The first time I worked from home I couldn't believe it. It was too good to be true. I logged onto my computer earlier than usual because there was no traffic to deal with and proceeded to type away to prove I was really working. It was 1998.

Working from home has been a blessing for me. I began telecommuting years before I became a mother, when I was a time-starved graduate student.

Thanks to my bosses' flexibility at Fleishman Hillard, I saved a considerable amount of time each week, time that I used to work on presentations, client materials and other tasks that did not require me to be in person at the office. I went a few days to the office and the rest I tackled from my laptop at home. It required a great amount of discipline and focus, but it made me more productive. It is not for everybody, but it can be life changing.

When I had to write, I concentrated fully on my computer instead of being tempted to take a break with my coworkers. My lunchtime was brief since I d

...Read More »

Think going back to school is the only way to "up" your earning potential? Think again! Hitting the books doesn't always lead to an increase in salary but it definitely leads to an increase in debt. Learn how to boost your pay, network effectively, and develop new skills - without stepping foot in the classroom.

Alexandra Levit, author of the Blind Spots: The 10 Business Myths You Can't Afford to Believe on Your New Path to Success, and Alison Green, the blogger behind Ask A Manager, weigh in on how to maximize your money-making potential whether you're seeking a promotion or hoping to land a new gig.

1. Be Proactive
Instead of asking your boss what tasks you should add to your to-do list, come to the table with suggestions in mind.

2. Ask for a Raise
Before asking for a raise, make sure you deserve one. Don't approach your boss with this request until you pinpoint specific reasons why your performance warrants a pay increase. Schedule a follow-up meeting after

...Read More »

Alyssa Longobucco


You're just a click away from a sweet pair of heels when, wouldn't you know it...someone's over your shoulder. Gilt-y! Here's how to recover gracefully.

See more: 20 Superfoods for Weight Loss

Accept that you're totally busted.

Your first instinct will be to minimize your screen at warp speed--but don't go there. "You'll look more suspicious if you scramble to cover things up," says Lindsey Pollak, career expert and author of Getting From College to Career. Your boss may wonder if you're doing something way worse than shopping, such as, say, prowling Monster.com for a new gig. So hands off the mouse. Let her get an eyeful of those Shoedazzle.com goodies you're drooling over.

Confess.

And we mean this instant. Pollak advises saying something like, "Oops, I'm totally online shopping right now! I had a few minutes of downtime and was just taking a little mental breather." Your boss is human, too, and odds are, she spends a few minutes goofing around

...Read More »

Filmmaker and producer of "Brave" Katherine Sarafian says the best piece of advice she ever got was from Pixar founder Steve Jobs. "He said, 'You never regret the things you do, only the things you don't do,'" explains Katherine, "and that was pretty important for me, even in the very beginning of 'Brave,' when I wasn't sure whether to take the job." Katherine took the job, and it turns out that was pretty great advice. "Brave" recently won a Golden Globe and is nominated for an Oscar.

More on Shine: Oscar nominated costume designer Jacqueline Durran on creating character wardrobes

Katherine, the middle child in her family, says she was always an artistic and creative child, begging for attention. She went to UCLA and struggled to decide on a career. Seeking advice, a career counselor suggested pursuing film, and in 1994 Katherine began working at Pixar on "Toy Story" as a production scheduling coordinator. She has since worked on some of Pixar's biggest hits, including "A

...Read More »

By Amy Shearn

1. Who Else Needs a Vote?
A friend of mine (whom I'll call Will) once told me a chilling story of how his wife came home from work one day with an air of triumph. "What happened?" Will asked, for obviously something had. "Did you get a promotion?" "No!" she said. "I quit!" He described the feeling of his heart falling to his feet. He worked, too, but she was the breadwinner. P.S. They had three children under the age of 3. I don't mean to be a career-change Cassandra here, but I must tell you that soon they were getting divorced. To Will, what stung wasn't that she wanted to change careers--he swore he would have been supportive of whatever she wanted to do--it was that she made the decision without him. Following your passion is wonderful. Leaving your family without health insurance is not.

RELATED: 6 Steps to Regret-Proof Your Life


2. How Will You Explain This to Future Bosses?
Unless your reason for quitting is that you found a huge bag of money somewhere, eventual

...Read More »