It is your career. You are not a cog in a corporate machine

I was at a social gathering a few years ago.  Chuck was speaking in a small circle. At the time, Chuck was working for General Electric, the large behemoth of Fairfield County… until it left. I noticed that he kept on saying “we” when he referred to GE.  ”We” are developing a new product line. […]

Career Coaching for Liberal Arts College Students

The toughest part of my career counseling work is providing advisory services to recent college graduates who were not educated well by their colleges on the current realities of the job market. I am a product of a liberal arts education.  The education itself was fantastic.  From a life enhancing perspective, I benefitted immeasurably. For […]

If you like your work, you do need a retirement number.

As someone who has been the primary breadwinner of a family of 5 and often the sole breadwinner, I certainly fixated over money.  When I did not like my work as a private sector attorney, I would think about what amount of money I would need to escape.  Retirement was too far away at the time but […]

Career Coaching Interaction Itself Creates Career Change

I love my career coaching work because it is so connected to how I derive purpose in the world.  The “thank-yous” are a nice bonus.  My kind clients will often send notes or e-mails commenting on specific advice I had given that made a profound difference in their career.  I would like to think that […]

Why wait? Take control of your career now

Trish Sie, Director of a movie each from the Pitch Perfect and Step Up franchises,  is a friend of mine from Penn.   After leaving the Ivy League, she took a most unusual road.  She became a world class competitive ball room dancer and opened up a dance studio.  From there, she was the creative force beyond the pop-rock band […]

Career Change: If you don’t like your job, you will be fired

Terry, a mid-level manager in a large Fairfield county company, came for career counseling after he was given a performance improvement plan.   He noted that part of him almost wanted to be fired but – like most everyone – he needed a paycheck.  The strange part from his perspective was that he had been good at his job.  “I don’t […]

The Internship: The new “must” for college students

When Career Counseling Connecticut was launched almost a decade ago, the bulk of our first clients were twentysomethings who were unhappy in their career starts or had not really started their career.  We were soon surprised by how many thirty, forty and even fiftysomething clients came to us for career help.  We soon realized that […]

Career Striving In Your 40s and 50s is Good For Your Mental Health

This will sound like tabloid nonsense but there is a big point: Justin Bieber is being treated for depression and anxiety.  Recently married, he is very happy with his relationship.  According to his friends, he is worried about his future career. For those old enough to remember the iconic TV show Eight is Enough, I have […]

In your 50s? 20 more years of career. Make it great.

“I’m just living my days out.”    My 52 year old friend, “Tom” said.  “Sad but true.”  Tom and I have been friends since we were young lawyers in Philadelphia.   We also practiced law together in Washington, DC. This sounds like I’m about to tell a tough tale of a broken middle-aged man who is facing […]