Escape From Corporate America
Escape from Corporate America | Pamela Skillings
|
Entrepreneurial Energy vs. Office Energy
Today I’ve got an interesting guest post from entrepreneur and corporate escape artist Vera Babayeva. She raises some interesting points about the difference between working your butt off for yourself and working your butt off for the man. : ) I know that I work harder for myself than I ever have for any other boss in my life. And I definitely get tired and frustrated at times. But I never feel that discouraged, weary, and hopeless lethargy that used to plague me during my corporate days. Read... |
|
Sin With Me In NYC
Still trying to be a good little boy or girl and stick to those wholesome New Year’s resolutions? Maybe it’s time to rebel against that clichéd New Year’s resolution routine and resolve to be very, very bad in 2009. If you’re based in or near NYC, you can start this weekend by committing seven deadly sins before 9:00 PM on Saturday. It will make a nice, decadent break from all of your job searching and/or business building. Here’s the deal: In my role as a writer/editor... |
|
Banished from Corporate America? Work for Yourself
If you’re tired of waiting around for the job market to improve, for hiring managers to get back to you, for a decent position to show up on Monster.com, it may be time to seize control and see what kind of job you can create for yourself. For years, I have been writing about the joys of escaping from Corporate America to find more fulfilling work. The best decision that I ever made was to walk away from my six-figure financial services job to start my own business. Of course, that was... |
|
Quit Your Job Search, It’s the Holidays!
I’m getting the distinct impression that nobody is particularly interested in job search tips or career change strategies today. Everybody I know is caught up in shopping, baking, decorating, or packing for their holiday travels. Are you taking a few days off from the job hunt to celebrate Hanukkah, Christmas, and/or Kwanzaa? Don’t feel guilty. Here are a few good reasons to give yourself a little vacation. 1. You deserve a break. Yes, you’re supposed to treat your job search... |
|
The MBTI, Media Opportunities, and More
I’m back at my desk after three fascinating and exhausting days of training. I was there for a deeper understanding of the Myers Briggs Personality Indicator (MBTI) instrument, which many of my clients have found to be extremely valuable in helping to clarify career and work style preferences. And even though I thought there was nothing left to learn about my own career preferences and drivers (I have taken pretty much every assessment out there, and have completed the MBTI three times previously,... |
|
Daring Tales of Corporate Escape — Vera Babayeva
I first met Vera Babayeva back in July when I spoke at a conference for women entrepreneurs. At the time, she was working on her plan for escaping from Corporate America to start Women Can Have It All, a company devoted to helping women entrepreneurs succeed. A few weeks ago, I received a triumphant message from Vera on Facebook: “I escaped!” So I asked Vera to share her story and her best advice for those looking to make the leap to working for themselves in today’s economy. ———————————- Name:... |
|
7 Holiday Gifts for the Downsized and Disgruntled
As you’re making that list and checking it twice, you’ll probably notice that some of your nearest and dearest are among the downsized (recently laid off) or disgruntled (stuck in miserable or stressful jobs for purely paycheck reasons) this year. These are the friends and family members who deserve an extra special gift this year. They’re dealing with increased stress and financial uncertainty and could use a bit of extra good cheer. And you don’t have to bust your budget... |
|
Give Thanks for Your Crappy Job
To help you celebrate Thanksgiving, here is a new and improved version of my post from last Turkey Day — a call to express thanks for the good things in your life, which is especially important in the midst of our current economic rough patch. Forget about all of the pilgrim crap. The best way to think about Thanksgiving is as a time to express gratitude for all of the great things in your life — your friends, your family, your health, your access to massive quantities of poultry and... |
|
The Downsized Diva’s Guide to Layoff Etiquette
The layoff process is awkward and uncomfortable for everybody. Yes, it’s probably most excruciating for those who have to pack up their files and turn in their key cards. But it’s no picnic for the managers breaking the bad news or the “spared” coworkers skulking around in the background. And many times, clueless or insensitive remarks or behavior can make the situation much worse. I know this from personal experience (hence my new self-proclaimed nickname, “The... |
|
10 Ways To Make Your Performance Review Pay Off — Even In A Recession
It’s performance review season again! That means it’s time to sit down with your boss to review your 2008 accomplishments and find out if you’re going to take home more moolah in 2009. This year, you may be feeling even more cynical about your performance review prospects than usual. You know how bosses always blame piddly raises and uninspiring bonuses on budget constraints (”If it were up to me, I’d give you a huge bonus!”)? Well, this year they will almost... |
|
Don’t Wait, Incorporate! It’s Free on November 11th.
Ready to move forward with launching your new business? Make it official on November 11th, 2008 and save hundreds of dollars in attorney fees MyCorporation.com will let anyone register a new corporation or LLC for free from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m. Pacific time on November 11 (they normally charge $129 and up to file your incorporation forms online). Use the coupon code FREE149 to get the discount. MyCorporation.com is an online filing service that supports entrepreneurs with incorporation, trademarks,... |
|
Be Unrealistic — Obama’s Lesson for Career Changers
Whether you’re an exultant Obama supporter or a disappointed McCainiac, the results of Tuesday’s election should be encouraging in at least one way. The election of Barack Obama as President of the United States clearly demonstrates that no brazen career goal is unrealistic if you are willing to work your butt off and never give up. I can only imagine how many times Barack Obama was told to give up on his “unrealistic” presidential goals. After all, it was clearly a tremendous... |
|
Congratulations to President-Elect Barack Obama
“It’s been a long time coming,” Obama told a jubilant crowd in Chicago last night after winning the presidency of the United States, “but tonight, because of what we did on this date in this election at this defining moment, change has come to America.” |
|
Corporate Zombies and Halloween Career Fantasies
Don’t you just love Halloween? It’s a chance to cut loose, score free candy, and dress up as your favorite fantasy. I guess it’s no surprise that some of those fantasies involve dream career paths not taken. And why not? For most of us, “career” means more than just a job. What we do for a living is a big part of who we are. I know that I have changed immeasurably in the four years since I escaped from Corporate America and changed careers. That’s partly because... |
|
Your Career in 2009 (and Beyond)
The World Future Society has released ten fearless forecasts for 2009 and beyond. If these predictions come to pass, they will mean major changes in our work lives and how we manage our careers. 1. Everything You Say and Do Will Be Recorded by 2030. “By the late 2010s, ubiquitous unseen nanodevices will provide seamless communication and surveillance among all people everywhere. Humans will have nanoimplants, facilitating interaction in an omnipresent network.” This is the terrifying... |
|
Career Change and Project Runway (Plus More Good Stuff)
So I’m finally back in blogger mode after a stretch of very busy days working with new and old clients facing career challenges. That includes those who have been laid off, those who are afraid they might get laid off, those who are contemplating new offers and opportunities (yes, they are out there!), and those who just feel paralyzed about what move to make in the current job market. Oh yeah, and I also spent a few days visiting my hometown in the battleground state of Pennsylvania. Trust... |
|
So You Want to Work for Dunder Mifflin Scranton
I am so happy that new episodes of The Office are back. I sat down to watch on Thursday night even though my other favorite shows are piling up on the old Tivo (sorry, America’s Toughest Jobs, I’ve been busy but I still love you). It was a great episode. Unlike some fans, I’m not obsessed with the Jim/Pam romance thing (even though I think John Krasinski and Jenna Fischer are awesome). The highlights for me were 1) the humble return of Temp Ryan and his subsequent groveling to... |
|
Daring Tales of Corporate Escape — Movie Star Gerard Butler
Gerard Butler is probably best known for his leading role (and jaw-dropping abs) in The 300 and being romantically linked with Jennifer Aniston and Cameron Diaz. But did you know that this movie star and sex symbol also escaped from Corporate America (okay, it was Corporate Scotland in Gerard’s case)? I read Gerard Butler’s inspiring story in the latest issue of Men’s Health and couldn’t resist featuring it here on the blog (and not only because it would give me an excuse... |