Written by Pamela Skillings

I am thrilled to report that the legendary Guy Kawasaki has posted an interview with me on his blog, How to Change the World.

I have been a Guy Kawasaki fan for a long time and highly recommend both his blog and his latest book, The Art of the Start. (essential reading for all entrepreneurs)  Guy is also the man behind Alltop.com and Truemors.com.

He is a truly extraordinary person — brilliant, creative, and also nice enough to take the time to chat with a first-time author like myself. Go and check out my Q&A with Guy Kawasaki.

Written by Pamela Skillings

I am happy to announce the publication of my very first manifesto over at ChangeThis.com. For those who aren’t familiar, ChangeThis is a site that publishes 5-20 page manifestos by prominent and innovative thinkers (and now me).  Each manifesto makes a case for thinking differently about an important issue. 

My manifesto is called Escaping Corporate America: Changing Your Career Can Change Your Life. It’s all about my strong conviction that people shouldn’t settle for work that makes them miserable.

I also recommend spending some time browsing through the manifestos on ChangeThis.com. You’ll find great stuff from big-name brilliant thinkers like Seth Godin and Guy Kawasaki and lots of other interesting things to read. For example, Michael Lee Stallard has a fascinating take on employee engagement in his manifesto The Connection Culture: A New Source of Competitive Advantage.

Written by Pamela Skillings

What’s your fantasy job? Have you daydreamed about life as an oceanographer, travel writer, inventor, chef, or video game designer?  Maybe you dismissed your dream gig as unrealistic, but  some people really do make their livings in these undeniably cool jobs.  And you could become one of them.

Alexandra Levit’s latest book, How’s You Score That Gig? A Guide to the Coolest Jobs and How to Get Them, provides inside looks at sixty cool careers.  It’s a fantastic resource for anyone interested in exploring new career options. Levit interviewed people working in the most envy-inspiring fields and provides lots of practical info on qualifications, day-to-day job duties, and how to get hired.

 If the idea of sixty career options is a bit overwhelming, Levit provides a quiz to help you determine your "passion profile" and then groups jobs accordingly. Are you an Adventurer, Creator, Data Head, Entrepreneur, Investigator, Networker or Nurturer? I discovered that I am an Adventurer/Creator (as with almost every other career assessment I’ve ever taken, I refuse to fit definitively into any one category), so it’s no surprise that I’m enjoying my work as a book author so much.

If you’re currently struggling with the question of what to do with the rest of your life, How’d You Score That Gig? can help you generate some exciting ideas and start investigating your possibilities.

Written by Pamela Skillings

Just a quick post to say thank you to everyone who came out to Soho House last night to help me celebrate Escape from Corporate America! I hope you all had fun. I know I had an amazing time. I don’t think I’ve ever had so many great conversations in one night. The only downside was that the evening flew by so quickly that I didn’t get to chat in-depth with everyone.

The cocktails were delicious (thank you, Flor de Caña!) and the company was fantastic. Several of the inspiring corporate escape artists that I interviewed for the book were there.  My favorite financial planning expert, Ms. Sherrill St. Germain, came all the way from New Hampshire and was kindly offering advice to the revelers. Somehow financial planning is always more fun over cocktails.

Plus I got to meet many of my online friends in person. Somehow I missed Rose, though. I was looking for you, but never found you! Hope you enjoyed the mojitos and made some new friends.

I will be posting photos of the shindig and a more detailed report very soon. But in the meantime, I just wanted to say thanks for all of  the support and for making it a night to remember for me.

Written by Pamela Skillings

I had the incredible opportunity to write a piece for The New  York Times about my struggle to walk away from my job (and most importantly, my salary) to start my own business.

The story ran in the Sunday business section this weekend: Do You Love the Job, or Just the Paycheck?

I have always dreamed about seeing my byline in The New York Times. I might as well admit it — even though I know how earnestness is frowned upon in the blogosphere. :  )

After all, I’ve already written about my financial neuroses and job angst (as you’ll see if you check out the article).

Written by Pamela Skillings

Stressed out? Burned out? Bummed out?

You need an escape. Bust out of your cubicle for an evening of fun at Soho House in New York City.

We are throwing a party to celebrate the release of my book, Escape from Corporate America: A Practical Guide to Creating the Career of Your Dreams.  I would love to extend an invitation to any readers of the blog who are based in or near New York City.

We’ll have free cocktails courtesy of Flor de Caña rum and one lucky person will win a one-year gym membership at the posh and fabulous Clay on 14th Street. Plus, everyone will go home with goodies including a copy of QuickBooks to help you manage your cash flow (a $99.95 value).

This event has a limited guest list and we are almost at capacity, so if you’d like to attend, please RSVP as soon as possible via the link below. Also, if we don’t know each other already, please introduce yourself via blog comment or drop me a note via email so I’ll know to look for you on Tuesday night.

Update: We’ve reached our max with the guest list now. Looking forward to seeing those who RSVPed at the party.

Written by Pamela Skillings

There was a very interesting article in the Sunday New York Times about the psychological impact of layoffs on Wall Street’s big players. The financial services sector has been hit hard by job cuts in recent months. The Times interviewed several anonymous Wall Street  professionals who spoke about the widespread anger, mistrust and angst at financial institutions these days and how they are tired of being treated like cattle.

The requisite expert psychologist  said that people who are drawn to the intensity of Wall Street careers are also more prone to anxiety, depression, and substance abuse than the general population. On one hand, the volatility they have grown accustomed to dealing with on the job has prepared them to handle the sudden shock of a layoff. However, they are also more likely to base their personal identities on their financial success. As one laid-off banker said, "There’s not a sense that you’re helping the world. I’m not curing cancer. If the money goes away, then what?"

This same banker was earning about $400,000 per year and acknowledges that her financial situation doesn’t merit any "pity parties." However, she is still having trouble sleeping and eating. She feels disoriented without her overloaded work schedule and dreads being asked, "What do you do?"

Even those who are relieved to be free of a stressful or frustrating job will likely go through some emotional highs and lows after a layoff. It’s normal and natural and temporary.  I have been through layoffs twice. The first time was much worse because I actually liked my job and didn’t want to leave it. I also was young enough to take getting downsized a bit personally. Why me? Didn’t I work hard and score solid performance appraisals? My more experienced colleagues tried to explain to me that it was only because I was the newest member of the department. It wasn’t personal. Still, I couldn’t help feeling vaguely like I had failed in some way. 

After a few margaritas and some therapeutic trash talking about my old bosses, I was able to see things from a healthier perspective. I buckled down, found a new job, and went on to get laid off again a few years later. The second time, I welcomed the pink slip and celebrated it. I had been working for months toward leaving to start my own business. I was thrilled to be starting a new chapter in my career, but there were still adjustments to be made. I had to get used to a new identity and the challenges of managing myself. 

Learn more about the psychological effects of getting laid off.

Written by Pamela Skillings

If you’ve ever read a career advice book, you are probably already familiar with the idea of informational interviewing. The term was invented by the master himself, Richard Bolles, the author of What Color is Your Parachute? The idea is to go out and conduct research interviews  to gather information about a career, job role, or company that interests you. Sounds great, right?

Unfortunately, most people are too shy or otherwise intimidated to take advantage of this very useful job search and career change strategy. For years, I refused to do it. I was afraid to annoy people or look like an idiot.

However, I have since learned to get over these fears. It turns out that most people are actually pretty kind and generous about sharing their time and career advice if you approach them the right way. The key is to make it as easy as possible for your future mentors. Approach them in a considerate and non-stalkerish manner. Be clear about how much time you’ll need and arrive prepared with focused questions.

For more information about informational interviewing, check out the great resources at EmployAid.com. They have some good tips on how to conduct an effective informational interview. Even better, there’s a video showing an informational interview in action. 

Written by Pamela Skillings

On Monday, I had the opportunity to meet super-blogger and author Robert Scoble for an interview at the beautiful FastCompany headquarters in 7 World Trade Center. We talked about Escape from Corporate America, his dream job with FastCompany, and the importance of finding work that you love.

Last week, I also had the opportunity to record a segment for ABC News Now and talk about financial planning tips for people changing careers.

Written by Pamela Skillings

"I’m worried about Generation X and corporations. As far as I can tell, these two have a tentative relationship at best – and are likely headed for some rocky times ahead."

So begins a recent blog post by workforce expert Tammy Erickson on her Harvard Business Review blog.  As a member of the generation they call X, I must agree wholeheartedly with many of the fine points that Ms. Erickson makes in her  post. 

Is it any wonder that so many of us are plotting escapes from Corporate America? But Ms. Erickson is also right that corporations will need Gen X leaders in the years ahead and that there are ways to make corporate career paths more engaging for all of us cynical Xers.

It’s definitely worth a read: Ten Reasons Gen Xers are Unhappy At Work