Career Management Alliance Blog

It seems these days that everyone has a blog.  People write about their pets, their children, their love of chocolate, their rotten boss and whatever else happens to be top of their mind.  Of course, blogging simply for the pleasure of giving life to your thoughts is fine.  But if you're eager to create a blog that has the potential to generate income, you'll want to give serious consideration to choosing the right focus for your site.  Here are three important elements to consider: 1) PASSION: Pick a topic that excites you.  Okay, I realize that sounds painfully obvious, but you'd be amazed at the number of people who chose to write about something simply because they think it will make them rich. The allure of "easy income" might be sufficient fuel for a quick sprint into blogging, but if you plan to hang-in for the long-haul, you're going to lose steam quickly if you don't go with a topic that you really care about.  Successful bloggers post week after week, month after month, year after year.   It's hard work.  If you can't picture yourself writing about this same topic three years from now, find something else to blog about. Continue Reading »

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September 5: Father's Day in Australia and New Zealand. September 6: Labor Day in the United States. September 6: Defense of Pakistan Day. September 8: Start of the Jewish New Year around the world (in the evening). September 12: Grandparents' Day in the United States. September 15: Respect for the Aged Day in the Pacific Rim.

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September is proving to be a mega media month.  In addition to being in O magazine as one of their "all star career experts, I am honored to be included in the September issue of REDBOOK magazine (page 136 in a story about tips for moms returning to work) and the October issue of Woman's Day I was also interviewed by the NY TImes for a story about what to do after unemployment benefits run out.   Continue Reading »

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I flew into LAX yesterday and drove to Malibu last night – today I speak at Pepperdine’s MBA orientation.  I’ve done this type of thing before and have really enjoyed it. I’ll be back next week – today I’m... Continue Reading »

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Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy are the inspiring couple featured in the Oscar-nominated movie The Blind Side: The Story of Michael Oher.  Authors of In a Heartbeat, they share their extraordinary journey of faith and love with unforgettable lessons about the power of giving. The Tuohys’ deeply inspiring story of a family that makes giving a way of life and the huge blessings that decision has brought to them, demonstrates the ways we can all make a difference in our own communities. Just a few of the lessons in generosity from the Tuohys include: Continue Reading »

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This very curious email came to me through a contact at MyCFONetwork, asking for my thoughts ...

In the past two days, I have been privy to listen to someone pitching a new business idea to a colleague and also someone chatting to their commercial insurance broker.

And this

People that conduct business conversations on their cell phones while visiting the restroom ... proper business etiquette?

The age of “always connected” has made us lose all common sense, hasn’t it?  Things that we would otherwise have only talked about in the privacy of our homes or offices are now talked about and typed about very publicly. However, “business” still carries a modicum of confidentiality and as a finance or other executive, business etiquette should apply. Continue Reading »

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I was raised at a dinner table where the “devil’s advocate” helped us learn to  form opinions, so I am ready for a second-helping of the debate about the death of the personal brand (thoughtful post by blogger, Mitch Joel). First of all, I am also turned-off by the use of the word, “personal” in the same phrase as “brand:”  it seems like a tautology.  When describing brands, we are accustomed to thinking of those who are people in law only, e.g. Nike, Coca Cola, Nordstrom. It took me some time to get over what I perceived to be the bastardization of The Brand Called YOU, an article I still have in a hard copy of Fast Company.  Indeed, some folks have cashed-in on the concept, but I could not abandon what is otherwise the most effective argument for a self-reflective and proactive approach to career management and entrepreneurial success. Continue Reading »

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Something for you to ponder…I’ve noticed that our real talents and passions can be traced back to early childhood. For example; I’ve always been “into” language (reading, writing, storytelling), music, and animals. No surprise, there’s more to me, but these three aspects have always been part of my life in a significant way. I didn’t all of a sudden turn into a math whiz or into someone who loves technology. Continue Reading »

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I just read one of my newly favorite business books called Bootstrap Business.  It really was quite brilliant – even though it was longer than I normally read it was full of a lot of meat: advice, stories, case studies, practical ideas, etc. Highly recommended. Get Bootstrap Business here (amazon affiliate link). One thing that I’m almost positive I read in there (I read about 4 books at a time and might have gotten mixed up) was how to make sure you are getting things done. Not just being busy, but actually moving forward in a strategic, methodical way. Rich Christiansen suggested you simply make two lists… one of IMPORTANT things you need to do today and one of URGENT things you need to do today. Then, make sure you do the IMPORTANT things. Brilliant, really. Continue Reading »

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If you’d like to be eligible to win $1,000, here is an opportunity. The U.S. Department of Labor opened a contest for all public to submit a video describing their profession when yours in one of the 15 careers that Continue Reading »

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