Career | The Career Pioneer | Motivation to help you change careers or start a business you'll love

Are You Thriving Or Barely Surviving? Career Inspiration for the Slacker

An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer-contractor of his plans to leave the house building business and live a more leisurely life with his wife enjoying his extended family. He would miss the paycheck, but he needed to retire. They could get by. The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter said ‘yes’, but in time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work. He … [Read more...]

Find Inspiration to Live Your Dream Career, Take Hold Opportunities & Watch Project Runway

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I love watching the television show Project Runway, which airs Thursdays at 10 p.m. on the Lifetime Network. It’s a reality-based show about individuals from virtually all walks of life who are living out their dreams and competing to become a famed, nationally recognized fashion designer. “Either you’re in, or you’re out” is the show’s motto, regularly spoken as fact by Project Runway host, supermodel Heidi Klum. Despite the fact that contestants could possibly kill their careers simply by … [Read more...]

Don’t Give Your Employer Too Much Power: Generate Multiple Streams of Income

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I recently had a revelation about the importance of generating multiple streams of income -- repairs to the house needed to be made, the mortgage was looming, the credit card bill mounting, and I could’ve really used the extra (unexpected) dough. Since I’m not really a lottery player , I realized the next best solution to building wealth is to start thinking of ways in which I could start earning more cash by diversifying what I do professionally, how I do it and whom I do it for. NOTE: … [Read more...]

Are You Really Stuck?   

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Do you feel stuck? In your career? In life, in general? Feeling “stuck” in your career is certainly not a good feeling. What precedes it? A number of reasons could be the underlying culprit, such as low self-esteem, lack of education, lack of perceived opportunity and many more. Stuckness poses a direct threat to your career pioneer prowess. So, it's best to nip it in the bud as soon as you see the signs. Maybe you feel stuck because the economy is in a slump, and it seems no one is … [Read more...]

“If the Why Is In Your Belly, Then The How Is Just a Matter of Research”

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As I previously announced, I’m working on my first nonfiction book, which I plan to self-publish and release to the public within a matter of a few weeks. Along with the book, I plan to launch a new website to promote it and that will serve the book’s target audience -- other moms. Even though I’m technically a professional writer, it’s still a challenge to sit in front of a blank computer screen or sheet of paper and tackle the art of stringing words and sentences together every single … [Read more...]

Speaking of Death and Birthdays . . . MJ To Be Buried On What Would Be His 51st 

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So yesterday I wrote about how birthdays always remind me of death and how brief our lives are here on earth. Then what was announced today? That music pop star Michael Jackson will be buried on what would’ve been his 51st birthday, on August 29. How ironic is that? I’m sure his family probably strategically planned for him to be buried that day. But could you imagine being put to rest on the same day as your birth -- the day you were introduced to the world in turn becomes the day in which … [Read more...]

Nothing Like a Birthday To Get You Thinking About Death

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There’s nothing like a birthday, another milestone, to get you feeling depressed, anxious or excited about the future. You start thinking about all the things you have and haven’t accomplished in your life. You begin to see your final days on earth fast approaching. And you’re wondering whether there’s any room left in the world for another dream-seeker, risk-taker, and career pioneer like yourself.   I’m here to say that YES there is still room for YOU! And for ME! STOP taking a back … [Read more...]

It’s Official: The 30th Day of The Career Pioneer Blog! 

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It’s been exactly 30 days to-date that I launched The Career Pioneer blog. And I must say that it’s been an interesting, somewhat difficult, and self-revealing ride to say the least. When I started this blog, yes, I wanted to help other people discover their own passion and true career path, but at the same time I secretly used it as therapy for myself, as I decidedly made a more concerted effort to pursue my own career dreams. Thanks for joining me on this journey. It honestly felt like a … [Read more...]

Have an Interview Horror Story? Tips to Shine at Your Next Career Fair  

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You arrive late because you forgot to pick up your suit from the cleaners. You didn't have a chance to check you appearance in the bathroom before the interview began, so the entire time you had tomato stuck in your teeth and didn't know it. That's just great. Now the interviewer thinks you were running late because you stopped at your favorite pizza joint. How in the world do you climb out of this hole?   After all, this was the company you've just been dying to work for. If … [Read more...]

What Are You So Afraid Of? Top 5 Fears That Paralyze the Career-Minded 

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This week I decided to take some calculated steps to advance my career as a journalist and writer. Most recently, I felt the need to step outside my comfort zone. So, I decided to bypass opportunities with smaller publishers, and attempted to break into the more competitive markets. Even as an experienced business journalist working with the nation’s top news outlets, I was still riddled with self-doubt as I considered whether I would be "good enough." Here's something I rarely share with … [Read more...]

Extract the Distractions 

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Television. Radio. Books. Internet. Work. Kids. Spouse. Friends. Mobile phones. Chat. School. Girlfriend. Boyfriend. Responsibilities galore!   There’s no shortage of distractions in the world. But everyday we wake up and immediately get sucked right back into them once again. Is there really a way to escape the distractions? Is it possible to minimize the impact they have on our lives? Can we regain control in order to boost our productivity? Some distractions are good and the … [Read more...]

How to Use 15 Minutes and Make It Count

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1. Pray and/or meditate. Start or end your day with a fresh, new perspective on life. Gain clarity through prayer and meditation. Recognize that life is much bigger than the proverbial cubicle in which you live. 2. Have a heart-to-heart with your spouse, relative, or a friend. When was the last time you sat down with the television turned off and the laptop aside, and spoke to your spouse or friend with intimacy? Share what’s really on your heart and mind, and allow them to be open and honest … [Read more...]

Profile: Elaine W. Hurt, Peace Corps Volunteer, U.N. Consultant  

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As a young girl growing up in Nairobi, Kenya, Elaine Wacuka Hurt imagined herself one day becoming either a judge or working in foreign diplomacy. As a 2004 graduate of Georgetown University in Washington, DC and former Peace Corps volunteer, she says she’s now well on her way to fulfilling her dreams of becoming a United Nations diplomat. Elaine is currently working as a consultant with the U.N.’s peace-building initiative. In the fall, she’ll be attending the School of International … [Read more...]