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

How to Get the Most Out of Self-Help Books, Blogs & Other Published Works

I read a lot of self-help books. By reading them, I always seem to find the practical advice, insight or inspiration I need to get me through a slump. (Check out my Suggested Reading list for recommendations.) It was my collection of self-help books that inspired me during difficult and challenging times at work, through job transitions and career changes. The self-help genre even served as the primary inspiration for my creating The Career Pioneer blog. I had gotten to a point where I … [Read more...]

“Failure Isn’t a Set-Back, It’s a Step Up.” Plus, Famous Quotes to Live By

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Don’t you just love great quotes? They’re motivational, thought-provoking, and often wise words to store in your brain for those rainy, discouraging days. I created the title quote myself after scourging the Internet for famous quotes to share with you all today. Do quotes encourage you too? What quotes have inspired you to: Take Chances? Rise above the level of mediocrity? Tap into self-belief? Muster courage? Demolish all excuses? Dream again? As I started to think about … [Read more...]

Your Level of Discipline Could Equal Your Aptitude for Success

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When I started this blog almost two weeks ago, I made a decision that I’d post at least one article a day for a certain period of time. It’s taken great discipline to come up with the story ideas, do the research to expand on those ideas, and then to actually sit down and write. As you know, my posts in general are in the range of 500 to 1,200 words. So, writing to this extent on a daily basis, while juggling other responsibilities, is never easy. But, thankfully for me, it's fun! Plus, it … [Read more...]

What Will Be Your Legacy? Today, Meet a Legend. And Go Be Legendary.

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Mother Teresa. Courtesy of NobelPrize.org

In a recent post, I offered some suggestions on how you can advance you life and start pursuing your dream career. One of those suggestions was volunteerism -- as a way to get your foot in the door, gain valuable experience doing the very thing you love to do, and as philanthropy. There’s another type of volunteering out there that has nothing remotely to do with your needs or your future career. It’s called humanitarianism. Generosity. Brotherly Love. This type of volunteer labor isn’t for … [Read more...]

Are You Driving Your Destiny? Or Is Something (Or Someone) Else?

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Growing up in Southwest Georgia, my family primarily used a riding lawnmower to cut the grass. Our yard was pretty large, and although my older brothers had at times mowed the lawn with a push mower, it was an obvious relief when they were old enough to use the riding version. As I grew older, my dad also allowed me to drive it in order to cut the grass. It was actually pretty fun and I enjoyed navigating up and down the yard, and maneuvering through bushes and underneath low tree … [Read more...]

Top 10 Do’s to Turning Your Passion Into a Dream Career

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Last year, I quit my full-time job to stay at home with my daughter, rather than put her in daycare. I knew, within the first couple of months, that I didn't want to just sit around watching soap operas and court shows while eating bon-bons as she took her naps. (In a previous post, I explained how my daughter spent the first couple of months of her life in the NICU. During that time, I was home without the baby and had lots of time to think when I wasn't sleeping or pumping.) I needed … [Read more...]

Is Your Past Dictating Your Future? Live Your Dreams Despite Your Past

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I received in my inbox today a VERY ENCOURAGING message from someone I knew growing up. She doesn’t know that I’m using her as the inspiration for today’s post so in an effort to keep her identity anonymous, I will call her Lisa. Lisa has been following the blog since its inception. Which by the way hasn’t even been a week! So it’s nice to already have some loyal supporters. Thanks Lisa! In summary, she shared with me how she felt she made some less than positive choices growing up, … [Read more...]

How a Country Boy Achieved Success: Lessons from a Georgia Hog Farmer

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Daddy About to Feed the Hogs in His Sunday Suit

As I sat and began thinking about my next blog post, so many ideas ran through my head. But then I started to really feel an urge to take you guys back a little bit. Take you back to that little girl who grew up on a farm in rural Southwest Georgia. As I share with you my ongoing journey to success and career fulfillment, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the people who’ve incredibly shaped my life into what it is today -- my dear mom and dad. For now, I’ll share about my dad. My parents both … [Read more...]

Five Proven Tips to Generate Wealth and Stop Working for the Rest of Your Life (Seriously!)

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Don’t you just hate (or love) subject lines like that? Whoever writes them make it seem as if anyone who has the ability to read, can make millions of dollars. Well, okay, I shouldn’t be so cynical. You’re right, just about anyone can make millions and become a success, especially here in the U.S. With that thought, I figured I’d take a stab and list the Career Pioneer’s sure-fire ways to generate wealth and stop working for the rest of your life. Enjoy! Marry rich. Start your own software … [Read more...]

News

First Annual Power 30 Under 30 Awards, Washington, DC Photo Credit: http://power30under30.com Photographer, Kat Goduco

### Apex Society selects professional development blogger, journalist as awards finalist The 2010 Power 30 Under 30 Awards™ honors 30 young professionals in their chosen fields WASHINGTON, DC (October 7, 2010) — Emily Ann Brown, a Washington, D.C.-based journalist and the founder and key contributor of TheCareerPioneer.com, announced today that she was selected as a finalist for the Apex Society's annual Power 30 Under 30™ Awards. The Power 30 Under 30™ Awards honors 30 outstanding … [Read more...]