I have experienced how just a few words of encouragement, acknowledgement or positive challenge (with a cashier at the supermarket, a fellow traveler on the subway, a child in a classroom...) can brighten someone's day and spur them on to greater heights and opportunity. When in the 3rd grade, I noticed the point at which a boy in my class got involved with a tough crowd; his behavior and how he saw himself suddenly changed. While not in a position to do anything about it at the time, I felt the impulse to help. I have seen time and again the resurgence of the human spirit and talents when we look for them in people and have learned a lot from the people I worked with and helped to be ready for that job opportunity.

In addition to a Masters in Social Work, a certificate from the MentorCoach Foundations life coach training course and membership in the International Coach Federation, I have over 15 years experience career coaching a wide variety of people (including helping people dealing with mental health problems and stigma challenges) in finding and sustaining good work opportunities. I have also assisted people to make academic choices and succeed. Whether someone wants to be in an office or corporate job, a helping or creative profession or to get into Juilliard for a career in orchestration, I work with them creatively, so that they can have the best opportunity for success and fulfillment in their chosen career.

I want you to know that no matter what your training or abilities, you never have to be stuck doing just one type of job. In today's economy, it's wise to develop more than one talent, be versatile. Add worth to what you're currently doing, and also have more opportunities available to you if you are looking for a new job.

Today, I encourage you to look at the opportunities that are available to you, look to your passions as guidance for what motivates you in life and work. Some of my passions are community and spirit building, kindness, creativity, music, nature, and having a meaningful life. Some ways they play out are in loving to work with people, especially in community settings, starting my day off with an act of kindness, getting together with friends, singing in a chorus, acting, songwriting, MC'ing, hiking and traveling. What are some of the things you enjoy doing and how do they connect with who you are and the type of career setting you choose?

At Career Connect Coaching, working with me, you will have the chance to brainstorm what you'd like to do next, based on who you are, what your talents and abilities are and what you would like to learn and contribute at your current or next job. You will have the opportunity to work collaboratively with me on sharpening up your resume, job search, interviewing skills and writing a cover letter that matches you to each employer in a way that makes you shine.

A dream of what you want to do may seem far away and unreal. Remember that the word dream ends in am, so if you can picture yourself as I am doing __________, you will already be putting yourself in the direction of your dream.

I will be there, working with you to go from dream to am.