Author Archives: ccenizalevine

Update for December 13, 2015

Now that I’m writing more for both Forbes and Money/ Time, as well as promoting my new book, Jump Ship: 10 Steps To Starting A New Career, I am consolidating my blogging and social media accounts under SixFigureStart. Please follow me there.

SixFigureStart co-founders Connie Thanasoulis-Cerrachio and Caroline Ceniza-Levine

SixFigureStart co-founders Connie Thanasoulis-Cerrachio and Caroline Ceniza-Levine

I’ll keep Presco Presco up in case I experiment with some more personal blogging, but for career and business advice, SixFigureStart is the place to find all that, including more quotes.

 

Frank Sinatra on Revenge

The best revenge is massive success. – Frank Sinatra

Maybe you’re not motivated by revenge, but it’s a great attitude to take towards your naysayers (even if you just fantasize and don’t actually rub their faces in your success).success - enjoy the view

What would be extra delicious to achieve and have your naysayers find out about? Go for THAT.

Muhammad Ali on Confidence

I am the Greatest. I said that even before I knew I was. – Muhammad Ali 

Even Muhammad Ali had to build self-confidence. Of course, saying it doesn’t just make it so (I’m sure winning some matches helped!). But it’s still a poignant reminder that we have to be our own fiercest advocates. Many times, we are our first advocates.confidence - be your own fiercest advocate

Do you think you’re great?

Henry Miller on Confusion

Confusion is a word we have invented for an order which is not yet understood. – Henry Miller

If things seem confusing, it probably isn’t because you’re not working hard enough or aren’t smart enough to figure it out. You may just need more time and more patience to allow things to unfold. confusion

How can you be more accepting of confusion, chaos and overwhelm?

Oscar Wilde on Regrets

Nowadays most people die of a sort of creeping common sense, and discover when it is too late that the only things one never regrets are one’s mistakes. – Oscar Wilde

Playing it too safe, playing to not lose instead of win, taking too few chances. Many times it’s the things we don’t do that we regret.mistakes and regrets

Can you use a fear of regret to combat your fear of inaction?

Paula Poundstone On Growing Up

Adults are always asking kids what they want to be when they grow up ‘ cause they’re trying to get ideas – Paula Poundstone 

It’s OK not to know what you want to be even when you’re grown up, especially since ideally you don’t stop growing upwards.

It’s also OK to know what you want and change your mind, even after years of doing the other thing.

It’s also OK to know what you want and stick to one thing and be content. For some people the striving is fun, but that doesn’t have to mean you

The Wright Brothers On Experimentation

So many people end up fixated on doing things right, that they end up doing nothing at all – Wright Brothers

This is a great reminder about the value of experimentation. When you experiment, things will go wrong but that’s part of the process on the way of getting new things right.

If you cling to just one right way, you may miss a better process or a better option altogether.

Where can you try something new and introduce more experimentation?

Audre Lorde On Vision Over Fear

When I dare to be powerful, to use the strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid – Audre Lorde  

In How The Fierce Handle Fear, an anthology of 22 essays on fear, I contributed an essay on fear and career change. Naturally fearful and risk-averse, I overcame my fear of the change by keeping my eye on the vision of it. That vision of what could be, that hope of a more fulfilling path became stronger than my fear of the obstacles and potential consequences.

What is your powerful, driving vision that is more important than your fear?

Sophia Loren On Success

I am successful because I was willing to give up being anonymous – Sophia Loren

Do you put yourself out there?

On the career front, this includes:

  • getting published;
  • getting media mentions;
  • speaking at a conference;
  • maintaining an active online presence;
  • maintaining a diverse network; and
  • building up relationships with executives, investors, and recruiters.

Which activities do you proactively pursue?