When I arrived in London in February 2007 I took the first finance job that came up. Why – because the big boys and girls in town wouldn’t look at you until you had some London experience so knowing that I took the first job at Fund managers, did my 3 months and then moved on […]

All decisions are created twice, first in the mind and then in reality.  A really, really, really simple example of this is deciding to get a glass of water. You first have the thought (step 1 – mind). You get up, get a glass and have a drink (step 2 – reality) You have probably […]

Happy 2021 Reading! There are those who read books and those who don’t…… well that statement is all rubbish. Looking to read a little more in 2021? Pick up a book – any book – today and read 5 pages, then tomorrow pick up the book and read 5 more pages, the day after do […]

Happy NYE! On this day in exactly 12 months time, you may spend some time reflecting on the year that has been. What would a dream 2021 look like for you? Good news! You get to create that dream year, starting from tomorrow. Here are a few questions to ponder and if you are brave […]

Good news! We humans are unbelievably adaptive creatures. Think about how small changes to the environment of other animals or tiny creatures may have big consequences for them, or even extinction. Whereas, the fact that humans have adapted to live almost anywhere, having survived ice ages and pandemics is a good attestation. We humans are […]

Since lockdown 2.0 was announced here in Melbourne I have been fielding calls and messages, individuals wanting to get their head around the fact we are heading back into lockdown. The impact on them, their jobs, their businesses, their families. Uncertain is a good word to describe how people have been feeling. ‘Flat’ is another […]

At any single moment in our life we are operating in one of two modes:  A) Thrive Mode or, B) Survive Mode When we’re in Thrive Mode we believe things are progressing nicely, we are usually growing, learning, happy, safe and content. When we’re in Survive Mode we perceive danger (physical, psychological or other) we are often […]

If you’re feeling a little more anxious then usual at the moment you are likely not alone. We all feel anxiety at times, it is a perfectly normal part of life. Many people view anxiety as a bad thing. An alternative way to view it is as not a bad thing (uncomfortable yes, sometimes very […]

Some might argue that getting your driver’s licence is much more of an important deal when you grow up in the country as opposed to the city. There’s no public transport, distances are greater to your mates, to school, to work. What takes an hour on the bike only takes 10 minutes in a car. […]

If Curiosity leads to Information which leads to Knowledge which leads to Wisdom which leads to Opportunities which leads to Happiness and Success then reading is not a bad hobby and skill to pick up and develop. Up for a great read or perhaps a Christmas present idea then read on The awesome, the good and the why oh why come to mind when I reflect on the books I have read this year. […]

I unzipped my swag and popped my head out to nothing but a white wall and eerie sight. It was early morning and there was a very heavy fog in. I reached for my boots and the jacket quickly followed, the fire was just barely alight, I added a couple of pieces of wood and […]

Yesterday morning I met with a prospective client who self described as “having strong faith in god”. They asked me if I was religious to which I responded ‘um not really’. A vague memory of my nanna taking my brother and I to church when we were young swept across my mind but that was […]

The first thing you see when you enter my apartment on the opposite wall is a bookcase with the artwork pictured in the shot above… and plants – I have a lot of plants. The artwork is Theodore Roosevelt’s “Man in the Arena” Speech and I am fortunate enough to have a fantastic mum who […]

Do you have an underperformer on your team? You aren’t alone. Many managers struggle with addressing underperformance. Here’s what you need to do. First, let’s make some assumptions: we will assume the team member’s underperformance is solely related to their work (i.e. there are no personal reasons such as relationship, family, health, etc). Let’s also […]

If you’ve submitted a job application online, it’s become ever more likely that an Application Tracking System (ATS) has scanned your application and segregated it into either the ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ pile before a human ever sees it. Often a human only then reviews the ‘Yes’ pile for potential candidates for interview selections. That’s right: […]

Are you trapped in a role with nowhere to go? Most of us have felt like that at one point or another in our careers. You give so much of yourself to your organisation, but one day you wake up and feel like you have no more opportunities in a place you thought you’d work […]

“Should I change my name?”  he asked me.  It’s the type of question likely posed by someone going into hiding. Think witness protection program, or a celebrity checking into a hotel, trying to stay under the radar. But in the resume game, changing one’s name has become a tactic for those seeking attention, those craving […]

Attention Hiring Managers Are you looking for a new employee that is capable, committed, and has a great character? How about one that is coached? A few of the people I work with are looking for new jobs and they all come with the Coach Kim seal of approval. If you are hiring for one […]

How would you rate your listening skills out of ten? Think back to the last conversation you were in… were you attentive? Here are some questions to ask yourself as you replay the conversation: –    Did you interrupt? –    Did you maintain eye contact or were you looking elsewhere? –    How was your body positioned? […]

Do you have your Individual Development Plan (IDP) handy? It may be the one your employer has provided or a personal one. If it is convenient and you have time open it up now or print it off. The IDP is a great place to list and keep track of a very important personal development […]

Last week, I caught up with a new client who asked, “When we get to interviewing, should I tell them I have a career coach?” I reflected on the question later that afternoon on the walk home. I have done hundreds and hundreds of interviews and asked some pretty quirky questions: “How many tennis balls […]

This summer, how many times will you be asked, “What do you do?” Twenty times? Thirty times? More? How will you respond? “I am an accountant.” “I am a project manager.” “I am a mechanic.” “I am a system designer.” “I am…Forgotten.” Yep. Forgotten. When you ask the same question to someone you have just […]

If you visited my living room, you could be mistaken for thinking you’d stepped into the nearby Botanical Gardens. I love plants, especially indoor ones. They’re young, vibrant and nomadic – a bit like a millennial. Water and care for them regularly, and they’ll grow quickly. Plus they’ll make your environment a bit cooler looking. […]

At 1.73 metres tall and 78kg, he is small in stature. It’s trait not commonly found amongst his peers on the AFL football field, but he more than makes up for it with his grit and determination. Paul Puopolo, affectionately known as ‘Poppy’, plays for the Hawthorn Hawks. Whether or not you barrack for the […]

You’ve been in your role for a while now, and you’re starting to get itchy feet. Perhaps you’ve seen other colleagues earn promotions, and wondered why it wasn’t you. It’s not as simple as logging hours to make it to the next level. But it can be easy if you remember these 6 simple words: […]

Last week was an exciting week. I launched my first solo venture in career coaching, and threw myself straight into client meetings. It wasn’t long before I was asked the new age question – “should I include a photo in my CV?”. I love this question. It creates discussion, and no one seems to agree […]

Ahh oh, I thought to myself. I still had three reps to go. Three! I groaned out loud in exasperation. Two! Now I desperately searched for breath. Oooonnnneeee! Ohhh dear. As I finished I felt my whole body crumble into a heap on the machine, I bent over put my head down and burst into tears. Have you […]