Often, we stress about various life or work situations unnecessarily. Take a step back for about 48 hours, and then come back and see if what felt like a problem or issue 2 days ago, is still as important. You might be surprised.

Check out this topic on my blog at: https://careeroptimum.com/2023/11/02/applying-the-important-48-hour-rule/

Another holiday season is here, and it's typically a challenging time for introverts (including me) to navigate, especially if faced with a string of party invites. In this episode, I'll offer some quick tips that will hopefully make it a little easier and keep our batteries charged.

Also, check out my holiday blog post at: https://careeroptimum.com/2023/12/11/the-introverts-guide-to-holiday-parties/

and my Instagram page at: https://www.instagram.com/careeroptimum/

Are there certain words that you use that hit you funny or make you cringe when you hear them come out of your mouth? And what word(s) can you replace them with that may have a more positive connotation? At the top of my list is the word, "should".

Check out this topic on my blog: https://careeroptimum.com/2023/07/04/what-words-are-on-your-ditch-list/

It's not just about salary and benefits when considering a job offer these days. Employee well-being, including flexible work arrangements and mental health initiatives are central to many job applicants. To attract and retain top talent, organizations will need to recognize this shift in employee priorities.

Check out this topic on my blog: https://careeroptimum.com/2022/06/12/employee-well-being-step-to-the-front-of-the-line/

When it comes to maximizing productivity, performance, and efficiency, and overall employee happiness, the better option is single-tasking. Here are a few tips to get started:

https://www.inc.com/samira-far/5-monotasking-tips-that-will-save-your-brain-and-make-you-more-successful.html

This episode is also available as a blog post: http://careeroptimum.com/2022/03/26/single-tasking-is-not-selfish/

New year's resolutions are often unsustainable, so maybe a better approach is creating a playbook. Include in your 2023 Playbook whatever feels right in the moment. However, as the year progresses, circumstances and priorities may change. So it's a good idea to put the "3R" method into play: review, reassess, and if necessary re-calibrate. Check out my recent blog post at https://careeroptimum.com/2022/12/30/your-2023-playbook/ for your own customizable copy of the 2023 Playbook.

Icebreakers, team-building exercises, social gatherings: how can organizations get creative to make these things more inclusive and meaningful, feel less forced, and actually fun? I chat with fellow introvert, Stephen Beattie to discuss our experience with icebreakers and the rest, share thoughts on their future, as well as propose some alternatives. Meanwhile, a few links to peruse:

https://www.zendesk.com/blog/icebreaker-alternatives/

https://www.thoughtco.com/ice-breaker-the-name-game-31381

https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20220517-the-death-of-mandatory-fun-in-the-office

In this brief episode, I offer an unconventional definition of failure and assert that it can be a vital factor in achieving success!

This episode is also available as a blog post: http://careeroptimum.com/2022/11/13/re-framing-the-definition-of-success/

The pandemic has unintentionally created a seismic shift in the way people work (or don't work): terms like "The Great Resignation", "The Great Reshuffle" and "The Great Retirement" have made the rounds in the past couple of years. In this episode, I had the pleasure of chatting with fellow coach, Emily Rothberg. Among Emily's coaching niches is retirement coaching. She shares with us a lot of great information, as well as some of the challenges and opportunities (and a few tips) for those thinking about, on the verge of, or currently in retirement. For more about Emily's coaching, check out her website and LinkedIn profile. 

An intense and interesting tug-of-war is happening now in today's workforce: RTO vs. WFH. Who will win the battle between employers' desire to have their workers return to the office, and employees' preference for working from home? Will inflation rates play an important role in determining the outcome? And where do you stand on the issue?

This episode is also available as a blog post: http://careeroptimum.com/2022/05/12/the-tug-of-war-between-rto-wfh/