#CareerConvos??: Stop Landing in Jobs You Hate

How was your week?

These days, I start my mornings with EASE.

I wake up, stretch, and give myself a moment to breathe before I do anything else. My phone stays on the nightstand. My first move isn’t checking emails or scrolling notifications - it’s heading to my WOOSAH Room.

This room is my sanctuary. It’s where I sit still with my plants and my thoughts, grounding myself before the demands of the day take over. That intentional pause reminds me that I set the tone for my day - not my inbox, not a “High Priority” email, and not anyone else’s expectations.

But I didn’t always start this way.

You know how it goes: you wake up, grab your phone, and the first thing you see is that late-night email from your boss with an urgent subject line. Suddenly, your heart’s racing, and your mind is spiraling about what needs to get done. You haven’t even brushed your teeth, and the day already feels frantic.

That’s not the life I want for myself, and I know you don’t want it for yourself either. Starting my day with ease has been a game-changer; not just for my peace of mind but for how I show up in my work and my life.

Ease isn’t indulgent - it’s essential. Find your own version of it.

From #CareerConvos?? With Nikki: Starting Your Day with Ease + All the Wrong Interview Questions

If you’ve been feeling like life is running you instead of the other way around, listen to the latest #CareerConvos?? with Nikki podcast episode. I talk about how prioritizing ease shifted not just my mornings, but my career decisions too. Listen to it here: ?

The Most Overlooked Part of the Job Interview: It’s Not About Being Liked

"I’m headed to the job interview. I really hope they like me."

Sound familiar? It’s the thought we all have before walking into a job interview. We’re conditioned to focus on impressing them - showing that we’re the right fit, that we belong. But here’s the truth: The interview isn’t about being liked.

Let’s flip the script.

What if they DO like you? What if they love you and make an offer? You’re excited, you accept, and then… you realize you’ve walked into a toxic work environment.

Where did it go wrong?

You didn’t ask the questions you really needed answers to.

The interview is as much about you evaluating the company as it is about them evaluating you. It’s not just their opportunity to bet on you - it’s your chance to bet on them. Here’s how:

• Ask about leadership styles. How do they support and manage their teams?
• Ask for examples of company culture. What's it REALLY like to work there?
• Ask how success is measured. Does their definition align with yours?

Too often, we end up in the wrong role not because we weren’t qualified but because we didn’t vet the opportunity. The interview isn’t about getting likes, it’s about making the right choice for you.

I created #CareerConvos?? Online for moments like this. To give you the tools to ask the right questions, make better decisions, and stop walking into roles that don’t serve you.

Take control of your next interview by joining the next #CareerConvos?? roundtable. I dive into how to ask smarter questions and how to use the interview to get the clarity you need.

Explore the #CareerConvos page.

In these Accounting Streets

Year-end hits different when you’re an accountant.

While most people are gearing up to relax and recharge over the holidays, accountants are planning for what’s ahead. We’re figuring out what the AJEs will look like, catching up balance sheet reconciliations, and working through interim audit requests on the PBC.

I learned early in my career that holidays and the end of the year aren’t a luxury for accountants. Sometimes, our cadence of work requires us to show up when others are on the beach.

#CareerConvos?? Online was created to support accounting professionals through career seasons like this - when the demands are high, but the growth opportunities are even higher. Whether you’re new to the industry or a seasoned professional, this community exists to give you the tools, insights, and support you need to thrive.

This is one of those "I wish somebody told me" parts of the accounting profession. I'm telling you what you need to know in #CareerConvos?? Online.

Mommy Moment: Time be Still!

Let me tell you how my kids almost finessed me this week.

I was ordering groceries on the app, only to find the cart already filled with $127 worth of snacks, shrimp, noodles, and those nasty grandma cookies in the blue tin that my son loves. You know the ones: the cookies we all thought were holding sewing supplies when we were kids.

I don’t even agree with many of their fructose-filled snack choices, but I caved and bought their cart of grocery chaos.

They’re mini adults for real. Adding their own grocery lists like they’re running the house, confidently picking out shrimp and noodles like they’re planning the week’s meals. I had to laugh. The nerve! But honestly, they’re teaching me lessons about balance, choices, and picking my battles.

Moments like these remind me that balance isn’t about getting everything perfect. Some days, I’m coaching clients on career-defining decisions and CPA exam prep. Other days, I’m negotiating with my kids about why we don’t need five different snacks and cookies in a blue tin. Either way, I’m holding it down - and so are you!

Balancing work and family are always a work in progress, which is another thing we talk about in #CareerConvos?? Online. This community is designed for moments like these when life feels overwhelming, but your goals still matter.

What does balance look like for you? Have you ever experienced what we talked about today? Tell me in the comments or join the #CareerConvos??Community - a growing, judgment-free space to share, vent, and get support with whatever you’re navigating at work.

Your Invitation to Join #CareerConvos??

I created #CareerConvos?? Online as career guidance for accountants - a safe space to ask the career questions you can’t bring to your boss or manager. It’s where you can be professionally vulnerable while getting advice you can actually use.

Here’s what you’ll get when you join:

• Career advice like this delivered straight to your inbox.
• An invite to our monthly roundtable where you can ask your toughest career questions in a supportive environment.
• Resources, tools, and insights to help you thrive in your accounting career—whether you’re navigating year-end chaos, planning your next move, or just trying to find balance.

If you’ve been looking for a career community that gets it, this is your space.

Nikki

Comment with one word to describe what you just read. Did it resonate? Share this with someone who needs a reminder that THEY ARE THE PRIZE in the workplace!