People often ask me how I came to be an entrepreneur of professional development and a career coach for academics. Given that I have a PhD in Cultural Anthropology, I “should” be a professor or at least working in international development somewhere. Well, like any life/career story this one has some twists and turns, so sit tight and grab a cup of tea because this is the story behind the story. If you want the official (read: “professional”) bio, click here. The Nagging Question I had been on the academic job market for about two years when I began to question whether or not academia was for me. I really liked the people I met at the campus where I’d received a nationally awarded postdoc offer. The location was great – I have family that lives about an hour away—the location was conducive to writing, and the package I had been offered was complete [...]

It's that time of year again where we transition from the lazy days of summer to the energy and work of the fall season. I don't know about you, but this transition brings excitement about how the last few months of the year will unfold for me.   What new opportunities, projects and collaborations will take flight? How will I manage the multiple goals I have set to accomplish over the next few months? As you settle into your flow/pace for the fall, I encourage you to take these three tips to keep your energy renewed and your focus steady: Be bold in your goal setting. While it's important to set manageable goals, I am also a firm believer in reaching for big, bold goals. You know the ones, those ideas that excite you and make you nervous all at the same time. Yours [...]