Following your career dream isn’t always easy. First you have to discover what it is…really. Just because you love nature, the outdoors and animals doesn’t always mean you want to be a Veterinarian. Maybe what you truly would love is to be a nature photographer. And, just because you love to know how things work doesn’t always mean you want to be a mechanic. Maybe you would really like to be a Technical Writer.

Going through a discovery process is an important part of the ‘dream career’ equation. Getting to know yourself on a deep level can be one of the biggest gifts you ever give yourself. A good way to begin this process is to take some self-assessments to discover your strengths, values, preferences, etc. The information provided in these types of assessments can be essential link in helping you map out the direction you want to take to fulfill your dream career.

There are some people that spend most of their lives working at something that is not fulfilling – knowing full well that they have another dream. Paul Potts is a great example. If you want a serendipitous, inspirational moment, watching a person who knows their dream – take a quick look at this YouTube video. You’ll definitely feel what aiming for the stars and believing in your dream is about.

Start taking steps to get closer to your dream. Just do a little something everyday, whether it’s to sign up for a class, start a blog, follow a blog focusing on what you love to do, sign up for a magazine focused on what you want to do, take an assessment…just something everyday. One thing will lead to another. Ask Paul Potts.

Make a plan and celebrate your progress – everyday.

Posted by Robin Ogden at FiredUP Careers

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Thinking about reinventing your career image? If you’ve decided to work on your personal branding you may want to think about reinventing your overall image too. It’s one thing to stand apart because of an out-of-date or peculiar wardrobe and another thing to stand out because you’re great at what you do.

It is important to look the part that you perform, or want to perform when vying for a promotion. After all, the way you are perceived is directly impacted by how you present yourself. So, if you’re in the process of a career remodel, don’t ignore the importance your wardrobe image can make in setting the tone and creating a new you in the viewer’s eye.

Do you get lost in where to start? A good way to begin is by having your colors done. A color consultant can provide you with a tone analysis so you know which colors look best on you, which bring out your natural energy and which are your power colors (for those ‘very’ important meetings!). Check out Carole Jackson’s website and you may want to pick up her book(s) too; Color Me Beautiful and Color for Men, which are both full of great information – you’ll learn a lot about how color can enhance your image.

You’ll be amazed at how knowing what colors are best on you will impact the focus of your wardrobe and organize your shopping. For some a dreaded nightmare (unbelievable…), and for others a burst of joy (that would be me…).

Another enlightening step is to organize your closet in color tone. Light, to medium, too dark. It is a fairly quick process that will help you become more aware of what you have and what your needs may be when it comes to redefining your wardrobe. It’s really not hard at all and you’ll be amazed and how many things you never wear (because you forgot you had them) and how many things need to go into your ‘donate quickly’ stack. This is a great step to perform before any new shopping is done. See what you have that will work with your new look and see what you can add to.

So, having your color analysis done, redefining your look, and organizing what you’ve already got are three easy steps to begin reinventing your career image. Start today and see how great it feels to uncover a whole new you!

Posted by Robin Ogden – FiredUP Careers

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I’m always discovering fun new sites. This one is another great idea. If you want to be sure you’re job search steers you away from ‘jerk bosses’ then you need to check out Jerk Free Jobs.

It’s great – you can do a search to check out whether your new manager is listed as a jerk. Or apply for one of the positions listed on their job board with companies who have been ‘certified’ as jerk-free. And guess what – you can help other people out too. There is a section where you can enter and rate your boss.

Hey – it’s only fair. If the employers can go after us (referencing, online search, etc.) then we should be able to have a few places we can go to ensure we aren’t signing up to work for a ‘jerk’.

Posted by Robin Ogden – FiredUP Careers

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What’s it like to work for a bully? How does it feel to get up in the morning, knowing that you’re going right back into the same storm you crawled out of the day before? Horrible I would say – feeling that day, after day, after day there is no satisfying the bully boss. Who gets stuck with bully bosses anyway? And – why you, you may ask.

In Bob Weinsteins article “How to Deal with Bully Bosses” he points out some very interesting statistics. This is a great article to read with lots of advice on how to handle particular types of situations and he points out the various types of bullies that are out there in management.

So what are your choices? Stick it out, fight back, quit, report the injustices to higher authorities, or slap a legal suit on the company?

You may want to take a look at more information before you decide which direction to head off in. You may find these articles helpful in making your decisions:

Psychology Today

Bankrate.com

Mytoxicboss.com

New York Times

Work Doctor

Law.com

Washington Post

There are also many books available to help you out - just go to Amazon.com and search under ‘bully boss’ you’ll find several to choose from. You’ll also find several mentioned in the article “How to Deal with Bully Bosses”.

My thought is the worst thing to do is nothing. No one deserves to be bullied by anyone and if you’re receiving that treatment – do something about it. You are not alone out there so don’t alienate yourself. Read up on this incredibly common occurrence, get tips and advice on how to handle various situations and begin your journey to reclaim your workplace dignity!

Good luck!

Posted by Robin Ogden - FiredUP Careers

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