professional development

Writing is one of the most important skills needed by professionals, business owners and anyone wanting to pursue a communications or public relations (PR) career. It takes time, patience, focus and a high level of skill to organize, develop and prepare a thoughtful message, no matter the specific writing task involved. But what happens when…

Being a part of an professional group is critically important in these days of intense competition for time, talent, resources and money throughout all industries. Business leaders lead best when they are out front and stay focused on being informed, growing their company and ensuring they are well recognized. An excellent way to lead in…

We live in a world of constant change. Staying abreast of what is happening in our industries and communities is very important, especially when we think about the kinds of knowledge and the types of skills we need to succeed in life. Training is a critical part of staying up-to-date in any field, from technology…

While having a good resume is still important, even more important these days is a good personal and professional profile. These are used for our social media channels liked LinkedIn, on a website and for sharing your story in a networking setting. Being able to succinctly explain who you are when meeting new people, whether…

Learning new ways to sell and develop new strategic relationships in a virtual era has been a challenge for many business owners and sales leaders. It has also changed the marketing world. First and foremost, the whole idea of networking has been turned on its head. No doubt you have heard it said in your own…

Okay, here is what I have learned over the past 22 years of owning and operating my own company. Discover the work you are passionate about and then do it. If your potential client believes they know more about the services and expertise you provide, then they probably won’t be a good fit as a…

What’s the difference? There are many ways to get an organization’s brand seen by potential clients or prospective employees, whether that brand is a service, a specific product, or even an idea. The many methods, or channels, for communicating, marketing, selling, informing and sharing can sometimes be overwhelming. Whether your company can support a marketing…

Fall is a great time to connect and reconnect, especially with those we may have lost touch with over the summer. In a normal year we might find ourselves talking with friends and colleagues we haven’t seen for many weeks due to vacations, summer travel or business slowdowns. Thinking about our networking challenges this year…

As an admitted extrovert, I enjoy meeting new people, seeing new places and learning new things. But let’s face it, not everyone is an extrovert. Not everyone loves going to networking events, meet and greets, or whatever you call them. For some people, events like these can be scary. I went to a recent networking…

Do you feel guilty about taking time off? Apparently, here in the U.S. a lot of us do. According to an article in Forbes, “Why America has become ‘the no-vacation nation,’” a survey of 1,200 full-time American workers showed that 47% of them didn’t take all their vacation time the previous year. Another article by…