Entries by Karen Litzinger

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Creation Out of Chaos

Whether chaos of career or country, it can signify a state before creation where something entirely new and yet unknown has the potential to emerge.  I’ve seen the chaos of COVID-19 cause people to re-examine values and make big time career changes. My hope is that the chaos of the country will cause kindness, compassion […]

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Uncertainty: Book Excerpt

“Uncertainty is the only certainty there is, and knowing how to live with insecurity is the only security.” John Allen Paulos So many unknowns can create negative emotions during your job search, such as waiting to hear back on an email or after an interview. There will be unexpected questions during an interview for which […]

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Honoring Black History Month and Careers

My heart has been broken by the dismantling of the progress our country has made following our country’s second original sin of capturing and enslaving Africans (the first being genocide of the indigenous original inhabitants of this land).  President Trump “officially recognized” Black History Month just a couple weeks after signing executive orders in his […]

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Black History Month Movies, Books, Events

The last few years, I’ve started a tradition of watching a film during Black History month that educates, inspires and often challenges me about our country’s racial history.  I have been moved beyond words by the fabulous films, Eyes on the Prize (about Martin Luther King) and Good Trouble (about Congressman John Lewis).  Last weekend […]

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One more story and tribute to President Carter

You’ve probably been asked the question at some point: What public figure do you most admire? Though there are so many admirable choices over centuries, I always came back to contemporaries, Fred Rogers and Jimmy Carter. On the one month marking of President Carter’s death, I want to share some tidbits that struck me as […]

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A Holiday Gratitude Story: Meet Christine

Like in the movie, It’s a Wonderful Life,” we often don’t know the impact of our presence. This could be with work, family or friends. Sometimes it’s just small and special. I missed seeing Christine’s smiling face at the Residence Inn this Thanksgiving morning.  She greeted us multiple times during our annual visit to State […]

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Monastery Birthday and Leadership Prayer

I chose to celebrate my 65th birthday last month on a private retreat with my 23 year church group at the Benedictine Sisters of Erie Monastery. You may have heard of them in the news lately with the fraudulent claim that no one lives there. Besides such a meaningful retreat reflecting on my “next chapter,” […]

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Gratitude – Book Excerpt

(Click HERE for my post about World Gratitude Day.) “Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn’t learn a lot today, at least learned a little, and if we didn’t learn a little, at least we didn’t get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn’t die; so, let us […]

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Three Career Lenses: Applying Emotional Intelligence Throughout Career Planning

I was honored to be invited to write the Focus article on emotional intelligence for the National Career Development Association Quarterly, Summer 2024 issue. Although the audience is career professionals, the material and exercises are relevant to anyone. With addressing career-decision-making, job search, and career management, the information is applicable for a lifetime. The article […]

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Resilience – Book Excerpt

“You may have to fight a battle more than  once to win it.”  Margaret Thatcher You might sometimes wonder if you’re going to “bounce back” from your job loss, or perhaps you are struggling to regain your confidence from a dysfunctional work environment.  Resilience is a process of being able to adapt and move forward […]

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Life Lessons from My Linden Tree

My Linden tree did not turn out as I hoped. Perhaps that’s what you may be feeling about your career or your life. At times I lament making the “wrong choice.” Then I’m reminded that I’m always sharing with clients there is no one “right choice”. My Linden tree also gave me some happy surprises, […]