Business Development

If there’s one thing I know about business, it’s that nothing stays the same. Whether external factors force you to adapt or your need for growth pushes the business to evolve, what we start with is rarely what we end up with.  The important thing to know is that it isn’t a sign of failure—it’s […]

There is always a pile of books on management and entrepreneurship to choose from, and although I don’t find grand revelations in every book I pick up, I do like the search. Recently I discovered a new book, and what has stuck with me is the author’s description of catastrophic thinking, or catastrophizing. The author […]

The U.S. job market is experiencing significant shifts, with steady employment gains counterbalanced by widespread layoffs and government workforce reductions. Recent data shows resilience in private-sector job growth, yet federal buyouts and agency restructuring are affecting thousands of workers. Job seekers and professionals navigating these changes must stay informed about industry trends, workforce reductions, and […]

By Stephanie Renk, MBA, CPCC, CERW, CPRW   The U.S. labor market closed out 2024 with impressive growth, signaling continued economic resilience. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ latest report released on January 10, 2025, the economy added a remarkable 256,000 nonfarm payroll jobs in December, far surpassing economists’ expectations of 155,000. This growth […]

Seven years ago last month, my brand was born – with a dream and a crappy clipart barbell to signify helping people “shape their careers.” It was as literal a brand as any former engineer could develop. While it makes a great joke now, that clip art logo launched Career Benders into the world. It […]

Happy 2025! We made it!  We’ve reflected, renewed our commitments, and set new goals for the coming year, but I have one more challenge to throw at you as you plan for the next 365 days of business growth.  How will you innovate this year?  Goals are great, but pushing yourself is even better. We’re […]

I was recently having dinner with my wife at a high-end ramen restaurant, and it struck me how much my life had changed. Back in college, I, like many others, lived off of $5/1 packets of ramen. While I’ve since learned that I need to live off more than sodium and starch, the lesson that […]

My business model is going to change dramatically in 2025. Not because of the economy or artificial intelligence or the new administration or the increasingly large number that defines my chronological age. My perspective has changed, and I need a business model that supports it. The old one is a coffee-stained T-shirt that I adore, […]

In any managerial space, there’s going to be talk about change. Sometimes this is recognizing the fear of it that many people hold, but more often, the common wisdom is that organizations need to evolve or die. Organizations set up entire departments for the purpose of facilitating change – as well as buying books, putting […]

It’s often said that we’re the average of the five people we spend the most time with. While not based on science, there is some social truth to the influence of those we surround ourselves with, especially as entrepreneurs, career coaches, and résumé writers who impact others’ lives.  Let’s face it, while we excel at […]