In this competitive day and age, you should be thankful to have gainful employment at all. That said, it's normal to have aspirations of better positions, pay, and skills. Unfortunately, though, opportunities to advance rarely just fall out of the sky. It takes some attention to detail and savvy skill on your part to get ahead in your career or business. If you are looking to progress in your professional life, these 4 things may help you climb the ladder of success faster.

Making the decision to end any relationship shouldn’t be done on a whim or in anger. And, if you find yourself on the receiving end of being unceremoniously dumped, you should consider what led up to it. If it was in the heat of the moment after an emotional throw down, you may want to step back and reflect before throwing the towel in. At this point, you may be asking yourself this: Is my relationship worth fighting for? Only you can answer that question, but here are some tips to navigating the tough road.

Staying at an ideal weight and being toned and fit are both attributes of a quality lifestyle, not a diet or quick fix. Unfortunately, so many impatient women give up on being healthy and opt for fad diets, surgery, invasive procedures, and pills. Your body might look good for a while, but it’s not sustainable if you abuse your body for aesthetic reasons. Remember to consult with your healthcare provider before you start any new eating or exercise plan. In the meantime, consider the following 5 tips to get that badass body you've always wanted!

Calling in sick to work isn't the most positive thing for the company or your career, but, sometimes, it's unavoidable. When you are ill, it's important to make wise decisions for your health first, otherwise, you could miss more work than just a day. Here is a quick guide to that challenging question: Should I stay home from work?

When we are young, many of us make the mistake of engaging in reckless behavior without considering the consequences. Been there-done that. For the most part, adolescent mischief doesn't end in disaster- except when these behaviors cross over into adulthood. One example of this is smoking cigarettes. In teenage years, smoking has a certain allure - it is rebellious and cool. This wasn't helped by the huge number of marketing campaigns that in the past, used smoking to help sell a product.

If you are running a business of any size, your branding needs to be spot on and effective. So, what is branding? As businesswomen, we know what we do, what we are good at, how we operate and what our place is, right? It's easy for us to talk about all of these things and we should. However, this is not branding. It is simply marketing and bragging about yourself. And, if this hasn't been working for you, this may be the time to put these 3 kick ass rebranding strategies to work for your business!

If you want to have the life of your dreams, the career of your dreams, you have to go create it! You will have many detours and bumps along the way, but don't let that stop you from giving it your best shot. That invisible ladder is always there, waiting for you to step up. As soon as you realize that it is in your power to progress up that ladder, the faster you’ll see your dreams happen. I've compiled a short list of 4 ladder of success boosts you can activate now!

You have a fantastic idea, and it's begging to be turned into a successful business. Perhaps it's a blog or an online store that has you itching to become a business owner. Your daydream always ends with a nice pile of fast cash landing in the bank. Nice thought, but I encourage you to walk on the side of reason for just a bit. The reality is that seventy percent of new businesses fail in the first two years. Furthermore, even if they make it past the 2-year mark, only a small percentage ever see those dreamy piles of cash in the above photo.

Have you ever sang the “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes” song to your children? It's so funny how often we teach our children to be aware of their little bodies but ignore our own. It wouldn't be a big deal except for the fact that, without awareness, we can end up in some sticky health situations. Just as we make movement and learning fun for kids, try injecting some energy into taking care of yourself. You don't have to get up in the morning and have a sing and a dance but it wouldn't hurt to do a weekly body scan for optimal wellness. Your Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes will thank you!

At around age 33, or so, a precarious gaze in the mirror might turn into a critique-fest. "OMG, I have a wrinkle!" or "Why doesn't my skin look as radiant as it used to?" might slip out. Maybe a friend or colleague says you look a little tired, even though we feel well rested. Your first gray hairs might appear. And those fine lines you noticed in the mirror can be seen in photos. It’s a strange feeling, at first, to see early signs of aging, knowing that it's just the beginning.

So you want to grow your business but are lacking the funds? I hear you. This is one of the most common challenges that new entrepreneurs have. In order to expand your business, you must secure funding and be creative with that money. I've started several businesses with virtually no money and completely understand the ultimate struggles that accompany such a path. So, let's explore some ideas to bankroll your business venture!

Failure is not something that many business owners like to think about, let alone discuss. That said, it’s something that all business owners should take seriously. Simple awareness and mental preparation for such an event clarify the importance and value of keeping your business above water. Avoidance only pushes planning and preparation away. These "just in case" plans might just be the very things that save a struggling business. Studies have shown that 50 percent of all new businesses fail within the first year - that’s a high statistic, isn’t it? With that in mind, as a business owner, it’s important to be aware of the most common causes of business failure and how to avoid them

Small businesses only become big businesses when they have the best employees. Okay, so there is more to it than that, but good employees make a massive difference. Think about it for a second. They are the people who do most of the work, so the company plows forward without a hitch. You might be the boss, but you need quality performers if you want to succeed. For that reason, you only want the best. However, there is a lot of competition, plus finding the right ‘fit’ isn’t always easy. Here are 4 savvy business tips for getting the most talented people on your team!

Building a highly reputable and successful career is hard work. It demands years of study, dedication, and consistent effort. However, even with all of this preparation and focused effort, you could lose everything, or close to it, with just one serious health issue. I know this because it happened to me. I lost a well-paying job in a field I loved because I was sick.

Entrepreneurship can be one of the most exciting and rewarding career moves a woman can make. However, it can also be one of the most challenging things to pull off successfully. There are some savvy things you must get under your belt if you want to make a name for yourself in business. Having the right tools, resources, and contacts is a must.