I’ve spent 11 years now focused on career coaching, teaching and training, helping mid-career professionals “dig deep, discover their right work, and illuminate the world with it.” I’ve seen several core themes emerge around what makes mid-career professionals (and middle-aged people in general) feel the deepest regret.
Below are the top five regrets I’ve heard from mid-career professionals...
If you’re like me, you’re absolutely sick and tired of the term “networking” and what it connotes. Thousands of people over the years have shared with me that they dread networking and meet-and-greet events and experiences, and find it so “distasteful,” intimidating and inauthentic.
I remember during my unhappiest period in corporate life, I hated networking too, because there wasn&rsq...
Years ago when I began my journey as a marriage and family therapist and career success coach, I devoured every book I could read about personal growth, success, happiness and achieving our ultimate visions. I began to hear Brendon Burchard’s name regularly, and decided to read his book The Millionaire Messenger. I was riveted and moved by Brendon’s personal story, and his drive to reach as many people in the wo...
One of the most common and crushing dilemmas that professionals of all levels share with me every week goes something like this:
“Kathy, I’m feeling paralyzed and so confused. I have a number of options in front of me, but I just can’t figure out what to do. How can I reliably determine if I should take this new job (or interview, or role), or if I should just walk away? How can I know it’s the ri...
Dear Kathy,
I’m a 42-year-old female Executive Director, and have had some great success in my field (financial services). But I still struggle every day with the communication styles and behavioral approaches of my colleagues, and how they clash with my own. I’m in a predominantly male office, and I feel bypassed, not really listened to, and marginalized because of the way I speak, present and pitch my ideas...
As a career coach, I work with thousands of people a year who are totally lost as to what to do with their careers and work. They know they have strong talents and abilities, but they simply cannot figure out how to apply these talents to build a livelihood that’s meaningful and purposeful for them, or how to leverage their skills to earn good money in ways that make them feel excited to be alive. This journey to crea...
A vast majority of us have, at one time or another, purchased a greeting card to share message with loved ones, friends and colleagues. And spending just a few minutes in front of any display of cards, you’ll learn a great deal about the dominant culture we’re immersed in, as well as less dominant and minority cultures, all of which contribute to the beauty and richness of our world.
As a global greeting card...
In my 18-year corporate career culminating in my role as a Vice President, I personally experienced every managerial and leadership behavior you can think of, from the most evolved and progressive, to the most archaic, backward, and damaging. I’ve also personally hired, collaborated with, and led a good number of both men and women to support my various employers’ work and visions.
What I’ve witnessed f...
Throughout my 18-year corporate career, I had the pleasure of working in a number of very positive, healthy and thriving cultures. However, I can say the opposite was equally true – there were many cultures I interacted with and worked within that were “diseased,” troubled and failing.
Now, in my executive and career coaching work, I see that the executive, entrepreneur or manager who comes to me for h...
If you’re on Facebook, I’m sure you’ve had discussions with your friends as I have about how we work so hard (consciously or subconsciously) to make our lives look great to others on these public forums. A friend of mine said “I wish my life were as fabulous as it looks on Facebook!” I laughed hard, but knew it was true.
Recently, I learned of the powerful work of Glennon Doyle Melton, and e...