’t miss this timely and informative interview with education expert Dr. Stephen Jones. Dr. Jones is the Associate Dean for Students and Strategic Planning in the College of Engineering at Villanova University. He has over 26 years in education and is passionate about leveraging education in order to break barriers in America’s workforce.

Listen Live on-line: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/taigoodwin

To listen via phone, call (646) 727-2438

Want a reminder and a replay link sent to you? Click to register.

Hosted by Tai Goodwin – The Career Makeover Coach, From Bright to Brilliant is a dynamic online talk show offering practical dialogue for professionals committed to taking their career or business to the next level.

As “The Career Makeover Coach”, Tai Goodwin is on a mission to help ambitious individuals reinvent their professional lives by centering on their passion and purpose. Holding as a core belief that we are all called to divine purpose and gifted with a unique passion, Tai uses a results driven, spiritually grounded approach to help clients create career paths to support the lifestyle they desire. Whether it’s helping people go from embittered to empowered professionals or making the transition from employee to entrepreneur, Tai is committed to helping clients tap into their own potential for brilliance. Tai has been empowering others through teaching and coaching for over 14 years. A gifted and insightful communicator, Tai holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Drexel University and a Master of Science in Education from Capella University. She has completed ASTD’s (American Society for Training and Development) Coaching Certificate program and is pursuing professional coaching certification through the International Coach Academy. Originally from Philadelphia, Tai currently lives in Delaware with her daughter. She is currently working on her first book: Reclaiming Your Brilliance: Seven Ways to Take Your Life from Bright to Brilliant.

Web site: http://www.careermakeovercoach.com

Wednesday Inspiration #18

You deserve success because:

• #1. You are alive.
• #2. – #101. See above.

If you are not finding the success you want in your career or life, it is not because you don’t deserve it. The very fact that space has been made for you and that breath has been granted to you entitles you to all the success you can desire and are willing to work for. Remember that the work of creating success starts with your mind. Do you believe you deserve to be successful? Or are you running a checklist in your head of all the things you must do to deserve success. Deserving success is different than having success. The “having” comes from taking the right actions. But here’s the catch -  you will never be fully motivated to take the right actions if you don’t think you deserve the success in the first place.

Journal: Be honest – list some reasons you “think” you don’t deserve success?

• I don’t know enough
• I don’t have enough experience
• I don’t have a real talent
• Why try – something always happens to keep me down
• I always mess up
• Everyone else is so much better
• I should just be happy with what I got
• [Add your own message here]

What other false messages are you playing over and over in your mind? Remember whatever you feed grows.*

Assignment: Instead of defining why you are not successful refocus that energy on choosing what success you will create today and what success you are preparing for tomorrow, next week, next month, next year.

Affirmation: I deserve success simply because I am here.

*Not sure how to push past the negative messages holding you back – get three techniques for working with negative messages in your complimentary coaching session.  Click here to schedule or call 347-933-3399.

As “The Career Makeover Coach”, Tai Goodwin is on a mission to help ambitious individuals reinvent their professional lives by centering on their passion and purpose. Holding as a core belief that we are all called to divine purpose and gifted with a unique passion, Tai uses a results driven, spiritually grounded approach to help clients create career paths to support the lifestyle they desire. Whether it’s helping people go from embittered to empowered professionals or making the transition from employee to entrepreneur, Tai is committed to helping clients tap into their own potential for brilliance. Tai has been empowering others through teaching and coaching for over 14 years. A gifted and insightful communicator, Tai holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Drexel University and a Master of Science in Education from Capella University. She has completed ASTD’s (American Society for Training and Development) Coaching Certificate program and is pursuing professional coaching certification through the International Coach Academy. Originally from Philadelphia, Tai currently lives in Delaware with her daughter. She is currently working on her first book: Reclaiming Your Brilliance: Seven Ways to Take Your Life from Bright to Brilliant.

Web site: http://www.careermakeovercoach.com

Wednesday Inspiration #17

Don’t wait for extraordinary opportunities. Seize common occasions and make them great. Weak men wait for opportunities; strong men make them. -Orison Swett Marden

Most of us have at least one person in our lives that has been waiting for that perfect opportunity to do or have what they really want. The girlfriend who has always wanted to start her own business and has been waiting for a financial windfall to give her the perfect set up. The uncle who always wanted to go back to school but has been waiting until till he found a job with more flexible hours. The brother who has dreamed for years of working for a particular company but is waiting until he hears they are hiring again. Or the person in your network that has been waiting for years to be promoted to the next level and is sure it will happen when the current person in that role leaves.

It is a dangerous defeating trap to believe that our opportunities depend solely on time, people or circumstance creating the window we need. Especially when we hold the keys to unlocking opportunity. If opportunity seems to be passing you by, start with changing what you are thinking and saying about the opportunity you need. Then start talking to people about what you want to do – and make sure you are talking to the right people. The right people are those that will hear you, support you and can help you connect with the information or other people you need. Turn over every stone and explore every trail – especially the ones that seem less conventional.

Challenge: What opportunity will you create today for yourself? For others?

As “The Career Makeover Coach”, Tai Goodwin is on a mission to help ambitious individuals reinvent their professional lives by centering on their passion and purpose. Holding as a core belief that we are all called to divine purpose and gifted with a unique passion, Tai uses a results driven, spiritually grounded approach to help clients create career paths to support the lifestyle they desire. Whether it’s helping people go from embittered to empowered professionals or making the transition from employee to entrepreneur, Tai is committed to helping clients tap into their own potential for brilliance. Tai has been empowering others through teaching and coaching for over 14 years. A gifted and insightful communicator, Tai holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Drexel University and a Master of Science in Education from Capella University. She has completed ASTD’s (American Society for Training and Development) Coaching Certificate program and is pursuing professional coaching certification through the International Coach Academy. Originally from Philadelphia, Tai currently lives in Delaware with her daughter. She is currently working on her first book: Reclaiming Your Brilliance: Seven Ways to Take Your Life from Bright to Brilliant.

Web site: http://www.careermakeovercoach.com

by Tai Goodwin on July 7, 2009

by Tai Goodwin on July 1, 2009

This week’s 5 browseworthy links…

1. Attention all work-a-holics: step away from the keyboard (this includes those little blackberry keyboards too). With summer getting under way some people are planning at least some kind of get away. Then there are those of us who have hard time trying to remember how to even pronounce the word vacation. If you fall into the latter category check out this great article I found on the importance of getting away to reduce the likelihood of burnout: Changing Pace -and Place – to Avert Burnout.

2. I love the articles at WomanSuite so much I am adding them to the Career Makeover Coach blog roll! Great articles on how to win at work and related professional development topics for women. Must read articles: Hypervisibility at Work (Part 1 and 2).

3. Thinking of starting your own business? Many talented and skilled professionals are thumbing their noses at a job market that points a disapproving finger at their overqualified profiles. In addition, another group of corporate rockstars have decided to be proactive and look for ways to control their own income and “security.” For those questioning the best type of business to start here’s an INC.com slide show:  The Best Industries to Start a Business in Right Now.

4. Did you miss last weeks’ From Bright to Brilliant show with guest Ellie Nieves? Ellie gave some excellent tips for developing your personal brand. After you listen to the replay of the show – be sure to check out the transcript from an interview she did: How To Get Promoted.

5. Productivity 501 is a site focused on sharing tips and tools for increasing personal productivity. Authors blog about everything from money to workspace management. My favorite find on the s is their email course: Procrastination Prevention.

As “The Career Makeover Coach”, Tai Goodwin is on a mission to help ambitious individuals reinvent their professional lives by centering on their passion and purpose. Holding as a core belief that we are all called to divine purpose and gifted with a unique passion, Tai uses a results driven, spiritually grounded approach to help clients create career paths to support the lifestyle they desire. Whether it’s helping people go from embittered to empowered professionals or making the transition from employee to entrepreneur, Tai is committed to helping clients tap into their own potential for brilliance. Tai has been empowering others through teaching and coaching for over 14 years. A gifted and insightful communicator, Tai holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Drexel University and a Master of Science in Education from Capella University. She has completed ASTD’s (American Society for Training and Development) Coaching Certificate program and is pursuing professional coaching certification through the International Coach Academy. Originally from Philadelphia, Tai currently lives in Delaware with her daughter. She is currently working on her first book: Reclaiming Your Brilliance: Seven Ways to Take Your Life from Bright to Brilliant.

Web site: http://www.careermakeovercoach.com

For most of us, work is a requirement. And until we uncover or create the opportunity that allows us to work our passion, we may be in a job that’s just, well…a job. Accepting that your 9-5 is just a job works fine until your passion and purpose start calling you. Once you begin to acknowledge your purpose and feed your passion, your “day job” may begin to feel like a burden.

So how do you make it through the 40+ hours a week without feeling like you are serving time for a crime you didn’t commit? Here are eight tips on how to be happy at work:

1. Stay out of drama and away from contentious people.
2. Find a buddy. Research shows that people that have friends at work have a higher rate of career satisfaction.
3. Initiate a new project – tie it to a new skill you want to learn or practice.
4. Stop talking about how bad things are. Lift the weight of your environment by speaking positively about your work, your co-workers, and your company.
5. Choose a better perspective: Look for opportunities and wins instead of shortcomings and losses.
6. Learn something new – read a book, read an article, take an on-line course. Find a way to get new information and let it inspire you.
7. Practice gratitude. Be grateful for what you do have and what you have the potential to create.
8. Get a life. If you are pouring all of yourself into work that’s not satisfying, create a better balance by adding more “extra-curricular” activities.