I know many of my colleagues at work have not taken any of their 4 weeks of vacation.  And let's be honest - for many of us right now, it looks like our summer travel plans are probably canceled.  We may get a road trip in but generally, it's looking pretty unlikely that we'll be setting off on any adventures this summer.   

Well your "staycation" can be something other than binge-watching Netflix or knocking out those home improvement or organization projects you've been meaning to.  Here are three staycation ideas that could help you advance your career (and give you something to mention during your midyear review):

1) Attend a virtual conference.  Many conferences are transforming into virtual summits.  I attended my first virtual conference since the pandemic a couple weeks ago.  It was fantastic.   Three days of learning and interacting with others.  I honestly didn't know what to expect.  I was able to get a lot from it!  And I met many other attendees.  Not the same as in pers...

It's hard to believe it's been about 90 days since I started working from home.  I was super motivated.  I was going to finally get through that drag list (you know the list you have with all those things you've been meaning to do that irritate you and drag you down when you notice they're still not done).  For me, it's things like unpacking boxes in the garage or getting the new thermostat installed.  90 days ago - I thought all these things were going to get crossed off my list.

Are you familiar with Parkinson's law? How much time you have to do a task is how long it takes to do it.  Put another away - activities expand to take up the time you have.  This is why you've probably heard that if you want something done, give it to a busy person.  This is also why productivity drops instead of increases when you have more time on your hands.

Well, I've been a little less busy.  I've had more time at home.  And in the beginning, I focused on self-care. I got more sleep, began to run regu...

So, working from home is not for everyone.  It works amazing for me but I know a lot of my friends and colleagues who cannot wait to get back to the office.  For me, this time has reminded me of the 4 years I worked from home earlier in my career. Not only am I just as productive (in the ways my company cares about) but I also get to live according to my values and have the time and space to be my best self.

• Going into the office costs me about $1000 per month in parking, eating out, Starbucks, and pup care. Now, some of these expenses are completely my choice. I could bring lunch in.  I could not go to Starbucks – I don’t as often when I’m home.  And by the way, that’s not considering other expenses that I know I incur – gas, car maintenance, dry cleaning, work clothes, etc.  That $1,000 of my take-home pay equates to about $20,000 per year of my salary.
• Working from home gives me at least 3 hours more every day – commute time and my lunch hour. That’s about 15 hours a week (12 fo
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People often reach out to me for advice around networking and LinkedIn.  There are different strategies for interal networking (within your organization) and external networking.  I believe LinkedIn is a great tool for external networking.  It is a visual that shows you your network and quickly enables you to see facts and updates.  It's important to recognize that just because you are connected to someone does not mean that they are part of your network.  Your network is the people who would pick up the phone and make a phone call on your behalf (that's my definition).  If you're connected to someone who wouldn't do that, then you need to build the relationship.

Here are three sincere ways you can connect or reconnect with your connections:

1) Share an article or video that is relevant to them.  Perhaps you just saw a TED talk on a topic that you think would be interesting to them.  You can send them a link with a quick note that you saw this talk and thought they may find it intere...

As I've started growing my coaching business, I've met many entrepreneurs and realized that as a corporate professional, I have a lot to learn from their mindset about personal development.  Like many professionals, for years, I relied on my company to be my primary source of career development.  I've been blessed to work for leaders who saw my potential and paid for my training.  However, I've realized that the model of companies being responsible for their employees development in antiquated.  Why would a company invest the same amount of money in employees who stay on average less than 7 years as they did when companies stayed for 30+?  It's not a model that makes sense anymore.  And honestly, it gives my company too much power to decide when I will be ready for my next role.

• Your company is not doing it (as much as they used to anyway). Generally, companies spent $986 per learner in 2018 compared with $1,075 per learner in 2017 per a 2018 training industry report. This means tra
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As I've watched (from home) what's been happening I've been inspired and disappointed by different leaders' and institutions' response to this crisis. I believe that it's in times of challenge and struggle that we really see what we are made of. The same thing is true for the companies we work for. Here are three things you can learn as you reflect on your company's response:

1)     Their priorities / values. I’m a big believer in working for a company shares your values. I encourage my clients to make sure the company that they work for aligns to their personal values. It’s one of the key elements of the interview process where the company is determining if you’re a good fit for them and you should be determining if their culture is a good fit for you. Often, the values a company proudly proclaims on their website are not the ones they actually live. Values show up in decisions. Values can be clearly seen in difficult times. So what have the last 30-45 days shown you about your compa...