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Following My Bliss

Following My Bliss

As you know, in 2006 I decided to refocus my time and energy on career and life planning. The most important decision in rebirthing Career Dimensions was what would be most helpful to my clients, give me the greatest satisfaction and continue making a difference after I’ve retired.

I’ve chosen the Lifespace/Workspace process as my legacy. Though Lifespace/Workspace was created years ago by my partner Gary John and I, we have done little to make it available to other professionals and their clients, students and employees. Now that I’ve simplified Career Dimensions’ offerings to four main services: career transitions, executive and entrepreneurial coaching, the Business Owner Mastermind, and Lifespace/Workspace, I am able to spend more time on spreading the process to my colleagues around the world.

Gary, Alex, Teal and I have developed a new client workbook, trainer’s manual, two-day workshop and PowerPoint CD that may be used by certified Lifespace/Workspace practitioners as a basis for speeches and mini or full-day seminars.

To date, Gary and I have facilitated three Lifespace/Workspace workshops and are guiding eight training, consulting, coaching and career management professionals through the certification process. This year, our certificants will be piloting Workspace with two global companies as a career development, employee engagement and retention tool. And, we’re just beginning…

If you or your group can use help in moving through a career/life transition, please email me or call 972-239-1399.  There are a variety of ways we can work together.

New Blog

Are you a blog reader? If you are interested in observations and tips on career and life planning, take a look at Taunee's new blog, where she muses on new and continuing issues of interest to her clients, colleagues and the media. Also, please share your comments and recommendations so other readers can learn from your insight, revel in your excitement or empathize with your predicament. Have a particular topic you'd like Taunee to blog about? Want to link your blog with hers? Send your suggestions to her at tauneeb@careerdimensions-dfw.com.

Entrepreneurial Confessions:
Things Business Owners Wish They'd Never Said

Over the years, business owners have told Taunee about a number of potholes they’ve encountered on their rocky road to success. Using these “If I had only known then what I know now” confessions, she put together a list of common myths that get entrepreneurs into trouble. As a reality check, she submitted these unfortunate assumptions to her Business Owner Mastermind group for evaluation. The members chuckled knowingly over the ones she'd noted and added a few of their own.

Using her revised list as a basis for one of her www.careerjournal.com articles, she wrote “Entrepreneurial Confessions”. Click here to see the article.

If you’ve declared, "I don't need a written business plan. Mine's in my head." or "I don't have time for the vision thing. This job needs to go out today," you may want to consider joining or starting a business owner mastermind yourself. A small, dedicated group of entrepreneurial peers can be an ideal sounding board for your ideas and issues. For more information about the Career Dimensions' Business Owner Mastermind, click here.

The Birth of Our Website

After months of reorganizing data, writing new material, researching various resources, designing web pages, developing and tweaking code, and more than a little hair-pulling, Career Dimensions is proud to present the birth of its new website at www.careerdimensions-dfw.com.

Viewers will find a variety of information here on career and life planning processes for professionals, entrepreneurs and students, and effective programs for recruiting and retaining the right employees. The “Resources” section provides website links on business research, career counselors, career research, executive resources, government job seeker resources, professional/trade associations and salaries. The “Articles” section gives advice on career decisions, resumes & cover letters, career success, interviews, negotiating, networking, diversity, job seeking and entrepreneurship.

Whether you are a recent high school graduate, a seasoned careerist or enlightened employer, you'll find something of interest when you visit careerdimensions-dfw.com.

Close-Ups: Good News from Our Readers

Small Business

Alex and Becky Townes recently bought an existing franchise store for PostNet at the corner of Preston and Frankford in far North Dallas. PostNet specializes in printing and business services for entrepreneurial and retail customers. Alex and Becky were excited to find a business that leverages his technical knowledge and creativity and her experience in marketing and customer service.

While High Profile Staffing, owned by Bronwyn Allen, has been putting “perfectly suited personnel” into HR and administrative positions for years, her firm has added financial services to the mix. Go to www.highprofilestaffing.com for more information.

Lynn Lawrence,a financial planner, tells us that Andy, her unofficial marketing director, has been certified as a Therapy Dog and is now a canine member of the Heart of Texas Therapy Dog Chapter. To find out more about therapy dogs, click on their website at www.hotthdogs.org/.

Perri Capell, Taunee’s long-time colleague at www.careerjournal.com, has taken early retirement from Dow Jones. She continues to live in Idaho, spend time with her new spouse, write for the Wall Street Journal and other publications and develop real estate.

Blaine Cook and Gerald Solomon have started Western States Realty Advisors, a commercial real estate business specializing in general and medical office, industrial leasing and sales. Learn more about their business at www.westernstatesrealtyadvisors.com.

Education

Ann Beheler has terrific news. After years of part-time classes and a killer dissertation, Ann received her PhD in Education through Walden University. Congrats, Ann!

Once a popular DJ on 94.9 KLTY in Dallas, Toni Trueblood, M.A.B.C. LPCI, has graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary with a Masters in Theology and Biblical Counseling. She is currently a clinical psychologist at the Center for Christian Counseling.

Jack Tierney tells us that he is changing careers and plans to become a home inspector. To that end, he has taken the Kaplan School’s course for Home Inspection.

Kelly Martineau has been accepted into a Masters in Fine Arts program in Creative Writing. The last three years, she has served as a volunteer coordinator for a local school district, where she recruits, places and trains volunteers as mentors and tutors in 27 schools.

Corporations

Starting in May, Camille Hedrick became the “corporate translation guru” for EDS’ Global Communications Department, where she’s in charge of establishing language policy for the company, then rolling it out worldwide.

Paul Sobszak is the Dallas-based regional sales manager for Herman Miller, a well-known furniture designer and manufacturer. He tells us that his company has won the Silver Leaf Award, which recognizes its long-term commitment to building and maintaining “green” facilities.

Linda Downs called to say her husband John Downs has recently accepted a position with Quadrem, a consulting firm, where he will serve as their expert in sourcing and procurement.  

After several months looking for the right position, Jeff Hartnet signed on with PVI in Fort Worth as a product marketing manager. He is very happy on his new path and believes it’s a great opportunity to learn and transition into a new arena.

Diana Hudson and David Mackey are managing partners for Blue Crossing, which delivers process, operations and marketing tools via web-based portals. She is the director of marketing for account management and strategic implementation. He leads creative strategies and execution.

Government and Nonprofits

Kerrville, Texas is a lucky town. Leia Francisco just moved there from Washington, DC, where she served for many years as the executive director of Fairfax County’s Commission for Women. As chair of Capitol Financial Partners’ Women’s Advisory Board, she led a dedicated group of prominent volunteers in giving birth to the county’s Financial Education Center for Women Entrepreneurs and the Women’s Association for Financial Education, a 501c3 chartered in 2007.

Jan Gifford recently was recruited into the City of Dallas’ web team. Her promotion to web developer brought together her talents in marketing, PR and design with her love of technology. “I really love it,” says Jan, “and my work with Taunee has and always will inspire great career decisions.” Thank you, Jan, for the great PR!

A Dallas Morning News article recently featured Dallas Blooms, the Southwest’s largest outdoor floral festival co-chaired once more by Kim and John Semyan. “Taking on the daunting task twice is unprecedented,” commented Kay Armstrong, director of volunteers. “There’s no way to put a value on the dedication, commitment and hard work they have given us.”

After leaving a successful banking career, Linda Clemens now works for the City of Grand Prairie as its recycling coordinator. She says her job is much more fun and a lot less stressful than her life in the financial fast lane.

Vicki St. Denis emailed us about her work with NYWC, a non-partisan, civic responsibility organization that sends regular reports to interested Americans on Congressional and state legislature deliberations and encourages correspondence with Congresspersons and state representatives.

Thank you for the referrals

Career Dimensions would like to thank the following people for their kind referrals:

©2007  Career Dimensions, 6330 LBJ Freeway, Suite 136, Dallas, TX 75240  Phone: 972.239.1399