Foreclosures have hit record highs in Minnesota, leaving thousands of families homeless and neighborhoods in chaos. Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity (TCHFH) wants residents to stay in their homes. Since 1993, its free Mortgage Foreclosure Prevention Program has helped over 5,000 families, providing information, referrals to other agencies, and counseling to homeowners struggling to make payments.

Sometimes, all somebody needs is a leg up. Kids, parents, work, laundry… Women today face a long list of challenges. Many have overcome the setbacks of divorce, mental illness, substance abuse or poverty. Finally ready to move forward and put the past behind them, these courageous women may find closed doors at every turn. Fortunately, an organization exists that offers women the encouragement and support that can help them move from “Ready” to “Successful.”

I first heard about One to One: Women Coaching Women, from a friend who is also a coach in the program. She said, “We never have a waiting list, and we should.” One to One’s mission is to enable women to “achieve sustained success by creating the life of their dreams” through free one-to-one life coaching. Targeting its services to women from challenging social and economic backgrounds, One to One provides an upbeat, affirming relationship where a struggling woman’s hopes can be translated into “practical, realistic and actionable life plans.”

During busy season, Karen’s company keeps cots in a closet so employees can catch a nap while working all night on projects.  Lea’s best friends are the people she works with.  She doesn’t have time to forge friendships anywhere else.  Spending forty or fifty hours a week with a group of people for months or years at a time, it seems natural that you would become friends, or even like family, after a while.  But when is “close” too close?  Where is the line between personal and professional, when you work alongside the same people day in and day out?

Religion and politics have long been taboo in the workplace.  Yet, these topics are difficult to steer clear of because they often play a part in the news and TV shows we want to discuss, and because passion for a topic can override good judgement.  Use your own expectations to test whether to step into or walk away from a conversation.  Inviting your co-workers to a concert at your church might be acceptable; expecting them to meditate with you in the break room is not.  When others cross that line, have a comment ready to use to excuse yourself.  It can be simple, “I’d better get back to work.”  Say it politely, and then reinforce that boundary by walking away. 

I just need work; any pay is better than nothing.  That’s what you’re thinking.  You’ve been through multiple interviews, multiple rejections and your kid needs soccer cleats yesterday.  Are you going to jeopardize a job offer by asking for too much money?  No.  You are going to nail the offer…  by knowing what to ask for.

Before you interview for a position, develop a sense of what the job is worth generally.  Start by looking at salary calculators online.  Indeed.com has one, as do many other sites.  Be sure you are looking at information relevant to your area.  Employers in New York City, for example, pay far more than those in small, rural towns because the cost of living in a larger city is usually higher.