Words for Your Work

I was looking back at these photos from my trip to Vancouver a couple of months ago, and it reminded me how much a change of scenery can shift your mindset.

I went out to visit my son, William, back in May. Since he was working during the day, I brought my laptop along and worked from his apartment, just with mountains in the background instead of my usual office in Green Bay!

As much as I love home, the energy of the city and those stunning views were such a boost. Having that flexibility is one of the best parts of running my business, but let's be honest: remote work can get a little lonely. Having another human in the room to grab lunch with between tasks was such a treat.

It was a great reminder of something I’ve learned over 16 years of working for myself: stepping out of your routine isn't just a luxury. It’s essential for your mental health and creativity.

When we stare at the same four walls every day, our brains shift into autopilot. We get comfortable, but we also get stuck. Exposing yourself to new spaces wakes your brain back up and helps you see old problems in a brand-new light.

The exact same thing happens when you’re looking for a job.

It’s so easy to fall into a rut... sitting in the same chair, scrolling the same job boards, and staring at the same resume draft.

If you’ve been feeling a bit stuck lately, a few small tweaks can work wonders:

▶️ Connect with others: Joining a casual job search or networking group brings fresh energy and new resume ideas.
▶️ Make the call: Pick up the phone and talk to a friend or colleague. Connection with a friend or colleague does wonders for your mood.
▶️ Change your view: Spend an afternoon working from a coffee shop, library, or a different room. A new environment helps your brain process things differently.

If you work from home or are going through a tough career transition, it’s easy to feel like you’re on an island. But you don't have to navigate it alone.

What is one thing you do when you need to recharge and feel inspired?

📸 I took these two photos of the Fox River on the exact same day back in April.

The first shows how the day started, completely blanketed in a thick fog where you could barely see five feet ahead. The second is the exact same view by the evening — a beautiful, perfectly clear sunset.

If you're feeling stuck right now, unclear about what's ahead, constantly wondering about your job security, I want you to know you don’t just have to sit tight and ride out the anxiety.

That is exactly where a career coach comes in. While we can't control the economy, we can focus entirely on what you can control. Think of me as your partner helping you build a career insurance policy. Together, we’ll work to:

✨ Uncover your unique, standout transferable skills, so you're always marketable.
✨ Solve immediate workplace challenges to increase your value right now.
✨ Build a strategic, realistic roadmap so you always know your exact next move, no matter what the market does.

You don’t have to just wait and worry in the fog. Send me a message and let’s build your proactive plan together.

Recently, I was chatting with a job seeker who wanted some feedback on her resume. The very first thing I noticed? It read a bit like a laundry list of daily chores instead of a showcase of her actual wins.

(We’ve all been there! It is so hard to write about ourselves 😣)

I introduced her to the STAR formula, and her eyes totally lit up.

If you’re currently job hunting, breaking your accomplishments down into Situation, Task, Action, and Result is the easiest way to write bullet points that actually get noticed.

But my favorite thing to do? Adding a second "R" for Reflection.

Taking a second to think about what you actually learned from a project doesn't just make your resume stronger. It helps shift the narritive when you're answering tough questions in an interview.

I wrote a quick, step-by-step guide on how to pull out your best career stories and turn them into "All-Star" resume bullets (including real-life examples!).

🔗 Head to the link in the comments to read the full post: Create an "All-Star" Resume!

Words are hard. (And yup, even I don't write my own stuff!) ⤵️

I’m wearing my new favorite t-shirt in this photo. Even though the name of my business is "Words For Your Work," I can't take credit for designing this.

I actually bought it from the merch store of a pair of YouTubers my daughter and I love watching together. Evan and Katelyn make incredible crafts, but they’re equally famous for moments when one of their brains just short-circuits and they can’t think of what to say. (If you want some fun, wholesome content, check them out here: Evan & Katelyn)

When they started selling these "WORDS ARE HARD" shirts, I knew I had to have one.

Because let’s face it: words can be so hard when it comes to writing your resume or figuring out what to say in an interview. 🤨

Recently, I was asked for my resume for a volunteer role. Truth be told? I didn’t write it. One of my team members worked on it for me.

Ironic, right? I spend my entire day helping people find the exact language they need for resumes, interviews, and networking. But I completely froze when trying to do it for myself. 📄

It reminds me of a great analogy I saw recently: Surgeons don't operate on themselves. When you are the one living your career, you are simply too close to the subject. You’re looking at your experiences through a lens of "what happened," not "what matters to a hiring manager."

When you let someone else (hopefully a professional!) handle the writing, you get three things you just can't get on your own:

🤓 Objectivity: Someone else can spot the achievements you’ve been downplaying for years.
🔍 Fresh Perspective: They see the "golden thread" of your skills that you’ve been ignoring because it felt like "just part of the job."
🔬 Intentional Editing: They help you minimize the skills you’re tired of using and amplify the ones you actually want to do next.

It’s okay if words are hard for you. It’s okay if you hit a wall when you try to talk about yourself. That isn't a failure—it's just human.

Whether you’re in the middle of a job search or just looking to sharpen your professional story, you don't have to be the surgeon. You just have to be the person who knows it’s time to move forward. ❤️

Have you ever found it incredibly hard to talk about yourself? Drop a comment below—let's normalize it!