January 2011
CareerTips
Make 2011 the Best Year Ever!!
By: Pam Wessel, Senior Consultant
 Happy New Year! Here we are again in January wondering where last year went. How does time fly by so quickly? We made it through the holidays, the first white Christmas in many years, and are ready for the new year.
Last year was another challenging year, but we are seeing some positive signs for 2011. Unemployment fell to 9.4% in December, 2010 - the lowest rate last year (Department of Labor Statistics). Also, holiday spending increased 5.5%, the biggest increase in 5 years, with online shopping up 12% over 2009 (www.CBSnew.com, January 5, 2011).
A new year brings new optimism. How do we ensure we have a truly happy new year? How do we choose to make our dreams and wishes come true during 2011? How are you going to make the best of the new year?
Be deliberate – look back, create your mission statement, and set you goals! Click here to get started with these great tips.
Tax Tips:
Your Career Transition Expenses May Be Tax Deductible
By Ann Golden
 At the end of December, our clients received a statement from Golden Career Strategies for their 2010 Income Tax Report, in case their career transition expenses qualified as a tax deduction. Some can deduct expenses and others cannot. I have pulled a couple of articles from the internet to help you figure that out. First, however, you may want to research www.irs.gov and read IRS Publication 529.
Click here to learn more and get valuable tax tips.
Baby Boomers, Stop Postponing the Rest of Your Life
By Myles Golden
 With the recent news that some 10,000 baby boomers per day are reaching retirement age, I recall a book a comrade in outplacement and career transition coaching from Australia gave me ten years ago titled “Stop Postponing the Rest of Your Life.” The book was authored by Paul Stevens, B. Bus. Stevens founded The Centre for Worklife Counseling, www.worklife.com.au, in Sydney, Australia following a 21 year career in Human Resources Management and The Worklife Network- a national and international affiliation of adult career specialists. He has authored and published other books and publications such as: Win That Job, A Passion for Work, and Work and Life Choices, to mention a few. What he was saying then has come true: here in the US, 76 million American workers born between 1946 and 1964 are facing the decision of what to do the rest of their lives. They currently make up about a third of the nation’s workforce filling many of the most skilled and senior jobs. And thanks to their near-workaholic habits, they are among the most aggressive, creative and demanding workers on the planet according to a recent article by John Gallapher of Knight Ridder. So what are their options and how will they impact our workforce? Boomers, like their parents’ World War II-era generation, feel a need to contribute to society through work. They don’t want to sit on the porch and wait for the Grim Reaper says Joyce Gioia, a strategic-planning consultant with The Herman Group in Greensboro, N.C. In fact, according to a recent survey by The University of Michigan about 57% of boomer men and about 45 % of boomer women expect to work past 62 and many will work into their 70’s, 80’s and yes even 90’s.
Stop postponing - click to learn more!
Putting a Bow on 2010: A Proper Perspective
by John Maxwell
At this stage, the punctuation you put on 2010 will not depend as much on what you do but on your point of view. As you look back on the past year, you likely experienced highs and lows, encountered blessings and victories alongside hardship and heartache. As you wrap up 2010, be sure your attitude toward the last twelve months is providing you with the healthy perspective needed to finish strong.
Here are three suggestions to help you adopt a mindset that makes the most of 2010.
Volunteer Opportunity ~ Amedisys Hospice (Training Provided)
 *Respite volunteers to give the family/caregivers a much needed break (sit and chat with patient while caregiver goes to store/grab a cup of coffee)
*Birthday Club volunteer (bake/sponsor birthday cake/birthday cards for our monthly birthdays)
*Special projects volunteers (knitting, scrapbooking, yard club, etc.)
*Bereavement volunteers (assist with support groups, mailings, grief camps for children with our Chaplain/Bereavement Coordinator)
*Friendly visit volunteers (chat with a patient, visit with family/patient)
*Sunday volunteer (sit with patient to allow family to attend church service)
*Student Interns (program can depend on area of study for the student- counseling, nursing, ministry, marketing, administration, social work, pre-med)
Contact: Melissa Camak
Volunteer Coordinator
Amedisys Hospice
(864) 351-8677- Cell
Volunteer Opportunity ~ Greenville Family Partnership
Tobacco Free Kids Day at Furman Basketball is scheduled for Saturday, January 22 from 1:30 pm until 3:30 pm. Volunteers help deliver a quality event, with great interactive games to deliver the anti-tobacco message to kids. GFP sets up a table outside the basketball ball game where youth/parents walk through to learn more about tobacco and its impact on our health. Youth are taught through a variety of visuals & games. Volunteers should contact Pam Wessel at 420-1648 or pam@goldencareerstrategies.com if interested.
Ongoing Volunteer Opportunities
United Way agencies
Ready 4 Reading
Habitat for Humanity
Mauldin Miracle League
Greenville Literacy
Meals on Wheels
Greenville County Library System
American Cancer Society
Greenville Area Opportunities
- searchable by category
Golden Career Strategies Speaks:
Recent Speaking Engagements & Sponsorships
Myles Golden spoke to the Clemson University Chapter of SHRM on November 17.
Pam Wessel spoke to the St. Mary Magdalene Employment Support Group about “The Top Ten Tips for Networking in Transition“ on September 23rd.
Pam Wessel was quoted by Anastasia Howard in her article "Time to gear up for life planning"
GCS ~ Silver Sponsor for GSATC (Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson Technology Council)
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