• Income Expansion

    How to Set Short Term Career Goals in a New Corporate Role

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    I am writing this post following the start of a promotion in the Corporate world, as I am establishing short term career goals to set myself up for success. I set my eyes on this role at least a year ago. Despite taking action, nothing happened the way I thought it would. Isn’t it funny how when you detach from the how, life unfolds in the best way possible. Fast forward a year and it felt like the role just fell into my lap. That easy.

    While I have a deep desire to build something outside of Corporate, I am not someone to look a gift horse in the mouth. (I think that’s the saying?) And let’s be honest, I am not even close to leaving the Corporate world right now. 😉 At the time of writing this post, my livelihood depends on my Corporate job.

    This post outlines just what I’m doing to set myself up for success in my new role. Whether you are starting a new role at your existing company, a new company, or even starting your first role out of college, this post is for you! 

    Take the time to map out your success. Your future self will thank you.

    What this Promotion Means to Me

    Before we get into it, I’d like to tell you a little about my promotion and why I wanted it. My job title changed from “Project Manager III” to “Project Manager, Sr.”. I don’t care so much about the title but the job code comes with a ~10% pay increase, 5% increase in eligible bonus amount (increase from 15% of salary to 20%), and 5 more days of time off (for a total of 30 days per year in addition to holidays). 

    Additionally, this promotion demonstrates (on paper) that I am successfully excelling in my career pivot to project management. I’m not sure what I will do next but having a track record of proven success means something when you are positioning yourself for a (future) new role.

    Short Term Career Goals in a New Corporate Role

    1. Clarify expectations & success metrics

    This step is foundational to demonstrating success- do this first. As the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland says “If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will get you there.” 

    Schedule time with your direct leader and have a conversation. Here are a few ways to approach this:

    • Ask your leader what would make this role successful in 6-12 months? Outline 3-5 clear outcomes together.
    • Pull specific objectives from the job description. These should align with the original intent of the role.
    • Many companies have an annual goal setting process; update your annual goals to align your new role. 

    In my case, I will be taking a hybrid approach of all three of the above methods. One key step to demonstrating success is to agree with your leader on how you will measure the success.  

    2. Create a 30-60-90 day plan

    Hit the ground running with a clear plan in your first 90 days. Here are few ways to focus your first 90 days:

    • 30 days- Learn people, processes, and priorities. A lot can be learned from listening. Take full advantage of the transition period to get a grasp on what’s important to your role.
    • 60 days- Get a quick win by owning a project and fixing a pain point. This is an easy way to make yourself known.
    • 90 days- Demonstrate leadership by driving an initiative or influencing strategy. Let people know what you bring to the table.

    As you get settled into your role, you may be able to develop more granular action items. The point is to map out what you are setting out to do in the first 90 days to start the job off right.

    3. Identify skills gaps & develop a learning plan

    Once you get the feel for your role and what you will be doing on a day-to-day basis, you will likely identify where you have skills gaps. Maybe there is a colleague in a similar role that excels at meeting facilitation and that is not your strong suit. Choosing 1-2 skills to learn/improve at can be an excellent compliment to your success.

    Specific to my new role as a senior project manager, I will be prioritizing learning more about the agile project methodology. There are other senior project managers in my organization that are well-versed in this methodology. I am choosing to pursue an agile certification as a way to learn/bridge this skill gap.

    4. Update LinkedIn

    This may be obvious but make sure to add your new role to your LinkedIn profile. If you are moving to a new position within the same organization, be sure to delineate your responsibilities between the two. This would be a good time to update your accomplishments in your previous role.

    5. Relationship building

    In step 2 above, you should have identified the people that matter in your new role. This may be leadership, peers, or other stakeholders around the company. Make it a priority to build relationships with anyone that will be impactful to your job. Depending on your level of interaction, this could mean: 

    • Regular one-on-one’s
    • Connecting on LinkedIn 
    • Providing positive feedback
    • Practicing clear communication
    • Attending work events

    Don’t sleep on this step. I think of relationships at work like building a community as a mom. As the saying goes- “it takes a village”. Relationships can be a huge contributing factor to future opportunities.

    6. Refresh system to track wins

    The start of a new role is a good time to determine where you will document your work performance. At a minimum, you should keep record of:

    • Progress against goals (yes, the very goals from step 1)
    • Positive feedback you’ve received a.k.a. a brag book
    • Work samples you can use for other opportunities

    Personally, I have a reminder on my calendar to update my documentation every 2 weeks. I make time to do this so I don’t have to go back and fill in the gaps.

    So there you have it- 6 steps to set short term career goals in a new corporate role. What would you add? I’d love to know in the comments below.

  • Financial Independence

    Monthly Blog Income Report

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    Welcome to another not SEO-optimized post, sharing my goals + results as a blogger. One of the reasons that I even became interested in blogging is because other bloggers shared their financial results. My plan is to update this post monthly, with real time results.

    I hope that it serves as one way I can stay accountable. Even more than that, I love the idea of inspiring someone else to take action on their financial goals. Welcome to my honest results (and troubleshooting) page!

    2026 (to be filled in monthly)

    MONTHUNIQUE VISITORSINCOMEEXPENSESTOTALLIFETIME TOTAL
    April
    May
    June

    Q2 2026 Goals (April-June)

    My primary goal for this quarter to is to practice the habit of consistency with blog work. This includes establishing a routine around when I will work on my blog. Don’t forget- I am a 9-5 er and single mom to 2 teens! I know that showing up consistently will be key for me in seeing momentum.

    Within my control:

    • Create content plan/system
    • Publish 1 blog post per week
    • Publish 1 Pinterest pin per day
    • Launch newsletter
    • Optimize website for traffic (clickability, optins, etc)
    • Start participating with affiliate programs
    • Set up display ads on website

    Results to track:

    • Unique website visitors: goal= 1,000 per month
    • Pinterest followers: goal= 100
    • Newsletter subscribers: goal= 50
    • Income: goal= $1,000

    Done! I am adding this note to the bottom of the page that this post was written by me showing up early on a Wednesday morning to meet my goal of posting 1 time this week. I know that this is my starting place and it only goes up from here.

    I hope you stick around to follow my journey!

  • Financial Independence

    Why I’m Starting a Blog

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    Well, here goes- I’m counting this as my very first blog post. Sure, I’ve created a handful of posts over the past year or so. In hindsight, those were practice.

    Practice for what you ask? We’ll get to that further down in this post. For now, I want to explain why I’m writing this very unstructured, non SEO-optimized post.

    I’ve come to realize, over the course of my financial growth journey, that how I feel earning more money is important to me. In other words, not all pathways to wealth are created equal.

    Don’t get me wrong, there is a time and place for “doing the dirty work” so to speak. I’m definitely in a position where paying the bills is the priority, especially as a single mom.

    Here’s the thing- my personal finances are stable-ish for the first time since pre divorce. 

    I’m ready for the next chapter of my financial earning story. I’m ready to do something new. Instead of leaning into what’s next in the Corporate world, I am starting this blog instead.

    Let’s talk about why I’m starting a blog specifically…

    1. Create an additional stream of income

    While the temptation of securing a new higher paying role in the Corporate world sounds easier at the moment, it’s important to me to diversify how I’m earning money. 

    I also understand that pursuing success in Corporate sounds easier because it’s something I’ve done before.

    There are a lot of ways to generate additional streams of income. Continue reading to see why I’m choosing a blog specifically.

    Essentially, I want to create additional streams of income to achieve my financial goals faster.

    Ultimately, I desire to free up my time and I will not do that by continuing to increase my income in a Corporate role.

    2. Set up “passive” ways to earn money

    You’ll notice the word passive is in quotations. In my opinion, this term can be misleading.

    Generating income requires an exchange of money for value offered. Value offered could be time, expertise, service, etc.

    The way I think about passive income is money exchanged for work not necessarily happening now, as in today. For example, I’m writing this post in April 2026 but you’re reading it today.

    In my analysis of ways I could earn additional money in my current situation, a blog became the obvious choice for the following reasons:

    • Minimal monetary investment
    • Multiple ways to generate income (many of which can be set up once and continue to work!)
    • Work can be on my own time vs. during certain hours

    A few examples of ways blogs generate revenue include through ads, affiliate marketing, and sponsored content. 

    All of these revenue sources can be set up to work behind the scenes to continue generating revenue.

    Pretty cool!

    3. Learn/utilize existing skills

    Okay here’s a fun fact about me: I don’t love school and I never have. I absolutely love learning, but on my own time. 

    Give me a good problem to solve and I’m all over it, so long as I have an interest in solving it. 

    Give me an assignment for something I have no interest in, with a looming deadline and I’m checked out- bye!

    I used to feel a lot of shame around this characteristic but I’ve since come to embrace my approach to learning. It’s turned into an asset for me.

    I know when I set my mind to something, I will go all in and knock it out of the park.

    Creating an online business offers the unique opportunity to learn and practice new skills in real time. I’ve heard entrepreneurship described as personal development on crack.

    I’m looking forward to learning all the things, including learning the art of hiring help for the skills that I have no desire to learn. 

    And let’s not forget- I already possess several skills that will aid well to blogging. I enjoy writing and communicating information in an easily digestible manner. 

    In my personal life, I frequently receive the feedback that I’m great at connecting dots for people. I look forward to doing that for my readers.

    4. Share my journey to financial stability/freedom

    If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the past 6 years as I’ve adjusted to becoming a single mom, it’s that there are not enough women talking about finances.

    When I found myself unemployed going through a divorce during the pandemic, I scoured the internet looking for someone relatable. 

    Sure, there are several gems online that are sharing great information (so grateful) but we need more female voices talking about the realities of finances for women.

    Realities for women like going back to work after taking time off to stay home with kids, recovering financially from divorce, or the unique challenges faced by women in the workplace.

    I have a lot to say and I know that the information will be helpful to other women.

    5. Ignite passion for helping women succeed financially

    That’s a nice segue to why I ultimately chose personal finance as the topic for my blog. 

    I have a deep passion for helping other women succeed financially. 

    It’s a serendipitous feeling to realize that everything you’ve experienced in your life has led to this current moment.

    I’ve experienced many financial setbacks over the years including credit card debt, large medical expenses, unemployment and more. 

    I’ve also experienced a lot of financial privilege including affording the opportunity to graduate college with minimal student loans and having a loving/supportive family that has helped me out at the drop of a hat.

    The contrast of setback vs. privelage has shown me how important financial stability is and just how quickly being financially unstable can derail your life.

    This is especially true for women. If I have learned one thing over the past 6 years, it’s that more money in the hands of women will be a blessing for everyone.

    My hope is to be a safe space for women to achieve financial stability and more. I am so excited you’re here and I can’t wait to hear about all of your progress!

  • Income Expansion

    Breaking into a Project Management Career: My Transition from Healthcare Quality

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    I am so excited to write this blog post. 😁 Why, you ask? Well, this is a breakdown of how I “stepped into a new room” (a new money room that is) by pivoting to a new career. I’m going to break down exactly how I pivoted to a project management career and increased my salary by over 30%.

    First off, I’d like to acknowledge that switching to a new career can be challenging. There are a lot of unknowns and sometimes obstacles to overcome. I hope this post leaves you feeling hopeful and maybe even motivated to come up with a plan to overcome any obstacles you might be facing. 

    In this post, I will outline:

    • My journey
    • The skills than helped me transition
    • Actionable steps for anyone looking to break into project management, regardless of your background

    Why I Wanted to Transition to Project Management

    Project management came onto my radar as a career choice in, what felt like, a random way. I was in a similar quality improvement role in health insurance that I had been in for 10+ years. I was starting to feel burned out/bored and I wanted to make more money. 

    My career growth options, within both the industry niche and company I worked for, were limited. I realized that getting to the salary goal I had in mind would take something else. I started to pay attention to job titles that earned $100k+ a year. 

    Once I started paying attention, all kinds of career options popped up. A career in project management felt like a seamless pivot from what I was doing at the time. I was also happy with the job prospects and salary potential with this career choice. 

    I’d like to take a moment to point out that, while I set my sights on a project management role in the summer of 2022, I didn’t actually land a new job until May of 2023. This post will outline what I was doing between the moment of deciding on a project management career and actually landing a new role.

    Transferable Skills That Helped Me Pivot

    Switching careers requires an identity shift. You must think of yourself in a different way, to be marketable to a new role. It’s likely that you already have an arsenal of skills (aka transferable skills) you can rely on that would be helpful to a pivot to project management. 

    Here are the transferable skills that I highlighted on my resume/application for my current project management role:

    • Communication/Relationship management 
    • Meeting facilitation
    • Data analysis
    • Critical thinking
    • Project management tools

    Steps I Took to Transition into Project Management

    The process I used to land a project management role is not rocket science. I basically reverse engineered the result I wanted. That’s why I’m confident you can do the same!

    Words of advice- you may find in any step of this process that you don’t actually want to pursue a project management role. I would encourage you to not pursue anything that does not align with your goals/priorities. You could, however, use the same process below for any type of career pivot (not just project management). 

    1. Research and understand the role/job prospects

    Before I spent any time applying for jobs, I made sure I was aligned with the decision to pivot into project management. What do I mean by this? I researched the role as it related to my most important job search criteria at the time: earning potential and option for remote work.

    Here are a few questions I researched/asked during this process:

    • What is the median salary for a project manager? Does this vary by state or industry?
    • Do I know anyone in this type of role that I could connect with?
    • Which companies are currently hiring for this type of role? Do I know anyone who works at any of these companies?

    Using my priority of remote work, I could have found in this step of the process that there weren’t many opportunities to find a remote project management role. In that case, I would have reconsidered this career choice.

    2. Assess my skills and experience gaps

    Next, I spent time reading through job descriptions of actual project management roles to see what companies and hiring managers were looking for. I should note that I focused on senior roles, to align with my goal of increasing my salary. In general, here is what I found:

    • A Project Management Professional (PMP) certification was often listed as a requirement or recommended
    • Companies were generally looking for someone with 5+ years of experience in project management OR industry experience
    • Many of the jos responsibilities overlapped with work I had already done, in terms of skills used versus application of the skills (think transferable skills- discussed above)

    Through this process, I identified a gap of having the project management certification. I also realized that if I wanted to pivot into a new industry, I may be at a disadvantage for not having the industry experience, especially when I hadn’t been in a dedicated project management role before. Overall, reading through job descriptions boosted my confidence in this career choice a lot! 

    3: Obtain PMP certification

    After researching job descriptions, I immediately decided I would pursue my Project Management Professional (PMP) certification. I began work on this immediately, while working on the other steps outlined below. The high level process to obtain this certification includes:

    • obtaining “contact hours”, which I did through an online Udemy course
    • applying to take the exam 
    • studying/passing the exam

    I would like to note here that the exam application does require demonstration of hands-on project management experience. Fortunately, I was able to use examples from my previous roles of working on projects but this could be a gap for some people.

    4. Document hands-on experience

    If you decide to apply to take the PMP certification exam, you will need to demonstrate 36 months of (non-overlapping) project management experience within the past 8 years. That could seem daunting at first but you might have more experience than you realize.

    Take the time to outline any “projects” you have worked on in your professional career. Instead of thinking of a formal project, try thinking of any assignment you completed that had a start and an end. (Surprise- this is a project. 😉)

    Aside from documenting experience for the PMP exam, it will also be helpful to outline any/all project management experience or exposure you have for a job application or interview. 

    5: Reframe my resume and LinkedIn profile

    Once you have a good outline of your project management experience/exposure, it’s time to reframe this experience to match job postings. Make it easy for the recruiters and companies to see the value you bring.

    My best advice here is to use project management terminology (i.e. terms from the job description) to explain your work experience. Here is a real life personal example- I reframed my experience:

    • leading weekly HEDIS check-ins with regional Quality directors to 
    • managing stakeholder engagement during the HEDIS project lifecycle

    This step will require that you get a little creative and think outside of the box. Remember that it’s always important to be honest AND you likely have more to offer than you think. Both things can be true.

    Check out How to Present a Career Change on your Resume for more ideas on tailoring your resume for a career change.

    Step 6: Network and job search

    Once you’ve got a good grip on where you are entering the project management industry at, it’s time to put yourself out there. Connect with other project managers in your professional network. This could include current/previous co-workers or (LinkedIn) mutual connections. 

    Identify companies that are hiring for the type of opportunity you are looking for then target connections at that company. Do you know anyone who works there (even if they are not in a project manager role)? It is always to your advantage to be referred to apply for a position.

    Keep going on this step until you find what you are looking for!

    General advice for those looking to transition into project management

    Alright, that was a lot. If I had to sum up my general advice for pivoting into a project management role it would be to:

    • Start where you are—look for opportunities in your current job or employer
    • Get familiar with PM methodologies (waterfall, agile, scrum)
    • Earn certifications but don’t rely solely on them—experience matters just as much if not more
    • Network and connect with others who have successfully transitioned or who are doing what you would like to be doing
    • Be patient—career pivots take time, but they’re worth it

  • Income Expansion

    How to Present a Career Change on your Resume

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    Woman with resume in hand, planning how she will approach her next career move.

    Approaching a job search when you know you are pivoting into a new role or industry can feel overwhelming. Presenting a career change on your resume definitely requires a little finesse but it’s totally a solvable problem! 

    Scroll down and check out my best tips for tailoring your resume to a career change. I’ve also included a personal example of when I used the same tips in this post for my own industry pivot.

    Why Tailoring your Resume for a Career Change is Crucial

    Before we dive in, I’d like to quickly highlight why taking the time to tailor your resume to a career change is important. According to Indeed, hiring managers spend on average 6 to 7 seconds reviewing a resume. That’s not much time! Especially if they’re not seeing anything of relevance to the job they’re interviewing for.

    The main goal of tailoring your resume for a career pivot is to make your resume relevant for the job you’re applying for. While it might take more time up front, your chances of catching the hiring manager’s eye will be much higher. This is a situation where quality will definitely pay off.

    Key steps to preparing your resume for a career change:

    Below are my top 5 recommendations when updating your resume for a career change. I used all of these steps when pivoting from a role in healthcare quality to project management.

    1. Consider a functional resume format

      I’m starting with this recommendation right off the bat because it may change how you work on the rest of the steps. A functional resume is a format that highlights work experience by skills and abilities, rather than work experience by role. 

      Your brain might be a little jumbled with this idea so I will break it down. Rather than organizing your accomplishments/experience under each role, you would instead organize the same information under skill or ability. 

      The skill or ability would be something critical of the role you’re applying for. Here is an example of an actual resume I used to land a job in 2020. Some information has been changed for privacy and I’ve left the Education/Certifications and Hard Skills sections out of this image.

      The role I was in for the prior 4 years was in a different industry than the job I was applying for. I wanted the hiring manager to focus on the value I had to offer vs. what I was doing in the time leading up to applying.

      2. Create a strong resume summary

      My next tip is to craft a compelling summary at the top of your resume that highlights what you have to offer. Show off the goods! 

      This brief summary will pull out the relevant work experience and skills you want to highlight for the new role. Tell them why they should read through the rest of your resume. Bonus points here if you are able to incorporate keywords from the job description of the role you are applying for.

      3. Highlight transferrable skills

      Another critical step in making yourself marketable to a new role, is highlighting skills that will transfer well to the new role. This is where a functional resume format can come in handy. 

      Let’s use the example from above of my transition from working in the automotive industry back into healthcare. I chose to highlight ‘written & verbal communication’. This is an example of a transferable skill. 

      I pulled out examples from previous work experience where I was required to use written & verbal communication to accomplish an objective. I carefully selected the examples I used to highlight experience/terms that overlapped with the job description of the role I was applying for (see more on framing experience below).

      4. Frame previous job experience to highlight relevant skills

      Alright, I’m just going to state the (hopefully) obvious- your potential new employer does not care about the things you are doing at your current job that are unrelated to the role you are applying for. Don’t take up precious real estate on your resume with irrelevant things (even if they are impressive to someone).

      My recommendation here is to brain dump all of the work experience you have. (Side note- I make this easy on myself and keep a “master resume” document updated with all of my work experience by role.) Once you have your list, sift through it to select the things that are relevant to the role you are applying for. Include and highlight those things.

      5. Showcase any specific training, experience, certification etc. to support the new role

      Lastly, make sure you highlight any effort you have taken to close gaps in skills or work experience. In 2023, I pivoted our of healthcare quality into project management. To prepare for this pivot, I obtained a PMP Certification and wanted to make sure that was clear on my resume. Don’t underestimate how valuable it can be to demonstrate your willingness to learn new skills.

      Summary

      Pivoting to a new career path can feel overwhelming but it can also be exciting and fun! Whatever “gap” you are feeling, just remember that it is likely a gap you can bridge. I’m rooting for you. 📣

      Still have questions? Drop them in the comments below!

      Article with tips for adjusting your resume to make a career pivot.
    1. Income Expansion

      High Paying Career Skills to Succeed in Today’s Economy

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      One of the key principles of my Income Accelerator Method is to increase your income as a method to achieve financial progress faster. If you’re in the market for a new job, consider honing in on a high paying skill career as a way to increase your income. This post covers 10 high paying career skills that I would consider in 2025 if I were setting out to increase my salary (p.s. I personally chose to focus on developing my project management skills to pivot to a higher paying role!)

      How High-Paying Skills Can Accelerate Career Growth

      Whether you are just starting out in your career or you are looking to make a career pivot, focusing on the development of high paying career skills is an excellent way to prioritize financial progress.

      I attribute much of my early career success to a pivotal moment in college when I had to select my major. I really wanted to focus on the education aspect of public health even though I knew my job prospects after graduation would be much broader if I acquired a degree in health administration. The degrees were in separate colleges at the university I attended.

      I chose the path that would open the most doors; I’m forever grateful to my 19 year old self for having the forethought to think about future opportunities. That is what I will invite you to do here- think about the career path that will open the most doors for you financially.

      Wherever you’re at in your career, high paying career skills will address an evolving job market and ensure you stay competitive to meet market demand. If you are in a situation of desiring more income quickly, pivoting to a new role can be an excellent way to increase your income!

      10 Career Skills to Accelerate Income Growth

      1. Data analysis and visualization
      • Description: Data analysis refers to the process of extracting meaningful insights from data and data visualization is the graphical representation of information and data.
      • Why it’s valuable: Businesses and organizations increasingly rely on data-driven decisions .
      • Examples of roles: Data Analyst, Business Intelligence Analyst
      • Tools to learn: Excel, Tableau, Python, Power BI
      1. Project management
      • Description: Project management is the process of using skills, tools, and techniques to plan, execute, and complete a project on time and within budget.
      • Why it’s valuable: Fast-paced organizations often have competing priorities that require management across different functions of the organization.
      • Examples of roles: Project Manager, Program Manager
      • Certifications to consider: Project Management Professional (PMP)
      1. Digital marketing
      • Description: The practice of promoting products or services through online channels.
      • Why it’s valuable: Digital marketing can be more affordable for businesses to implement than traditional marketing and is arguably a requirement for success in today’s business landscape.
      • Examples of roles: SEO Specialist, Social Media Manager
      • Skills to master: Search engine optimization (SEO), paid ads, content marketing
      1. Cybersecurity
      • Description: The practice of protecting systems, networks, and data from cyberattacks.
      • Why it’s valuable: Cybersecurity aims to protect people, financial assets, data, applications, devices, and computer systems.
      • Examples of roles: Cybersecurity Analyst, Ethical Hacker
      • Certifications to pursue: Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), CompTIA Security+
      1. Cloud computing
      • Description: The delivery of computing services (servers, storage, databases, networking, software, analytics, and intelligence) over the internet or through “the cloud”.
      • Why it’s valuable: In the increasingly virtual world we live in, cloud computing allows users to access files remotely, instead of keeping them on their devices.
      • Examples of roles: Cloud Engineer, DevOps Specialist
      • Platforms to learn: Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure
      1. Software development and programming
      • Description: The process of creating software applications, including the act of writing computer code.
      • Why it’s valuable: Software development/programming allows businesses to create digital solutions that meet evolving market needs. 
      • Examples of roles: Software Engineer, App Developer
      • Languages to learn: Python, Java, JavaScript
      1. Sales and business development
      • Description: Sales primarily focuses on closing deals and business development focuses on identifying new market opportunities.
      • Why it’s valuable: Both sales and business development are essential for generating revenue for a company.
      • Examples of roles: Business Development Manager, Sales Executive
      • Key skills: Negotiation, Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
      1. UX/UI design
      • Description: UX/UI design refers to the process of creating digital products that are visually appealing and easy to use.
      • Why it’s valuable: Both skills help to increase user satisfaction, improve customer retention, and boost conversion rates.
      • Examples of roles: UX Designer, UI Developer
      • Tools to learn: Figna, Sketch, Adobe XD
      1. Financial management and analysis
      • Description: The process of evaluating businesses, projects, budgets, and other finance-related transactions to determine their performance and suitability.
      • Why it’s valuable: Financial analysis is used to improve business decision-making.
      • Examples of roles: Financial Analyst, Accountant
      • Tools to master: Excel, QuickBooks, SAP
      1. Artificial intelligence and machine learning
      • Description: Artificial intelligence (AI) refers to the broad concept that machines can mimic human intelligence, while machine learning is a subset of AI that focuses on the use of algorithms to identify patterns within data sets.
      • Why it’s valuable: Allows businesses to analyze large datasets, automate repetitive tasks, identify patterns, and make informed decisions.
      • Examples of roles: AI Engineer, Machine Learning Specialist
      • Tools to explore: TensorFlow, PyTorch

      How to Acquire Skills to Increase your Income

      If I were interested in acquiring one of the high paying career skills outlined above, here is what I would do (in this order);

      1. Research roles, salaries, and companies- This might rule out one of the options for me so critically, this is step one! Get really clear on what you want first.
      1. Identify skills gaps- Do you need a certification or a certain amount of experience to qualify for the roles you are interested in? This may also eliminate a few options, depending on the runway needed to close the skills gaps.
      1. Close skills gaps- Enroll in an online course, apply to take the needed certification, or gain hands-on experience in your current role if that is an option.
      1. Network with industry professionals- Who are you connected with already that might be able to assist you with making this career pivot? Get networking!

      Benefits of Mastering High-Paying Skills

      If you are ready to accelerate your financial progress or, like me, you are the breadwinner in your home and want to ensure financial stability in your career, mastering high paying career skills will be a great asset for your journey. Not only will you future-proof your career, you may even increase your job satisfaction, for being the boss that you are.

      A list of high paying career skills that will help you succeed in today's economy.
    2. Money Mindset

      The Best Books on Financial Literacy for Beginners

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      The best books on financial literacy for beginners

      As I reflect on my financial journey, I see clear moments in time where my mindset shifted. These mindset shifts enabled me to make changes in my behavior and ultimately, change the results I was getting. This is how you change. On the road to financial change- books are your cost-effective friend! But let’s be honest- there are a LOT to choose from. This post outlines the best books on financial literacy for beginners, with a special shout out for single moms at the bottom. Scroll down to check out my favorites!

      What is Financial Literacy?

      First of all, let’s make sure we are speaking the same language. According to Investopedia, financial literacy is the ability to understand and effectively use various financial skills, including personal financial management, budgeting, and investing. In practical terms, Now you may be asking yourself- what does this have to do with earning more? Valid question. 

      Why Financial Literacy is Important

      In my quest for financial stability, I became hyper-focused on how much money I was earning. While I will argue (to my grave) that this was the best focus for me as a single mom, I learned that earning more alone does not ensure financial success or stability. There are plenty of high earners drowning in debt or making poor financial decisions. 

      Bottom line- financial literacy is essential to navigate your new financial reality. Earning more is one thing, but knowing what to do with more money is a whole other skill. Let’s dive in…

      Short Plug for Learning with Books

      Books are one of my favorite ways to learn. They are inexpensive, accessible, and the information is condensed into an easily-digestible format, that you can come back to again and again. One thought I have around books is that I am paying $10-$30 to have access to the mind of someone who has spent a lot of time (and maybe money) to learn what they are writing about. How cool is that?

      What Makes a Financial Book Good for Beginners?

      You might note that the list of books below does not fall in line with many classic financial resources. I have probably read many of the books you are thinking about. The list of financial literacy books below were exceptionally helpful to me on my financial journey (as a beginner). I read them all at different times and they helped me to:

      • Change the way I think about money
      • Develop a budgeting routine that is enjoyable to me
      • Set financial goals around my values
      • Recover my finances as a single mom

      All of the books listed below are written for beginners and contain actionable tips/strategies to radically transform your financial journey. If you’re anything like me, you might be quick to click ‘add to cart’ on every single item. I will challenge you with this- start with ONE book that is meeting you where you are at today. 

      I read the below books (and many, many others) over the course of 4 years. Changing your financial picture is a marathon, not a sprint. You do not need to learn everything there is to learn about financial literacy today. You might have a different takeaway than me. You might re-read one of these books and have a different takeaway the second time. The beauty in learning is that it never stops!

      Best Books on Financial Literacy for Beginners

      Without further adieu, here are my top picks for books on financial literacy for beginners…

      1. The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel

      Focus: Making sense of how people think about and behave with money

      Why it’s great for beginners: Easy-to-read thought-provoking ideas around what money means to people

      Jess thoughts: There is a lot of interesting history in this book- for example, how financing came to exist. I found this book extremely insightful to put my money behaviors into perspective.

      1. I Will Teach you to be Rich by Ramit Sethi

      Focus: Building wealth through systems (budgeting, saving, spending, and investing)

      Why it’s great for beginners: Written in a conversational style with action items throughout and designed to help the reader gain control of their finances

      Jess thoughts: Ramit has a wealth of knowledge about financial decision making and there were ideas in this book that I had never thought of (like automating by bills- what?) This book is modern and contains information on just about everything.

      1. Dave Ramsey’s Complete Guide to Money

      Focus: Handbook for Financial Peace University

      Why it’s great for beginners: Direct/minimal steps (in linear order) to get out of debt and achieve financial peace

      Jess thoughts: I admittingly have graduated beyond Dave Ramsey’s teachings but I do remember how powerful it was to read this book in the peak of my divorce. If you’re looking for a simple and solid plan to achieve financial stability, the steps in this book will work.

      1. Money, A Love Story by Kate Northrup

      Focus: Changing your relationship with money

      Why it’s great for beginners: Written using personal examples and covers the emotions tied to relationships with money

      Jess thoughts: Reading this book was one of the first times I became aware of my relationship with money. Kate’s writing spoke to the feminine part of me that wanted to feel good about my money relationship.

      1. Quit Like a Millionaire by Kristy Shen and Bryce Leung

      Focus: A proven formula to achieve financial independence for the average person

      Why it’s great for beginners: The most thorough and simple to understand explanation of the FIRE (financial independence retire early) movement 

      Jess thoughts: This is one book that I will say might not be for total financial literacy beginners however, in the FIRE world this book is very easy to understand. I will also say that I wish I would have found this book sooner!

      Best Books on Financial Literacy for Single Moms

      When I was struggling financially as a newly separated mom going through a divorce, I felt like a fish out of water. I latched onto anything and anyone that felt relatable. Below are two books that speak to the financial journey of a single mom.

      1. The Kickass Single Mom by Emma Johnson

      Focus: Taking your life back as a single mom

      Why it’s great for beginners: Speaks to the nuances of navigating finances in single motherhood that may be skipped or glossed over in other resources

      Jess thoughts: This book was a godsend to me in a very dark time in my life. Emma challenged me to get myself together and hope for a better future. Her focus on regaining independence after divorce was exceptionally important to me related to finances.

      1. My Money, My Way by Kumiko Love

      Focus: Aligning emotional health with financial health

      Why it’s great for beginners: Thought provoking questions around money values and actionable steps to take control of finances

      Jess thoughts: Kumiko is a great example of healing your financial picture. Her book really helped me connect with my “why” for setting financial goals and got me excited about my future!

      Got a financial literacy book recommendation? Drop it in the comments!

      The best books on financial literacy for beginners

    3. Income Expansion, Money Mindset

      How to Make More Money in Your “Day Job”

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      Featured image for blog post on how to make more money in your day job

      I guess I am starting off my online coaching business with an unpopular opinion: earning more money in your “day job” is the path of least resistance to increasing your income and improving your financial stability. It’s the low hanging fruit that is tempting to overlook when presented with too many choices to make more money.

      My Short List of Money-Making Ideas

      Let me backup a step and provide a little context as to how I arrived at this conclusion…

      In March of 2020, like many, I entered uncharted waters of my life. The world stopped. My school-age kids were at home 24/7. I found myself unemployed and going through a painful separation with my (now ex) husband. To say I was in a constant state of panic is an understatement.

      My world collapsed. The ground beneath my feet became quicksand, where I began to sink into a world of sadness and depression. Maybe I will share more about this time of my life in this online space at some point. That story is not the point of this post. 

      It was during this time that I was faced with a laundry list of ways to make more money. Money, I will add, that I needed yesterday. My brain came up with a short list of options that included (but were not limited to) the following:

      1. Get a salaried job (where I would have to work from home, as the kids were with me primarily during the day)
      1. Rekindle my online blog (I had not posted content in almost a year and it did not generate enough revenue to cover my expenses)
      1. Go all-in on a business partnership with a friend (a business idea that hinged on in-person social events)
      1. Start a gig job (such as grocery delivery) until something else worked out
      1. Sell all of my belongings (which, let’s be honest, would have only helped for a short time and was not any type of long term solution)

      My Not So Great Ideas

      Let’s not forget the other two ideas to make more money presented to me at the time… 

      A few weeks into the stay at home orders, my well meaning neighbor suggested that I file for unemployment benefits. Here was the problem with that idea- I had not been let go of a job because of the pandemic. I had left my Corporate career in 2016 to be more available to my little kids. I had then spent the prior 3.5 years working with my (ex) husband at his family business, while blogging on the side. Legally, I did not qualify for unemployment and the idea of “working the system” did not sit well with me. 

      Not to be outdone by…

      The first divorce attorney I met told me that I would be lucky to find a job earning more than $50,000 a year. He advised me to take the path of NOT finding a job, which would increase my awarded settlement of child support and alimony. I still get the taste of throwup in my mouth when I think about this advice. He was obviously not hired!

      In my process of idea elimination, the above two mentioned ideas (those not on my short list) were immediately out. While I’m not above asking for help or asking for money when I am rightfully owed, both of these ideas offered a solution that relied on others. I knew that if I slipped into the mentality of my financial stability relying on others that I would likely not problem solve on my own. My gut told me the thought train of relying on others would not lead me to the financial independence that I so desired.

      Choosing How to Make More Money

      The “short list” of money making ideas sat written on a dry erase board hanging in my apartment bedroom. I stared at the list daily and frequently listed out the action items I needed to take to make each idea come to life. That activity left me feeling overwhelmed, more confused, and worst of all- not taking action. 

      Fortunately, I had a good support system in place in the form of my therapist and my immediate family. I experienced major anxiety and panic attacks at the thought of not providing for my kids and myself financially. 

      There were two impactful moments that shifted my mindset, ultimately leading to me choosing and acting on a solution to make more money:

      #1: Focus on ONE thing at a time:

      I read the book Essentialism by Greg Mckeown and asked myself the question- what is the ONE thing I can do that would have the biggest impact on my financial stability? The clear answer was to prioritize securing a work from home job. This job would meet most of the financial needs I had at the time.

      #2: Face the reality of inaction:

      In one of my (almost daily) calls to my closest sister, she virtually slapped me on the face. She said that I was not taking action and that is why I was not having results. I would like to note here that I did not want to hear this but I needed to.

      Now of course there were many other events and plot twists during this time that had an impact on my journey. These two events were the biggest key ingredients to changing my trajectory.

      Going All-in on ONE Idea

      While everyone’s financial journey is different there are overarching themes that translate across experiences. When I argue that the easiest way to make more money is your “day job”, I am making the case for leveraging the part of your day that has most of your attention. This may be a 9-5 job for many of you or it may look a little different. The path of least resistance in earning more money is to focus on increasing your main source of income. 

      In a world of “shiny pennies” everywhere, it may be tempting to entertain the idea of spreading your attention across many different income generating ideas. I am not judging- clearly I did this too. I would like to offer the idea that if you focus on ONE place to significantly increase your income, you may have faster results that surpass what you originally desired.

      How to Make More Money in your “Day Job”

      Once you’ve made the decision to focus on earning more in your day job, you really have two options:

      #1: Get noticed at work:

      If you have the desire and opportunity to advance within your current role or company, this could be a good option for you. Leverage any of the following to get noticed at work:

      • Midyear or annual review process
      • Master an in demand skill
      • Network within the company
      • Start/maintain a “brag book” of accomplishments and feedback

      #2: Switch roles and/or companies:

      Sometimes the income and/or opportunities you desires are just not available at the company you’re with or on the career path you’re on. Instead of trying to make the impossible work, you have the option to just “step over” into a new reality. Stop making it harder on yourself; I say this from experience. In 2023, I was able to increase my Corporate salary by 30% simply by switching companies into a similar role.

      Pep Talk for the Single Moms

      If you’re not a single mom, this still applies to you! It may be tempting to try a bunch of things at the same time. The reality is if you are feeling insecure/overwhelmed about your finances, the “throwing spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks” is only going to contribute to those feelings over time, and you might not even end up with the result you desire.

      Ask yourself- what is the ONE thing I can do that would have the biggest impact on my financial stability? And go do that ONE thing. I’m rooting for you!

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      Earning more in your 9-5 may be the path of least resistance to achieving your financial goals.