Control your own destiny or someone else will. There is a big difference between sitting in the driver's seat and sitting in the passenger seat. Are you driving your career or business, or just along for the ride?

Second in a series. Each month, we'll present "real world" advice for people just starting their career.

The way you speak conveys your level of confidence. A common habit causing confusion today is "upspeak" or "uptalk".

Upspeak or uptalk is when the tone of your voice goes up at the end of your words or a sentence, instead of down. When you do this at the end of a sentence, you sound like you are asking a question (which is fine if your actual intent is to ask a question). But, if your intent is to make a declaration and you sound as though you're asking a question, people will be confused.

When you make a statement that sounds like a question, you sound unsure of yourself. You are undermining your intent. So, practice making declarative statements by not using the higher tone at the end of your words or sentence.

Source: Susan Morem, author of 101 Tips for Graduates

Many important decisions you make in your lifetime are directly related to your career. Take a thoughtful approach to your career by taking time to consider more than just the obvious. Before making those important decisions for your career, review everything about your needs and wants.

I would like to introduce you to my "cool friend", Cheryl Mann, and encourage you to visit her website:

www.goalsinsight.com

Cheryl Mann is the President and Founder of Goals InSight, Inc., a company that helps organizations and their teams make the changes needed to achieve powerful results through team building, business strategy and goal setting workshops. Visit her website to sign up for her newsletter which covers topics such as team development, goal setting and work-life balance - - you won't be disappointed!

According to a survey conducted by Metlife, the estimated annual spending power of baby boomers is more than 2 trillion (USD). Middle and trailing boomers (born 1956-1964) spend most of their money on their children and mortgage. Leading boomers (born 1946-1955), many of whom are empty- nesters, put their money into upgrading/remodeling their homes and on clothing.

There are many websites and blogs in the business of keeping track of the ever more sophisticated needs and wants of 50+ consumers seeking to get the most out of their second or third life. A few reliable favorites used consistently at Rinker and Associates are:

1. Boomer Project
2. Focalyst (AARP's research branch)
3. The Boomer Blog

Lee National Denim Day is one of the largest single- day fundraisers for breast cancer, a disease that impacts countless lives every year. You can fight back by wearing denim and making a $5 contribution to the Women's Cancer Programs of EIF.

Back "then" I was groomed and developed to be a successful, emotionally intelligent leader. I was part of a leadership team within a learning organization. We learned "how to learn" with the help of leadership guru, Dick Dooley. We were a great group, supportive of each other's success in learning. It was a time of discovery, patience, and resilience. Epiphany's were mixed with laughter as we each finally "got it". Then, I was invited to participate in the "Masters Guild", a learning forum for those who seemed to really get what learning was all about. I was among friends. That was almost 10 years ago.

Now, just when I started to reflect on those times, Dick Dooley invited me to join a virtual learning forum. Its a space where previous "Learning Forum" graduates gather to learn "how to learn" in virtual space. Nothing new, the Millennials have been doing it since they were probably 6 years old. But for me, something familiar has been made new again - - I am among friends. :) LLR