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

New Year. New You? 

Over the holidays, I had a chance to read the book The Noticer, by New York Times Bestselling Author Andy Andrews. It truly is a moving story. The book is centered on the life of an old drifter named Jones, along with his mysterious encounters and impromptu counseling sessions with a number of residents living in a small Southern beach town. Jones possesses an uncanny -- some might say spooky -- way of looking into the lives of those around him to reveal their weakest link. Some how, some … [Read more...]

Rejuvenate Your Job Search

Leave a Comment

New Year's Resolutions For Job Seekers I'm not generally someone who believes strongly in creating New Year's Resolutions. They're mostly rooted in lofty thinking and, for much of the population, are very rarely based on definitive plans. I do recommend, however, using the start of a new year as an opportunity to explore your accomplishments from the previous one, and consider what your life could look like in the days ahead. In lieu of the new year, (and for those die-hard resolutions … [Read more...]

The Secret to Success is Being Yourself 

6 Comments

Have you ever heard the expression “Keeping up with the Joneses”? The phrase is often used to describe a person who tries to emulate another individual’s standard of living through the attainment of material things: designer wear, a bigger house, a foreign-made car, you name it. Buying such things aren’t inherently bad. But stretching your dollars beyond your means in the name of trying to keep up appearances is flat-out wrong and is a sign of insecurity. What does this have to do with … [Read more...]

Listen to Your Inner Voice

Leave a Comment

Has there ever been a time in your life when you pushed through to accomplish a goal, but it seemed you were getting no where fast? Perhaps during that time, you had a number of people around you who, in their attempts to offer sound advice, only threatened to thwart your agenda. You knew you could do it, but the well-meaning voices surrounding you seemed to stifle and inhibit your gut intuition. In the end, you stopped pursuing your dream, and resorted to that little, "safe" place in your … [Read more...]

Don’t Worry, Be Happy

Leave a Comment

I love songs that encourages a state of mind that supersedes life's circumstances and challenges. It's amazing how music can alter a mood, lift spirits, and dramatically change one's outlook on careers and life. I had a conversation with a friend yesterday. I asked her whether she liked her job, in which she quickly replied: "I'm just happy I have a job!" She went on to explain how she used to complain and grumble due to her work conditions or overall dissatisfaction with her role, but in … [Read more...]

Seven Steps to Kick Job Dissatisfaction

3 Comments

Let’s face it. Even with the unemployment rate jumping above a whopping 10 percent, as reported today, job dissatisfaction is still running rampant and folks are looking for a way out of their existing 9-to-5s. If unhappiness and disgruntlement are getting the best of you. I’ll offer some tips and probing questions that will hopefully help you assess where your allegiance really lies, and that will hopefully help you see your current gig and the future a little more positively. But first … [Read more...]

Get What You Can, While You Can!

2 Comments

Yesterday, I attended the funeral of Ms. Amanda Lloyd -- my husband's grandmother. As funerals would go, it began and ended with a mostly somber and reflective undertone. Even though she reached 90 years of age, and had suffered from several medical issues in most recent years, it was still difficult to see her be laid to rest and to say "farewell," particularly among immediate family members. We had to travel about three hours to attend the funeral. As the day ended, my husband and I, along … [Read more...]

Your Dream Career Awaits, Start Here

12 Comments

A few months ago (literally) I sat on my couch pouting about how I wanted to more aggressively pursue my writing dreams and gain greater traction in the publishing world. But then I realized (with the help of some trusted friends, and lots of trust and prayer) that if I fail to take a step of faith and actually put myself out there to claim my destiny, then how in the world was I ever going to accomplish my life-long goals? After mustering some courage, I got rid of the self-doubt and … [Read more...]

When Negative Voices Crowd Out the Positive  

Leave a Comment

I had a great conversation with a friend last weekend. We talked about some of our latest business ventures, and she shared with me how some of the people who she thought would be supportive, were in fact, the complete opposite. Usually, when starting something new --whether it’s a new job, business venture, or new career track altogether -- you’ll likely find that the people closest to you, particularly best friends and family members, are generally in your corner, rooting you along the way, … [Read more...]

“What to Say When You Talk to Yourself” 

2 Comments

When I first saw the above-mentioned title of a book about “powerful new techniques to program your potential for success,” I have to admit that I was a bit of a skeptic. The book was written by Shad Helmstetter, an acclaimed psychologist, who champions the idea that you can improve your outlook, focus your plans, and stay on top, in touch and going for your dreams and any other life aspirations, simply by reprogramming your thoughts. His strategy is simple: adopt techniques of what he … [Read more...]

Belief Is Just the Beginning 

4 Comments

Courtesy of The Providence Effect/ Dinosaurs

Over the weekend, my husband and I went to the movie theater to watch the documentary The Providence Effect. The movie chronicles the journey of Paul J. Adams III, a black man with activist roots in the 1960’s civil rights movement, whose mission was to turn Providence St. Mel, located on Chicago’s west side, into a “first rank college preparatory school, and its African-American student body into a corps of driven, disciplined, high achieving students.” Inspiration It was inspiring to … [Read more...]

Got a Job? Give a Job. Four simple things you can do today to help the unemployed. 

Leave a Comment

These days, especially in times of economic downturn and as available jobs dry out, it seems that everybody’s only looking out for themselves. But what if we all took personal responsibility for our fellow jobless professional and saw to it that they had ample opportunities ahead? It might be absurd to think that you (yes, you!) could actually award another human being a job or career. After all, you’re not the founder of your own company, or the CEO of another business; and you don’t even … [Read more...]

The Working Mom’s (and Dad’s) Dilemma 

2 Comments

Today, I received in my email inbox what was practically a cry for help. The author of the email (who will remain nameless) desperately needed some advice on whether to leave a lucrative, relatively stable job working for the federal government, in exchange for staying at home with her four beautiful children (including a newborn). As a brand new mom myself, I could certainly understand her dilemma, which I have shared here previously at TheCareerPioneer.com. With just one month remaining … [Read more...]