Workplace Wisdom...
Discover Fulfillment in Life and Work
with Michelle Y. Drake

Chicago, here I come!

Tomorrow I'll be on my way to the Windy City, home of amazing deep dish pizza (although in my Long Island heart, I'll always be partial to New York slices!), incredible architecture, and "Da Bears" (and Bulls, White Sox, Cubs... - this is what happens when you live in a house full of men!)

I'm part of group called the Mega Inner Circle Network created by Mark Victor Hansen (who's written some of my favorite books, the Chicken Soup for the Soul series). Being a member means having the opportunity to take part in "Immersives" that promise to be educational and entertaining conferences featuring major players sharing their success secrets and advice. This weekend is the Chicago Immersive and I am so excited! Why? Well, for one thing: I love to network!

I'm a talker, a speaker, a gabber, a chatter...er, a chewer of the fat - and during networking events, I'm in my glory. But I realize that I'm also in the minority: most people dread networking events more than Tax Day, and they wind up wondering why they even bothered to show up.

To all of you networking-phobes out there, here are my 6 best tips for improving your networking skills...



For more FREE tips on advancing your career and navigating the workplace, sign up for my FREE e-zine "Lipstick Leadership" at LipstickLeadership.com today! And check out the products I've developed to guide you toward the success you deserve!

I recently returned from Boston where I coach an executive in a large financial institution. She was hired because she is a star at what she does, but her new superiors felt her rough edges needed a little smoothing out. Enter Michelle Yozzo Drake: Communication Strategist (and apparently, career therapist!).

The first few sessions were mainly conversations to analyze her communication style, her role in the organization and the organization itself - unlike most coaches, I don't rely solely on standardized tests and I don't just jump to what I think the problem is either. As she started to warm up to me, she became more honest with her true feelings about her job:

She's totally fed up with it!

Once the floodgates opened, my client told me exactly what she couldn't stand about her job and after we evaluated it, we decided it would be best for her to take control of her career and JUST GET OUT!

But like most of us, she couldn't stand the stress of a long, drawn-out stretch between this job and her new one, so I offered her a few quick tips to find a job fast...



For more FREE tips on advancing your career and navigating the workplace, sign up for my FREE e-zine "Lipstick Leadership" at LipstickLeadership.com today! And check out the products I've developed to guide you toward the success you deserve!

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