top of page
Latest Articles
Search


Starting Over After 40 is a Myth: Why Reinvention is Not Failure
Starting over after 40 has become one of the most common fears I hear from people navigating career changes, life transitions, relationships, and second acts. How about a reframe? Instead of starting over, let’s say we are evolving. Growing. Progressing. And my favorite, living your life as your authentic self. Your version. No one else’s. Too often we hear, “Oh. Wow. You’re starting over.” When someone changes careers at 45. Starts a business at 52. Goes back to school at 60

deirdreahaggerty
Jun 145 min read


End the Self-Help Loop: You Don’t Need Another Strategy - You Need Clarity
The Self-Help Loop Has You Trapped The self-help loop has you trapped like a hamster wheel. If another podcast, self-help book, online course, certification, planner, YouTube video, or productivity hack were going to fix your life…You would already be fixed. That sentence may feel uncomfortable to read, especially if you are someone deeply invested in growth. Someone who reads, learns, researches, journals, reflects, and genuinely wants more out of life. It’s uncomfortable fo

deirdreahaggerty
May 285 min read


Professional Boundaries at Work: Why People Get Angry When You Say No
Many professionals believe burnout comes strictly from workload. But often, exhaustion comes from something deeper: unmanaged access. It starts slowly. An after-hours text. A request on your day off. A “quick favor.” An expectation that because you are capable, accommodating, or responsible, you should always be available. Over time, what begins as helping quietly becomes an obligation. This is what I call boundary creep. And it happens in workplaces every single day. Why Pro

deirdreahaggerty
May 224 min read


Still Menstruating at 58? Understanding Late Perimenopause Symptoms
Holy hot flashes, I am still menstruating at 58, bypassing specific milestones of societal expectations. You know, the beliefs that quietly decide when marriage and children must occur, while maintaining career stability. And somewhere in your early 50s…the “M” word. Menopause. But what happens when your body doesn’t follow the timeline? At 58, I am still cycling regularly. I’ve always followed the beat of my own drum…doing what I want instead of what society thinks I should

deirdreahaggerty
Apr 155 min read


How Grief Began My Second Act
Grief. It does not always arrive once. But it always arrives. Sometimes it comes in waves, layering loss upon loss until the life you once knew no longer fits. That was my experience. In my latest Sip on This podcast episode, I share how grief, family loss, identity shifts, and painful transitions became the catalyst for my Second Act. Not as a polished lesson, but as my lived experience. This was not an easy story to tell. But I told it because I know grief changes people qu

deirdreahaggerty
Mar 252 min read


Career Reinvention After 40: Why So Many Professionals Reinvent Their Careers Midlife (And How to Know If It’s Time for You)
Career reinvention begins with a subtle moment. It can be quiet at first. The energy is different when something begins to shift. It is difficult to recognize. You’re still showing up. You are still performing. You are still meeting expectations. But internally, something feels off. Like when you leave a room and then step back in, thinking you might have left something behind. But you didn’t. What once felt like progress now feels like repetition, and what once felt like suc

deirdreahaggerty
Mar 174 min read


Employee Turnover: Is It More Cost-Effective to Hire a Career Coach Than Replace an Employee?
Employee turnover is expensive. Somewhere right now, a business owner is reviewing a resignation email or quietly calculating the cost of replacing someone who just isn’t performing. But here’s the real question: I s it cheaper to replace an employee — or develop them? The data tells a compelling story. The financial cost of rehiring is greater than the cost of investing in career coaching. Smart companies are choosing career development to help with retention over replacem

deirdreahaggerty
Mar 53 min read


Stop Procrastinating: Pass Your Cosmetology Exam in 2026 with Confidence
Stop Procrastinating. Schedule the Test. Download the Cosmetology Exam. You said this was the year. The year you finally take your state board. The year you stop doubting yourself. The year you step fully into your beauty career after passing your cosmetology exam. And yet… you’re waiting until next week. Well, next week is here. If you’re serious about passing your cosmetology state board exam, building confidence in your skills, or finally moving forward in the beauty indus

deirdreahaggerty
Mar 33 min read


Clarity Before Change: Navigating Your Second Act
Feel the Shift? Why Clarity Must Come Before Change There comes a moment in life when something shifts internally. Nothing is dramatically wrong. Your life may look stable from the outside. But inside, something no longer fits. You feel restless. Unsettled. Quietly aware that you’ve outgrown something. This is what I call the beginning of a second act. And here’s what most people get wrong: They rush to change before they seek clarity. The Seduction of Immediate Action When d

deirdreahaggerty
Feb 264 min read


Sip on This: Letting Go of What No Longer Serves You
Letting go of what no longer serves you isn’t selfish — it’s growth. When relationships, jobs, or identities stop nourishing you, redirecting energy back to yourself becomes the most powerful act of self-respect. Sip on this.

deirdreahaggerty
Jan 135 min read


Thanksgiving Boundaries: How to Protect Your Peace and Enjoy the Holiday
Learn how to set Thanksgiving boundaries, protect your peace, and enjoy the holiday with confidence, clear communication, and self-care strategies.

deirdreahaggerty
Nov 21, 20253 min read


Navigating Poor Author Self-Esteem
Navigating through poor author self-esteem is a common topic that has surfaced in coaching sessions, something I have personally worked on, and see in writing groups. As a career coach and writer, I have a few suggestions to help you overcome low self-esteem as an author and create your best work. Poor Author Self-Esteem Defined An author’s self-esteem ties their belief in their worth and value to their competence as a writer. This can include how they evaluate their skil

deirdreahaggerty
Oct 27, 20254 min read


Overcoming Imposter Syndrome
Have you ever walked into a room and doubted yourself, feeling like a fraud, believing you don’t belong with the professionals that surround you, and it is only a matter of time before they are on to you? Do you fear disappointing other people or dislike praise? These are a few symptoms of imposter syndrome. I’d be lying if I said those thoughts never entered my mind, irrespective of my confidence. What is Imposter Syndrome? Imposter syndrome is not pretending to be someone y

deirdreahaggerty
Sep 26, 20254 min read


How Micromanaging Destroys the Workplace
For career advice, advancement, or to learn how to coach instead of micromanage, schedule a free discovery call with Coaching with Ms. D.

deirdreahaggerty
Sep 12, 20254 min read
bottom of page