Investing in 2014 – Part 1 of 2 – Organizational and Personal Career

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Includes links to an affiliate resource and a two very interesting articles on the web – on why people hate their jobs and career and financial advice for young professionals. Read on!


We are almost to the end of 2013; most organizations and many people individually are setting plans, priorities and budgets for 2014. In this two part series, I will start with organizational and personal career development and next week will look at investing in opening up a new market (you will have to wait to next week to see what that market is.)

Most corporations' largest expense is in its people costs!

Most corporations’ largest expense is in its people costs!


Starting with organizational investment in career development – I keep writing about how people costs are most company’s largest expenditure and they do not seem to do enough to leverage and protect this investment. Over the past three years, a record number of employees surveyed are either not engaged or negatively / destructively engaged at their jobs. This article on “Granted Blog” (link) discusses in depth why so many people hate their jobs.

Companies must invest more to keep their people engaged and contributing to their very best. Managers and executives need to be trained on how to manage people with respect in ways that spur them on to reach new heights (yes – the Granted Blog article does list bad bosses as one of the top reasons for people hating their work.)

The second top reason is misalignment of people and their jobs to their skills and aspirations. In addition to breeding great managers, companies may want to look at providing a robust program to inspire and encourage employees to take a longer view of their careers and be enthused to stay in a company for 5 or 10 years or longer. Check out my own innovative “Total Engagement Career Mapping Services” program for engaging employees in career planning and development.

And as we enter into 2014, not only do organizations need to look at the career management issue, but the New Year is a good time for each person to individually take stock at where they are career-wise and even life-wise. Do you feel you are headed in a positive growing direction in your vocation? Do you need to enhance your own plans for managing your life and career? One very interesting article (link) in which I am quoted is loaded with financial and career advice for young professionals (actually great info that can be useful for people of all generations!) It is called “Ask the Experts: Money Management for Young Professionals” by “The Insider.”

Total Engagement Consulting is a new affiliate of Karen Tax & Associates

Total Engagement Consulting is a new affiliate of Karen Tax & Associates


Since my consulting practice focuses on businesses and organizations, I have entered into an affiliation with Karen Tax & Associates and their IAM Learning Community and IAM Career SMART! to address individual needs. These programs are designed for those in large companies all the way through individual entrepreneurs seeking holistic strategies for business, career and life. You can read more on my affiliates page, or to immediately start with a free assessment to determine how aligned your career is with your life – link here!

Resolve in 2014 to invest more both in your organization’s development of its people talent and resources, and in your own personal career and life growth!

Special Guest Blog for National Disability Employment Awareness Month

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By Sandy Moonert, North Carolina Program Director for Enable America

Intro from Stan C. Kimer: My first blog in October was focused on the connection between schoolyard bullying and workplace harassment (link), since October is Bullying Awareness Month. And since October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, a very key area in the diversity mix, I knew I also wanted to add focus on this in my blog.

I am very grateful to Sandy Moonert, who enthusiastically agreed to write about very important collaborative efforts around engaging people with disabilities in the work place. I first met Sandy when I worked with her on a half day session around the toughest areas of diversity – I covered LGBT and she superbly handled people with disabilities. I knew then she was a special person truly passionate about her work who I wanted to keep in touch with.

The Carolina Hurricanes 5th annual Enable America Mentoring Career Day

The Carolina Hurricanes 5th annual Enable America Mentoring Career Day

Costco of Durham's first Enable America Career Exploration Day

Costco of Durham’s first Enable America Career Exploration Day

Each year during the month of October, many diverse and inclusive employers celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month, an initiative of the Department of Labor-Office of Disability Employment Policy. At Enable America we partner with employers to host Career Mentoring Days, matching job seekers with disabilities to mentors who provide employment information, career coaching, and encouragement. The mentoring company and its employees are exposed to a talented pool of resources while the mentees or job seekers further their understanding of the industry, company and position which they are targeting. Building these bridges of knowledge and education is the mission of Enable America, an advocacy for increasing employment of persons with disabilities, wounded warriors and disabled veterans.

Enable America works with 24 employers across the State of North Carolina, including the Carolina Hurricanes of Raleigh and Costco of Durham (pictured above). This October the Carolina Hurricanes held their 5th annual Enable America Career Mentoring Day. Hurricanes employee Johnny Gill spent the day with Richard referred by the DHHS Division of Services for the Blind, providing a behind-the-scenes view of the hockey operation and career advice; as well as involving Richard in the planning of an upcoming Hurricanes promotion. Also in October, Costco of Durham held their first Enable America Career Exploration Day when General Manager Brian Minion and his staff hosted 20(!) job seekers referred by DHHS VR, Rainbow66Storehouse, Durham Veterans Administration, Becoming of Durham, Carolina Outreach, Community Partnerships, and Ft. Bragg WTB. Job seekers learned about Costco’s unique company benefits and position in the retail industry, as well as employment opportunities and process. Networking opportunities like the Hurricanes and Costco mentoring days give job seekers a competitive edge and can help accelerate their job search while expanding visions of what is possible, for both the job seeker and the employer. Thank you Carolina Hurricanes and Costco of Durham for your inclusive culture!

Enable America’s mission continues throughout the month of November when in addition to persons with disabilities, the nation recognizes National Disabled Veteran Employment Awareness month. Recruitment is underway for wounded warriors, disabled veterans and persons with disabilities to attend mentoring days offered by Enable America in partnership with Eaton Corporation, SAS, Lenovo and Duke Energy. For more information, visit www.EnableAmerica.org.

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About Enable America: Established in 2002 by attorney Richard Salem, Enable America builds bridges between employers, social service agencies, and people with disabilities, including disabled veterans and wounded warriors, through programs that improve employment opportunities. The organization’s Community Connections, Business Connections, Employment Mentoring, Job Skills Workshops and VetConnect programs unite members of the disability community and business community to raise awareness and increase employment opportunities for the more than 56 million Americans with disabilities. Information and success stories can be found www.EnableAmerica.org.