Today, 30% of the US job market, about 42 million workers, are independent contractors, temporary staffers, or self employed, according to the July 2009 issue of Money Magazine. No longer just the realm of creative professionals like writers and artists, freelancing is spreading to accounting, engineering, health care, law and sales. “Now’s the time to think and act entrepreneurially when it comes to your career.” (Money 59) And in Sacramento, as teachers, state workers, and others, face layoffs and furloughs, they have both the time and the inclination to turn towards this professional avenue. Perhaps you have started researching freelance or self-employment options? Maybe you saw the

What kind of change is impacting you right now? Are you laid off? Is your job changing due to "doing less with less"? Have you graduated college and trying to start your career? Are you preparing for retirement? And, how do you react to change? In my conversation with Becky Shook, Psychology Practitioner who helps individuals and groups move through transition, we explored the difference between change and transition and the six types of transition styles each of us tends to experience. Change and transition are not the same. "Although used interchangeably, they are different", says Becky. "Change is the actual event or situation that occurs ... transition is the emotional space people m

There is more to volunteering than you think. I sat down with Mary Lynn Perry, the coordinator for the City of Sacramento’s award winning volunteer program, and author of the free “Get Involved: A How-to Volunteer Guide for Parents, Teachers and Youth”.  She shared the many benefits of volunteering: 1) Gain New Skills: You can acquire professional work experience, whether you have just graduated from high school or college, want to change your career, or transition into retirement. Mary Lynn says: “A lot of people come into a volunteer experience looking to switch a career … they want to try out something for future employment or a part time job”. Molly Lynch, volunteer crewmember at Acce

Does your career or business need a marketing makeover? Executive coach Laura Perez (www.epiphanycoaching.net) shares eight of her marketing makeover “treatments” from her career coaching sessions and seminars: 1) Know Your C.O.B.S. Before you market yourself, be clear on what you want - the Career you want, the Opportunities that are available, the kind of Boss you want to work for, and the Salary you are willing to accept. 2) Be a Problem Solver. Clearly understand and communicate how you can solve problems. Laura says: “Today’s companies want problem solvers, money savers and out of the box thinkers”. Make sure your resume conveys that. 3) Conduct Informational Interviews. Interview ot

On June 30, 2003, John St. John, CEO of Skill Tree, had a dream that would inspire a book and new way of thinking about job fulfillment: “I had a great career but something was missing, something didn’t feel right.” In what I called “a small book with a big heart”, St. John’s book, “The Gift Table” (www.skilltree.net), is an engaging metaphor that gave me a new perspective on job and life fulfillment. In his dream, St. John was transported to a place with beautiful green hills and a picnic table that seemed to stretch around the world. People began showing up at the table; when they arrived at the table, a gift appeared before them. He explained, “Everyone has a gift to share with others.

According to the April 2009 edition of the Harvard Business Review, toxic behavior in the workplace significantly decreases work effort, quality, morale and commitment. We are seeing more toxic behavior at work as a result of more negative emotions associated with the recession.  So, it's important we take some time to look at this issue. Joining me on the next episode of “Good Work NOW!” is leadership consultant Steve Sphar. Steve and I discuss toxic behavior – what it is and why it’s important to address, explore some interesting insights about perception and demonstrate a four step process that anyone can use to make a positive difference. Steve defines toxic behavior as “a type of be

Are you aware of your emotions at any given moment? And, how effective are you at managing them at work? Dr. Mitchel Adler, author of “Promoting Emotional Intelligence in Organizations”, joins me, Brian Moffitt, this week on “Good Work NOW!” for a discussion of emotional intelligence, what it is and why it’s important at work. Unlike general intelligence (ie, “IQ Scores”), emotional intelligence can be learned and improved over time. Dr. Adler shares some tools that anyone can use to improve his or her emotional intelligence. We begin the show by exploring the four domains of emotional intelligence: • Self Awareness is “knowing our own internal state”. Dr. Adler adds that there are four

Disclosure:  Good Work NOW! is a weekly, non-commercial public access television show produced at Access Sacramento and is a volunteer effort by me, my guests and crew. This 30 minute talk show features local experts and our mission is to help viewers find a job, develop their career or business or improve morale or productivity. It airs every Sunday evening at 7:30 – 8:00 PM on Channel 17 and streams at www.AccessSacramento.org, with an encore streaming every Monday, 11:30 – 12:00 noon. The purpose of this weekly column in Sacramento Press is to share key points from each week’s episode and invite readers to watch the program if they want more details. If you have any questions or comment

Ever wonder what other peoples' desks look like? Well at The Sacramento Press most people have a Kings bobble head on their desk because my wife decided she no longer needed them in our shed.  

Are you laid off? Are you in a dead end job? Is it time to put your passion to work? If you answered yes to any of these questions, maybe it’s time for you to become an entrepreneur and start your own business. But do you have what it takes? Entrepreneur and “mergeronomist” Larry Mandelberg joins me for an insightful conversation Sunday night on “Good Work NOW!” on Channel 17 at 7:30 PM. Larry says that an entrepreneur is “someone that sees something that others don’t - they bring new ideas to old ideas and create something that hasn’t existed before”. He adds that successful entrepreneurs are “curious and always learning” and “have a high tolerance for risk”.  One point that he made du

The next time you find yourself unable to stop worrying about something at work, try doing some yoga or meditation right in your workspace. That’s right – you don’t need to go to the gym, take numerous classes, or have a private office or yoga mat! You also won’t feel awkward doing it at work. Yoga and meditation instructor, Shakti, joins me this Sunday on “Good Work NOW!” on Channel 17 at 7:30 PM. I first met Shakti in 2004 when I took a yoga class as part of my grief recovery when my partner died suddenly in 2003. That class was a positive, healing experience. The words that come to my mind that best describe Shakti are calming, centered, peaceful, uncomplicated and wise. On Sunday’s

Many of us feel trapped or victimized by our stress.  In fact, however, "most of our stress is unnecessary - it can be removed", says consultant and wellness advocate Lynn Belzer.  She adds that "we should save our energy for managing the stress we can't remove from our lives".  Join Lynn and host Dr. Brian Moffitt discuss what is stress, how to remove unnecessary stress, and how to manage the stress "we are stuck with", such as "giving stress less air time".  One technique they discuss is making a list of all the things that are causing stress in your life.  Then review the list and determine which stressors you actually have a choice about - therein lies your control.  To learn more, inc

Several hundred hardhats gathered at the southwest corner of the Capitol grounds this morning to protest the budget deadlock that has thrown hundreds of labor brothers out of work. In fact, said Jarad Donabedin, a member of Laborers Local 185, “Everyone here is out of work. This is real life.” Called by the California Alliance for Jobs, speakers from operating engineers, carpenters and laborers locals spoke in a highly-charged atmosphere to repeated cheers from those gathered. The most common chant was “What do we want?” “A budget!” “When do we want it?” “Now!” chanted as the protesters circled around the area, holding picket signs reading “LEGISLATORS DO YOUR JOB SO WE DON’T LOSE OURS!