Business Development

It surprises nobody more than me that I am a staunch yoga enthusiast. About 10 years ago I signed up for a series of classes with my daughter, and my opinion of yoga was a lukewarm, “Well, it’s something for us to do together.” While she walked away from the experiment with a middling impression […]

As we move through March 2025, the U.S. job market continues to evolve amid economic shifts, federal workforce reductions, and the growing influence of artificial intelligence in various industries. Understanding these trends is crucial for job seekers looking to navigate the competitive employment landscape effectively. Job Market Overview According to the latest report from the […]

If you’ve been in business for more than five minutes, you already know—what worked yesterday might not work tomorrow. Whether it’s evolving client expectations, shifting economic trends, or the ever-changing nature of hiring, staying sharp isn’t optional in our field; it’s essential. We all live in a world of professional development, so when we think […]

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 […]