Sometimes careers take circuitous paths -- like my own -- for example. I've held so many seemingly unrelated jobs in my life: Public relations specialist, sales associate, office manager, advertising exec, high school teacher, dental assistant, and career adviser.

What have I learned from these experiences? Nothing is irrelevant; everything counts. It's my job to make it meaningful.

Today is Monday. When I woke up it was raining and chilly and oh so cozy beneath my down comforter! So what prompted me to venture out of bed?

Fortunately I have a job that I think is vital and meaningful. Okay, so I'm not a nuclear scientist or a brain surgeon. But I do help clients find jobs and that's important to at least two people.

Sometimes it's your attitude toward your job that makes a Monday marvelous instead of manic. Like Francoise de Motteville said:

"The true way to render ourselves happy
is to love our work and find in it our pleasure."

And if that doesn't help, just remember: Tomorrow is Tuesday!

Okay. So quoting a cartoon character may not be the most intellectual comment a person can make, but it's late on a Thursday and I'm ready for the weekend. Anyway, sometimes optimism trumps intellectualism. Like right now... and any time we're faced with difficulties, which just may be opportunities in disguise. Think about it.

Every Monday evening, I stay after work to attend class: Human Resource Management I. Besides learning about the Fair Labor Standards Act and CRA Title VII, I've learned that HR professionals are required to be re-certified every three years. Turns out that laws -- and consequently best practices -- change so quickly that practitioners constantly have to prove that they're at the top of their game (forgive the sports analogy, but Boston is getting whupped by Cleveland even as I type). Anyway, I really think the HR profession is on to something. Too often we tend to "rest on our laurels" and do things the way we always have. But nothing ever stays the same. Not in HR, not in counseling, and not in baseball. To be competitive -- make that, to excel -- in your career, you have to keep on learning. So listen to Nike. Just do it.

This may sound like blasphemy coming from a Red Sox fan, but last night I was tempted to root for the Rockies. Almost, but not quite. There's just something about an underdog that causes me to cheer. Especially when they rally in the last few innings...

I think the same is true in the career arena. Recruiters want the applicants to succeed who show initiative, a strong work ethic, and a positive attitude -- even if they aren't the strongest or most experienced candidates for the job. So think about the "soft skills" you bring to the position and "sell" yourself to the employer. It might not get you a spot on the Red Sox roster, but it could just land you the job!