Hello Reader,

Here's what I'm talking about with clients this week...

1. Why Career Practitioners Need an Intersectional Approach Now More Than Ever

Source: CareerWise by CERIC​

Career development professionals face mounting challenges as pushback against equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility (EDIA) initiatives intensifies across Canada, creating additional employment barriers for diverse jobseekers who need strengths-based support more than ever.

Key Insights:

• Rising resistance amplifies barriers: Recent backlash against EDIA programs has sparked increased racist and ableist rhetoric online while institutions retreat from diversity commitments, worsening workplace obstacles like unconscious bias, inaccessibility, and microaggressions for jobseekers with disabilities and intersecting identities.

• Intersectional competency becomes essential: The National Competency Profile identifies promoting diversity and inclusion as a core practice for career professionals, requiring practitioners to understand how multiple social identities compound employment challenges and develop trauma-aware, strengths-based approaches that empower clients.

• Collaborative learning strengthens impact: CASE and CERIC’s new 6-week online certificate program enables practitioners to deepen their understanding of ableism, racism, and unconscious bias while networking with professionals nationwide to build collective strategies for authentic allyship and advocacy.

Bottom Line: As employment barriers intensify for diverse jobseekers, career professionals must expand their toolkits beyond traditional approaches. Understanding how intersecting identities create compound challenges isn’t just good practice—it’s essential for empowering all clients to thrive in today’s complex workplace landscape.

2. This Mindset Can Boost Mental Health in Midlife

Source: Futurity

Middle-aged adults who embrace life’s ups and downs with joyful acceptance experience better mental health, according to new University of Michigan research on “amor fati”—the love of one’s fate.

Key Insights:

• Meaningful connections matter: Adults aged 35-60 who practice amor fati report stronger social bonds and less loneliness, directly correlating with increased flourishing and reduced languishing during midlife’s unique stressors.

• Reframing transforms burden into purpose: Rather than viewing caregiving responsibilities or solitude as negative, embracing these experiences as meaningful choices connects to personal growth and fulfillment.

• Active engagement beats passive acceptance: Amor fati represents deliberate, joyful engagement with all life experiences—including suffering—creating resilience that helps middle-aged adults thrive amid career plateaus, family demands, and mortality awareness.

Bottom Line: The research reveals that loving your fate isn’t about resignation—it’s about actively choosing to find meaning in whatever life presents. This mindset shift can transform midlife challenges from sources of stress into opportunities for growth and connection.

3. How To Escape The One-Job Trap In 30 Days

Source: Work It DAILY​

The traditional one-job career model is crumbling as AI eliminates entry-level white-collar positions and companies prioritize profit over loyalty. Career coach J.T. O’Donnell outlines a strategic path to escape dependency on single-employer income through knowledge monetization.

Key Insights:

• Identify your Unique Value Add (UVA): Transform from “just an employee” to a business-of-one by understanding how your expertise solves problems and creates value beyond time-based compensation.

• Build credibility through content: Establish your professional brand on LinkedIn with searchable, benefit-driven content that attracts opportunities rather than chasing them through traditional applications.

• Monetize through multiple streams: Explore fractional work, advisory roles, subscription models, and content creation to diversify income while potentially maintaining current employment.

Bottom Line: The era of career security through single-employer loyalty has ended. Building multiple income streams based on your unique expertise isn’t just smart—it’s becoming essential for professional survival. This approach transforms career vulnerability into entrepreneurial opportunity