Second Act

On the Real Housewives of OC last night, there was a funny scene in which housewife "friends" Alexis and Peggy--both, blonde, bling-y, and preternaturally buxom-- were discussing the latest happenings with their kids.  Between the talk of baby modeling, kiddie vegetarianism, and who was the best scribbler in the class, every comment was not-so-subtly geared to one-up each other ("My daught Read More

"I've never stayed in a job just for the paycheck," says author and former magazine editor Silvana Nardone. "If the passion is gone, I'll leave and try something else." Nardone says her low tolerance for corporate politicking and craving for adrenaline have earned her a reputation as somewhat of a "loose cannon" in the publishing industry. Read More

Are there really cultural differences in how we approach money and success? Giovanna Pang Garcia came to the U.S. from Hong Kong at the age of 16 with no friends, no family, and barely speaking English. She later taught herself how to build a computer, started a custom computer sales business, and became a self-made millionaire before the age of 40. Read More

Ever been to a dinner party or networking event where the conversation was just so insincere? Yesterday I was on the Today Show talking about how to schmooze without being fake-- and charm everyone in the room at the same time. Here's a recap of the tips: Read More

Kathryn Thigpen's resume has always been interesting. South Carolina native who's fluent in French. Jet-setting high-tech software marketing exec. Earned her MBA while working full-time. And now... panty-maker? Well, she got the idea during a business trip. She had a stopover, her bags were delayed, and she was planning to meet friends. Read More

I recently wrote about the myth of overnight success, and that switching careers often requires years of work to catch up on skill and salary level. This idea rings true for Shelley Irwin, a former physical therapist who went back to school at age 38 to pursue a career in radio. More than a decade later, she's an award-wining radio host at WGVU in Grand Rapids. Read More

We live in an age of instapreneurs. From nineties dot-com mavens to millennial whiz kid millionaires to house flippers galore, well-publicized success stories made it all look so simple. Those bubbles may have burst, but the lingering message is sticky: Do what you like--heck, do whatever you want--and you can make tons of money doing it. Read More

One of the most important skills in your career is knowing when to say when. There's something to be said for persistence and not throwing in the towel just because something is difficult, but there are also professional situations and warning signs that indicate it's time to polish your resume and move on-- or at least prepare to move on. Read More

All politics aside, you can't deny Sarah Palin's got smarts. Money smarts, especially. The NY Post reported yesterday that she and daughter Bristol were paid $100,000 for a day-long photo shoot--in Sarah's own house. Not bad considering her previous salary was $125,000 per year, as governor of Alaska. Read More