The Career Clinic Blog

Do yourself a favor. When you find yourself singing because you’re in such a good mood, notice what you’re doing.

Then, do more of that.

Gradually you’ll have a life you love.

A longer version of this little nugget of advice recently appeared in the Huffington Post.

A friend of mine calls a personal essay the new resume. “If I were to hire someone,” he told me, “I’d prefer that he hand me an article about himself like you wrote. I would like to know how he got from wherever he started to where he is now.”

Career consultants are fond of reminding job hunters they’re in the business of telling stories.

Make them good. Not just because they’ll get you the job. But because--as Callings author Gregg Levoy would say--when your life flashes before your eyes, it’ll hold your interest.

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A few years ago when I told a friend I was considering giving up donuts and so on--for the rest of my life--she said, “That’s just crazy.”

And I thought, “Yeah? So?”

Not only hadn’t she dissuaded me, she’d persuaded me. I’d lived long enough to realize if people don’t think what you’re doing is crazy--at least to begin with--it’s already been done.

What would be the harm in experimenting with what felt like a calling? I mean, really. I even woke up one morning to the sound of what I thought was a phone ringing.

Honoring that has changed my life.

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Get started.

Okay, fine. Watch this video first.

But then get started.

Go!

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“It never gets old.” That’s the report I gave Katie when I woke her up on a recent Saturday morning, telling her how much fun I’d had prepping the show the night before.

You should’ve seen the look on her face. That smile! It was as if I’d given her the best Christmas present ever.

You want your child to be happy? Go first. Let her watch you be happy.

One thing that makes me happy is keeping samples of my best work handy. They help me remember what I’m playing at.

I don’t know if this is my best work, but it was handy--a video excerpt of my interview with Tama Kieves earlier this year.

I get inspired all over again when I watch.

And if the same thing happened when you did? That would make me really happy!

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There’s magic in an anonymous gift. It turns everyone in your orbit into the possible source of surprise and delight.

That gift might be from someone you know really well. It might be from someone you don’t know at all. Or it might be from someone who’s crazy about you, but hasn’t worked up the courage to tell you himself.

It might even be...from Santa.

Happy Holidays!

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“I’m not filling a deep emotional hole here. I’m playing a very difficult game, and if you’d like to see someone who’s very good at a difficult game, that’s what I do.”

That’s Jerry Seinfeld, in an article you may have seen recently. If you didn’t, I bet you’d enjoy it. Then let me know if you've ever heard craftsmanship explained in a more compelling way.

You don’t have to take my word for it, of course. The Talent Code author Daniel Coyle recommends the piece, as well--and not just because Jerry was inspired by an article Daniel wrote a few years ago.

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I wasn’t looking for another book to write. I have several in queue, and other projects ahead of them.

So when a colleague suggested we write a book together my answer was, “Of course!” Forget I’d sworn off--with Darrell’s insistence--any more collaborations. Working with this woman sounds like so much fun. I wouldn’t have to have my name on the book and it wouldn’t matter if we never made a dollar from it. That’s how much fun it sounds.

If you’re undecided about something, here’s one way to look at it. Are you forcing the next move? Or did it find you? If you go looking for Mr. Right--Mr. Right Husband or Boss or Drywaller--he will elude you, in my experience. If you decide you’ll be fine without him? There he is!

Doing something for the sheer joy of it has never been a bad move. So when happiness--or the promise of it--sneaks up on you, pay attention.

Please.

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If the only thing you can contribute to a situation is disapproval, I hope you’ll find something else to do.

At the very least you could enjoy the good feeling you get from minding your own business.

Because as a wise person once said: “Once you open a can of worms, the only way to put them back is to use a larger can.”

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My husband is not, shall we say, question-deprived.

So it always tickles me when I come up with what he calls a good one. Like this: “Would I have me as a guest on my own show?”

And no, I’m not going to tell you his answer. But I’d love to know what you think of the interviewer, interviewed.

Thanks!

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If your company hasn’t had its holiday party yet, there’s still time to keep that off your list of regrets.

Larry Nettles from Premiere Global Services is a veteran of dozens of office parties. “If you stick around long enough,” he says, “you’ll see something you don’t want to see, or do something you don’t want to do.”

So go ahead. Show up. Have fun. Be responsible. And get the heck out of there while it’s still early.

You won’t regret it.

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