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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

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

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

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

Reading at least 10 pages daily from a self-help or nonfiction book has helped me with my life, relationships, and career coaching endeavors. It is also a valuable resource for my clients. Therefore, I want to share my book recommendations to help you in your life, relationship, or career journey.

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.

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

People pleasing is a common trait that often emerges in coaching sessions, otherwise known as sociotropy, the clinical term used to describe a personality trait characterized by an excessive focus on the needs and wants of others at the expense of one’s own desires.  

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

Have you ever felt stuck, knowing you want a change, but are unsure where or how to start? Are you recently divorced and must go back to work, but lack the confidence to begin your search? Perhaps you hate your job and want to pivot to your passion. The following will help you learn what coaching is and how it can help in life, love, and career. Coaching Defined Coaching is a collaborative, goal-oriented process where a coach helps individuals unlock their potential, gain cla

Career coaching is a valuable tool for job promotions, especially midlife, when one might feel “too old” to pivot careers or find a better opportunity. A coaching client of Coaching with Ms. D is allowing me to share her story, anonymously, of course, because this is her dilemma, and she wants to help others understand that it is never too late to grow in your career. My Client Thought She was “Too Old” to Find Another Job Age is just a number. Let me repeat, AGE IS JUST A N

Nail your next interview with these powerful questions that show confidence and clarity, especially helpful for midlife career changers.

How Can a Career Coach Help the Newly Divorced Woman? Approximately 40-50% of first marriages end in divorce, although statistics vary; over the past few years, it appears these numbers are waning. Even in the most amicable divorces, a marriage ending has many ramifications, including grief. It could be expensive, leaving both parties burdened financially. In addition, divorce settlements and alimony might not cover living expenses. With all this and much more to consider, a

Now is a good time to update your resume following Andy Jassy, Amazon CEO’s announcement regarding the shrinking of the company’s workforce in the next year, which AI will replace. This doesn’t mean AI will replace you, but why not take AI training and follow my resume tips for job security, job growth, career pivots, if you’re entering the workforce, or if you find yourself suddenly unemployed. I Won’t Write Your Resume I will not write your resume for you. Here’s why: I pai

Coaching Essentials With Ms. D’s New Store Coaching With Ms. D is proud to announce the launch of our new store under the Shop tab in the main menu. This store is full of coaching essentials and products for your journey, personally curated by the site’s owner, a career coach extraordinaire. Why Sell Products on a Coaching Website? The products I sell enhance the coaching journey and the website’s experience. If you see something you like and are unsure of its necessity or q

My Over 50 Career Journey: Education to Coaching If you’ve been following my over-50 career journey , finances and family have necessitated a return to full-time work outside the home. Our youngest son is in school, I no longer work in our business, and my online writing outlet has closed (not my beauty blog ), so we need money, and I am unsure what I want to be when I grow up. A friend got me a temp job in a law firm for three months. When the person I covered for returned f

My Over 50 Career Journey Part II: College, Marriage, Kids

Ask the Pro Stylist, Aka Coaching with Ms. D, is excited to announce a service that pays homage to my humble beginnings as a hairstylist: be

Coaching Tips to Ace the Interview

Networking Strategies: Essential Tips for Building Strong Connections