How to Change Careers Off the Beaten Path – 4 Tips

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Sometimes what seems like a great idea when you start on a career path can end up being a disappointment when you end up in a job that is not the kind of life you imagined or worse, unemployed. Unfortunately, this is fairly common. According to a report last year, “53% of recent college grads [In the US] are jobless or underemployed.” Even many who do have a full time job are working outside their degree’s intended career path. This can be very disheartening, especially for those who have gone into considerable debt and spent much time and effort getting their degree. ...  read more

How to Walk Without Feeling Your Feet

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Many readers have emailed me or commented on the blog to ask how they can build their confidence, since confidence is essential to career success.  I want to share this story I heard on Monday to see if it can help.

After each Yoga class, my favorite teacher, Ryan (female), talks to us about how Yoga can change our health and our lives.  This Monday, it was a little different.  Instead, she told us this story: ...  read more

Top 3 Reasons to Get a College Degree

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You may look at Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, and the late Steve Jobs and say they drop out of college and still became billionaires, so why should I get a college degree?  I would respond – “Well, they are  1 in a few hundred million in talent, vision, drive, creativity, and passion.  If you think you are just like them, then stop reading this article.  You probably wouldn’t be reading this in the first place as you are too busy building the next Microsoft, Facebook, or Apple.” ...  read more

Career Advice from Ang Lee – Don’t Forget Your Dream

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Ang Lee is one of the most famous directors in Hollywood today.  We may all look at him with his second Oscar in hand thinking he is not like us.  He is more talented and lucky.  Well, as his essay from 2006 after his first Oscar shows, he is just like any of us with two main differences

  1. He never forgot his dream even though society and his own Chinese upbringing both tried hard to stop him from pursuing an unusual, low success rate career for a Chinese immigrant in the US.  
  2. When he did give up momentarily, he had his wife to support him through the hard times and remind him of what he is destined to do.

I wanted to share his essay translated from Chinese by Irene Shih and inspire all of us to not give up on our dreams and surround ourselves with key supporters like that of Ang’s wife to strive for what we truly want to contribute to this world.   Best wishes! ...  read more

Taking Lunch Breaks can Help Your Career

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Many successful and motivated business people get where they are today by working hard during times when others would not have the energy to do so.  This may include working longer hours, on weekends, and through lunch.   While working hard for a little while can get you further, you also need to watch out for burn out.  This is why taking a real lunch break at least 3 times a week can help your career in 5 ways ...  read more

How to Use Linkedin Effectively – 5 Tips for Your Career

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Being able to use Linkedin effectively for networking and building your brand is a critical skill to further your career in today’s market.    Of the most widely recognized social media platforms, LinkedIn is arguably the most utilitarian. Most of the people who use Linkedin have a primarily business purpose behind their presence within the platform, and updates about what they had for dinner are noticeably absent. ...  read more