Procrastination may be one of the most self-sabotaging and all too common behaviors leading to someone’s failure to achieve their career/work-related goals. All too often people wait until they are actually laid off before they start investigating new options, or they put off preparing for an interview for their dream job until the last minute. You might say, “It’s human nature.” Perhaps. Just Google...

Have you ever watched a toddler over the course of several hours? They’re amazing! After taking their very first step, they plow forward with such intensity you might think they’re going to break into a run. Instead, they stumble and drop to their seat. Without crying or skipping a beat, they try it again. No overthinking or blaming. Fall down? Get up! Simple. Why then, when faced with obstacles, do adults of...

Failing to commit has sometimes been recognized as a West Coast issue, but I haven’t seen hard statistics about it. I don’t really know if this trend is limited to one area or not, but from what I observe, the reluctance to commit to just about anything is an increasing phenomenon in the Pacific Northwest. There’s a huge difference between evaluating and weighing out options to see what works best and j...

A substantial part of my work is helping people identify why they are unhappy at work and figure out what they need to do about it. The other end of that is helping them carry out their plans successfully. Although there are many ways to change someone’s experience inside of their current employment scenario, it’s not always possible to do that. There is a variety of reasons someone may decide to change: they de...

One of the biggest factors I see impacting many people’s pursuit of their employment goals stems from making excuses for not getting things done on time — or, in some cases, ever. When asking someone why they didn’t carry out their objectives for the week, I’ve heard everything from the usual “my dog ate my homework” to “I couldn’t do it because I had to take my dead cat to th...

A significant trend that is picking up speed is the number of times commitments are forgotten, appointments are ghosted and reminders or offers of help are ignored. You’re busy. I’m busy. We’re all busy. That doesn’t excuse a lack of courtesy. Not responding to communications, showing up late (if at all) for appointments or failing to pay bills on time are disrespectful and irresponsible. Stop wastin...

Throughout the news we can find reports of low unemployment and the availability of lots and lots of jobs. These statistics could lead you to believe that it is really easy to get a great job. In fact, you might believe it is so easy, you should sit back and wait until the right employer with the right opening knocks on your door. Right? No! (How do you think that is working for the people who actually believe it?) Can...

Getting a job may seem like an immediate solution to financial issues, but it is really just half the battle. Keeping it and getting what you want out of it are entirely different issues. For that reason, I recommend having clear goals and making sure that any decisions you make are thought through and are consistent with those goals. The point is to develop a path that leads to a satisfying life and continued employment fo...

Who said one career choice or any singular job is supposed to fill all of your needs? That notion is a thing of the past, yet it is a consistent expectation voiced by people who are unsatisfied with their work. If you have multiple talents and interests, it’s simply unreasonable to assume any one employer or job is going to satisfy your every need. In today’s market, having that expectation can set you up for di...

If you are dreading your next performance evaluation (for either real or imaginary reasons), then it’s time to start keeping your own scorecard so you can determine exactly where you stand. Your next review doesn’t have to be a nail-biter, and the results should not be a surprise. When you aren’t hyperaware of what you are doing every day, time is lost and your career path can be thrown off course witho...