Every week I check dozens of “career” blogs and other online publications, looking for things that will help you find a job, get promoted, develop your skills, and keep everything in perspective and balance. Here’s the pick of the lot for this week. I’m pointing you to items about sleep, saying “No,” your pregnancy and your career, a simple way to test how you’re doing, and learning for the world ahead.

From Brian Based Business: Sleep to Prime Body & Brain!
“How much capital did you put in your sleep bank this week? Since Night Owls and Early Birds may skimp on sleep, it gives us pause to reflect on how much sleep we’ve had in the last week. We benefit with plenty! Just consider.”

Wally’s Comment: Shakespeare had it right.

“Sleep that knits up the ravell’d sleeve of care,
The death of each day’s life, sore labor’s bath,
Balm of hurt minds, great nature’s second course,
Chief nourisher in life’s feast”

When you read Robyn McMaster’s post you’ll find out why Shakespeare was right and also about a few things the old Bard missed.

From HBR Blogs: This Year, Say Yes to Saying No
“You have to be selective about what you take on — and disciplined about retiring longstanding activities to make room for new ones. In other words, you have to be able to say, No. Frequently, politely and effectively. The good news is that the same technologies that threaten to overload you with to-dos and appointments can also help you to say no. Here’s how I use my computer and the social web as allies in the discipline of saying no.”

Wally’s Comment: One thing that will help you sleep better is learning to say “No” at the right times. It’s a key life skill that gets far too little attention. Alexandra Samuel remedies that shortcoming with this helpful post.

From Anita Bruzzese: 6 tips for handling a pregnancy and a career
“When a woman finds out she’s pregnant, it can be a joyous occasion – until she realizes that her juggle to combine motherhood with a career may be just beginning.”

Wally’s Comment: This post is must reading if, as they say in the disclaimers on those drug ads, “you’re pregnant or may become pregnant.” If you’re a boss, read this. If you have friends, daughters, sisters, cousins, a spouse or casual acquaintances who may have to deal with the dual challenges of career and pregnancy, you may want to read this, too.

From Dorothy Dalton: Career reflection: Could you get your own job?
“I also coach people in transition in various professions and sectors and advise them always of the need to stay up dated in their fields.  But what about people not looking for jobs or directly at risk in any way?  Could they successfully apply for their own jobs? Could you?”

Wally’s Comment: What a great way to quickly assess how you’re really doing on the job! And Dorothy Dalton’s post will have immediate practical value for you if you’re in a company considering layoffs or on either side in a merger or acquisition.

From Chief Learning Officer: Learning at Top Speed
“Given the pace of global competition, it’s not surprising that most business executives are worried that their companies are moving too slowly to keep a competitive edge. In a recent global survey of senior business leaders, The Forum Corp. found that 90 percent of respondents considered speed critical to their business success, but only 42 percent thought they were much faster than others in their industry.”

Wally’s Comment: GE’s Jeff Immelt said that the key skill for becoming head of something like his company is the ability to learn quickly. Increasingly this will be the case for people and organizations.

This entry was posted on Thursday, January 14th, 2010 at 12:52 pm and is filed under Tools and Strategies for Success. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.