How Careers in the 2nd Half of Life are Different [Updated] - Career Pivot

How Careers in the 2nd Half of Life are Different [Updated] - Career Pivot Careers in the 2nd Half of Life Copyright: hjalmeida / 123RF Stock Photo I have been thinking about how careers in the 2nd half of life are different. In fact, I claim that the idea of a career in the 2nd half of life is a relatively new concept. My father was forced into retirement at the age of 59 in 1978, after a long career as an economist at the New York Stock Exchange. He did not want to retire, so he decided to teach college economics. He did not have his Ph.D. and had a really hard time making the transition because everyone expected him to retire. He died at the age of 73 from having his career yanked out from underneath him. Some things have changed, but others have not. We are living much longer. I plan on living both longer and healthier in my 2nd half of life than my parents. What has not changed is many of our generations are having their careers yanked out from underneath them. When Does the 2nd Half of Life Begin? First, we need to answer the questionâ€"when does the 2nd half of life begin? When I was growing up in the 1960’s, someone who was 60 was really old. I remember my grandfather was using a walker in his late 60’s! He was also a 3-pack-a-day Lucky Strike smoker. He passed away in November of 1968, a little after his 70th birthday. There was no thought of a career in the 2nd half of life because you had one career. Period. For many of us, the 2nd half of life began in our mid-40’s or early 50’s. So what happened? When I graduated from Northwestern University with my engineering degree in the late 1970’s, I had a completely different set of priorities than I would 25 years later. I bought a house and acquired debt (mortgage) Got married Had a son Back then, it was about getting promoted and making more money. I then went through a whole series of changes after I turned 40. Listen to the most recent episode IBM discontinued the pension plan in 1999. They re-instated it for those of us over 40, but I no longer trusted them. I left in early 2000 for a successful startup. Our only son graduated from high school and left for college. (Empty nest) At age 46, I had what could have been a fatal bicycle collision. I hit a car head on, where our speeds exceeded 50 mph. We paid off the mortgage. All of these changes caused me to change my perspective on what a career meant to me. For me, the 2nd half of life had begun in my mid-40’s. What is Different in 2nd Half of Life Careers In the late 1990’s, my boss at IBM told me she was going to promote me. IBM hadâ€"and I believe still hasâ€"a band system that went from 1-10. I was a band 9. She wanted to promote me to a band 10, but I told her no. IBM was periodically laying people off, and the band 10 jobs were very vulnerable. Plus, I did not want to do the work most band 10 employees did. I was as high as I wanted to go in my career. That was a defining moment. I grew up in a family and a culture that told me to climb the corporate ladder and never stop. The corporate ladder was disappearing, organizational structures were flattening out, and there were more of us competing for fewer and fewer positions. So, the decision to get off the ladder was very freeing. What is different in the 2nd half of life careers is that we care more about the purpose and meaning than climbing the corporate ladder. I started Career Pivot after I was put in a highly unethical position by my manager at mylast job.I boldedthe last jobbecause I do not plan to work for anyone else as an employee ever again. I want to make enough money to support my wife and myself for as long as I can. I want to work on what I want to work on, when I want to work, and only work as hard as I want to work. I want freedom. Some Examples In Chris Farrell’s book, Purpose and a Paycheck â€" Finding Meaning, Money, and Happiness in the Second Half of Lifehe documents lots of stories of people who either want, or have, to work in the 2nd half of life. Many of us will still be working in our 70’s and some will still be working in our 80’s. You can listen to my interview with Chris on the Repurpose Your Career podcast here. Another example is Dr. Joel Dobbs, who carefully planned his 2nd half of life pivot to a portfolio of teaching at the university level, coaching and consulting. You can listen to my interview with Joel on the Repurpose Your Career podcast here. Dr. Dobbs carefully planned out his transition largely on his terms. Not all of us are so lucky to have that luxury to leave on our terms. Check out the ProPublica article If You’re Over 50, Chances Are the Decision to Leave a Job Won’t be Yours. Then there is David, in the Career Pivot Community, who has left his full-time job to be a part-time advisor at his local Small Business Development Center (SBDC). He is teaching one class online at a state university and he is looking to start a side consulting/contracting business. He is doing what I advise everyone in the community to do, and that is if you plan to work into your 70’s, you need to plan that NOW.It will likely not be a full-time job, but a portfolio of work that you can control. My2nd half of life career plan is to work less at something I love. What is your 2nd half of life career plan? Marc Miller Like what you just read? Share it with your friends using the buttons above. Like What You Read? Get Career Pivot Insights! Check out the Repurpose Your Career Podcast Do You Need Help With ...

3 Success Factors for a Fulfilling Career

3 Success Factors for a Fulfilling Career Wouldn’t it be great if you could wave a magic wand and guarantee you’ll have a fulfilling career? While there’s no magic formula, there are factors that can substantially enhance your chances of success. Here are three that I was reminded of recently during my “bucket list” trip to magical Machu Picchu in Peru. Keep Transforming Yourself To have a fulfilling career, you have to keep morphing and transforming yourself because sitting still and staying in your comfort zone is an invitation to fall behind. So, it’s essential to keep learning, growing and developing whether that’s new skills, new angles or new approaches. At a minimum, transforming yourself will keep you from getting bored. And the upside is attracting new opportunities and creating your own path. Keep morphing and transforming yourself because sitting still and staying in your comfort zone is an invitation to fall behind. Take Pablo Seminario for example. He’s a Peruivian ceramic artist who’s at the top of his field. He shared his career journey when we toured his ceramics workshop. He began as an architect but then became an artist, first drawing buildings and landscapes then switching to ceramic sculpture and becoming recognized as a leading figure in contemporary native art. He then shifted his focus from local Peruvian influences to incorporating more of the global, followed by combining the ancient with the modern. His latest transformation is to incorporate different mediums beyond ceramics. Every time he felt he was being pigeon-holed into a particular field, he transformed himself. That’s how he has stayed relevant and fulfilled for so many decades. How about you? Are you “topping out” or feeling restless? What’s the next step in your transformation, and how will you stretch yourself and morph into the next level version of yourself? Create New Experiences They say that there’s nothing new under the sun. Indeed, innovation is often about combining things you already have access to in a different way. Like taking a marketing technique used in one industry (such as the “21-day challenge” often used in the health and fitness sector) and applying it to another (like the “ice bucket challenge” that was so successful for the ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) charity). For Peruvian chef Pío, who runs one of the most successful restaurants in the city of Cusco, a key factor in his fulfilling career is his passion for creating combinations of foods to create truly distinctive meals for his clientele. He combines different ingredients that complement each other, like something crunchy with something smooth or puréed, to create a fusion of aromas, flavors, textures and colors. The result is a memorable (and delicious!) dining experience. From a business and career perspective, this could look like combining aesthetic design with technology as Steve Jobs from Apple did. Or it could be bringing different kinds of people together to improve results. Like bringing in artists and storytellers to a science and technology team. Or forming cross-generational teams who come with different perspectives to produce more innovative results. And it could simply be meeting different kinds of people whether that’s at a dinner party or conference. When you hang out with the same people and do the same things, you’ll get stale. And that won’t make for a fulfilling career! Where could you combine seemingly disparate concepts to create something innovative and that adds greater value? Love What You Do When you love what you do, it’s easy to feel fulfilled. And everyone we met in Peru loved what they did. From chef Pío, who came in on his day off to cook for us, to our tour guide Tomás, who got up at 4:30am every day to take us hiking and touring, to Pablo Seminario, who spent hours creating in his studio, we could feel their love, joy and enthusiasm. None of them thought of it as “work”. Whether you start out doing what you love and make a career out of it, or figure out what you love about the work you’re already doing, once you begin to love what you do, it won’t feel like work… as in “hard work”. Figure out what you love about the work you’re doing, and it won’t feel like work. For years I felt like my chosen career (investment banking) wasn’t making the best use of my talents. I’m not the most technical or quantitative person. I was never that interested in finance or capital markets. I was motivated by pure challenge and this work was hard for me. Every year I was going to quit. This went on for 7-8 years until my husband said, “I’m sick of listening to you complain. Either commit or quit!” That’s when I realized there were things that I uniquely did that made me successful in my job and that I loved doing. It was the people part â€" working with clients (especially the ones that were “tough nuts to crack”), leading my team and winning people over through influence and persuasion. As I leaned into the things I did best and gave myself permission to do things differently than my colleagues did, I began to find more joy. Ultimately, I loved what I did enough to stay for 24 years. What are the things you love to do and how could you find ways to do more of them on a daily basis? Find Fulfillment in Your Career In the end, it’s up to each of us to find fulfillment in our careers. After all, no one else can know what you find fulfilling, and you will always have the greatest incentive to make sure you feel fulfilled. So take a moment to think about where you stand on these three success factors and which one would most help you have a more fulfilling career. How could you keep transforming yourself? How could you create new experiences that add greater value? What would it take for you to love what you do? Then leave me a comment and let me know. Of course, there are other factors too, like embracing fear as your friend, templatizing your work and visualizing the end result. But that’s for another time…

10 critical mistakes to avoid when writing your resume

10 critical mistakes to avoid when writing your resume After talking with so many people, I know many of you work and work to create the perfect resume, only to look it over when you are finished and realize your resume doesn’t say, or reflect, just what you want it to. And often times, that keeps you from being called for interviews. I’ve included a list of “deal breakers” that might hinder your chances for an interview: 1. Mizspelld Words or Bad Grammar While spell-check is good, it doesn’t catch everything â€" there could be a word that’s spelled right, but not the right word for the context of the sentence. Keep that spell-check in action but dont rely on it exclusively. Misspellings can be the death of your application, no matter how qualified you might be. Think of how embarrassing it would be if you have been a mechanical engineer for 30 years and spell it ‘michanical’ engineer on your resume. Lots of times we accidentally misspell words that are actually words themselves i.e. “manger” instead of “manager”. There can be other consequences, as wellâ€"misspelled words could interfere with resumes being found in the key word search of a resume database. So, proofread your resume yourself â€" it’s important. *Be sure to keep tenses consistent and check for the correct word usage (such as counsel versus council). 2. Using a Vague Job Focus Be clear on the type of position you want to target â€" your resume should be geared toward that. If you just say “Medical Field” or “Manufacturing,” the reader does not know what type of position you want, so your resume will probably not be considered. Make sure you are specific as to the type of job you want, such as “Accounting Professional”, “Senior Management Executive”, or “Educator.” 3.   Not Including your Personal Brand, or your Value In today’s challenging job market, showing your uniqueness â€" your personal brand; and letting potential employers see the value you bring to a new position is essential. Your resume must reflect why an employer should pick up the phone and call you for an interview over the hundreds of other resumes sitting on their desk. You ultimately get hired for the value you contribute to a company, so make sure it shows on your resume. 4. Including your References on the Resume YOU NO LONGER NEED TO ADD REFERENCES UPON REQUEST on your résumé. It is a given that you will bring a list of references to the interview. Only provide references when they are asked for. Never include them on your resume. It’s understood that if a company wants your references, you’ll provide them. 5. Adding Pictures to your Resume This might sound like a good idea if you are good looking, but it can also work against you. Unless you are applying for a job as a model or actor, pictures on your résumé is not a good idea. 6. Making Reference to Political or Religious Organizations A GIANT NO-NO!! Dont scare off prospective employers by referring to your political or religious opinions or affiliations that do not directly relate to your ability to do the job. An employer might not agree with your politics or might feel that the workplace is nowhere to display attitudes that might alienate others. 7. Including your Salary Demands This should not be put on the resume â€" it’s only used to screen a candidate out of the running or influence the employer to offer less money. Salary should not be discussed until you have had the opportunity to explain your value â€" in person or over the phone 8. Creating a Resume that’s Too Long People do not have the time to go over resumes that state everything you ever did in your career. Edit your profile down to the most relevant experience for the job at hand. Employers often gauge whether an applicant can deliver information about themselves in a quick, clear and concise manner to sell themselves. Your resume must be long enough to show your value, but not too long, or the reader will lose interest. 9. Using Incompatible File Types and Formats Electronic resumes should be created in the most readable file for most [Internet-recruiting] systems, which is plain text or Microsoft Word. Todays resume needs to be readable by machines, which means text needs to have a font size between 10 â€" 12 and a simple font style, such as Arial, Verdana, Helvetica or Microsoft SansSerif. 10. Stick to the Truth We’ve seen what happen with CEO’s who embellish on their résumés. If you lie on your resume, you will have to defend yourself and your résumé in an interview. Employers also do background and even credit checks, and inaccurate info could come back to haunt you. Plus a few more…! 11. Don’t Put your Reasons for Leaving on the Résumé Save this for the interview. It doesn’t need to be on the résumé. 12. DO NOT Make Changes to the Résumé in Pencil or Pen Add it to the document on your computer, not jotting it down or crossing something else out. This is never acceptable on a résumé. 13. NEVER send a résumé without a cover letter! You must always have a cover letter. It states your intention to the reader. It’s expected and is important in job search etiquette. This is a powerful tool that can give you the competitive edge.

Best Resume Writing Services Online

Best Resume Writing Services OnlineIf you are looking for the best resume writing services available, you have to make sure that you use them appropriately. Your resume can really influence the career prospects of you and your future employer, so you should make sure that you use them to their fullest potential. There are many ways that you can do this, but there are a few things that you can do to ensure that you get the most out of the job application.One of the best resume writing services is one that you can actually find in the online world. With the Internet, there are literally hundreds if not thousands of these types of services out there. These services can be accessed on any of the major search engines such as Google or Yahoo. You can also check with the work that they do.An obvious option is to use an actual service, but a great way to find what you are looking for is to browse through the websites of these services. Some of them are excellent, but you will find that there are some that are not. There are services that take the hassle out of your resume writing process. All you have to do is fill out the forms and send them off to the companies that you are applying for jobs with.These are usually very professional in appearance and come with plenty of advice and tips to help you with your resume. The process is much easier than it ever has been, so it is definitely worth your time to spend some time searching for these services. They are just a few clicks away from you and should give you the information that you need in order to find the best services.There are other options if you prefer a more hands-on approach, but you should always make sure that you know what you are doing. If you are not able to submit your resume to a writing service or agency, then you can always just send them the information that you have, but it won't do you any good. This is because some writing services have specific rules that you will have to follow in order to get a response.That being said, it can be a good idea to follow up with your own resume. That way, you are making sure that it is well written and concise. When you are sure that you understand what is on the resume, you will have a better chance of getting the result that you want. Keep that in mind and make sure that you are following the rules that are set forth by the writing service in order to get the results that you want.When you use the best resume writing services that are available, you will have a well-written resume that can help you in your job hunt. Take your time to find one that will work for you will have a resume that will truly stand out and show your abilities. It won't take much time at all to find a good one and you can do it in the comfort of your own home.

What Your Nightly Routine Should Look Like, According to Science

What Your Nightly Routine Should Look Like, According to Science Wondering when to stop drinking coffee and using screens to avoid messing with your sleep? How frequently you should wash your sheets? Scientists have been looking for answers to these questions too. You can use their answers to guide many of the decisions you make on a nightly basis, from what you drink at night to how often you do laundry. Watch your mid-afternoon caffeine intake. Dina Belenko Photographyâ€"Getty Images The Mayo Clinic advises adults to limit their caffeine intake to 400 mg per day, or the equivalent of about two to three coffees. Caffeine content can differ dramaticallybased on the type of coffee, however. Just 1.5 cups of Starbucks contains 400 mg of caffeine, while you’d need four cups of McDonald’s drip coffee to equal that amount. Like too much of anything, excess caffeine comes with risks, including migraine headaches, irritability, upset stomach, and even muscle tremors â€" so it’s important to know how much you’re getting. On your commute home, don’t agonize over germs. Andrew Lichtensteinâ€"Corbis via Getty Images A team of geneticists made headlines in 2015 for a mission to document all the bacteria on the New York City subway. They turned up nearly 600 different species of microbescrawling around on all those greasy rails. Before whipping out the hand sanitizer and tissues, keep this in mind: Almost all of the germs they found were completely harmless. In fact, there’s evidence to suggest that regular exposure to germs helps keep our immune systems healthy by priming it to more easily recognize dangerous microbes in the future. The idea could partially explain why children who grow up around animals and in rural areas are less likely to develop conditions like asthma than children who don’t. Skip happy hour, or go simply for the food and company. Getty Images/Image Source Alcohol is one of the world’s most widely consumed drugs, but drinking even small amounts â€" as little as one glass of wine or beer a day â€" has been linked with a host of negative side effects, including cancer. In November, the American Society of Clinical Oncology, a group of the nation’s top cancer doctors, released an unprecedented warning in which it told Americans to drink less. “ASCO believes that a proactive stance by the Society to minimize excessive exposure to alcohol has important implications for cancer prevention,” the statement said. So at your next happy-hour event, consider skipping the booze or doing something else. Stay hydrated. Larry Washburnâ€"Getty Images/fStop Staying hydrated is vital. Our bodies are 60% water, and not getting enough can lead to headaches, fatigue, and even overeating. Still, contrary to popular opinion, you don’t necessarily need to drink eight glasses of water a day. Instead, your daily hydration requirementcan change based on several factors, from how much you worked out that day to the weather outside. Certain foods are also a good water source, so eating more of them may mean you need to drink less. Cauliflower, eggplant, peppers, and spinach are all 92% water. Carrots, green peas, and even white potatoes are more than 79%. Take breaks from screens to avoid eye strain. Getty Images Many of us go from starting at computers to staring at our phones, and as a result our eyes are often dry, itchy, blurry, or irritated. Ophthalmologists call this condition “digital eyestrain.” To avoid it, make sure you’re drinking (and blinking) enough and avoid reading your phone under the glare of a lamp. You can also practice what’s known as the 20-20-20 rule. Every 20 minutes, look at something at least 20 feet away for 20 seconds. This will allow your eyes to rest, Rahul Khurana, the clinical spokesman for the American Academy of Ophthalmologists told my colleague Kevin Loria. If you go out for dinner, plan on taking up to a third of it home. John Kuczalaâ€"Getty Images The baseline portion sizes of our snacks and meals have ballooned over the past 40 years â€" even the plates and cups we serve them onhave gotten noticeably bigger. The average size of many of our foods â€" whether fast food, sit-down meals, or even items from the grocery store â€" has grown by as much as 138% since the 1970s, according to data from the American Journal of Public Health, the Journal of Nutrition, and the Journal of the American Medical Association. So be mindful of portion sizes, and if you’re eating out, consider taking anywhere from a third to half of it to go. Put away screens for at least 30 minutes before bedtime. Getty Images The blue light that illuminates our screens also tamps down on the production of melatonin, a key hormone our brains use to tell our bodies to start preparing for sleep. That’s something you don’t want to be doing at night, especially right when you’re heading to bed. Experts recommend at least 30 minutes of no-screen time before bedtime. Before you tuck in for the night, make sure your sheets are clean. Getty Images/Image Source Our beds can blossom into a “botanical park” of bacteria and fungus in as little as a week, New York University microbiologist Philip Tierno told Business Insider. The combination of sweat, animal dander, pollen, soil, lint, dust-mite debris, and plenty of other things is enough to make anyone sick, let alone someone with allergies. So clean your sheets at least once every seven days. This article originally appeared on BusinessInsider.com.

5 Things You Should Know About Job References - Work It Daily

5 Things You Should Know About Job References - Work It Daily I recently worked with a member of our CareerHMO.com program for four months as she looked for a job in a new city. She finally landed her dream job â€" so imagine her surprise when her new boss eventually told her one of her references were very critical of her. When she asked which one, she was floored. She thought this particular person would be her BEST reference, not her WORST. It then got her thinking... she had used this reference for several jobs she had interviewed for and not gotten. Could this reference have caused her to lose out on all those jobs? FACT: You need to choose and work with references very carefully â€" or risk losing the job offer! Watch my webinar (below) and I’ll share with you the right way to secure and use references. How you work with references can literally impact whether you get the job offer. Everyone needs references, now more than ever. Watch this video so you don’t ruin your chances of getting a job by failing to learn the secrets to getting your references to work for you. Things You Should Know About Job References Photo Credit: Shutterstock Have you joined our career growth club?Join Us Today!

22 Mom Blogs That Will Inspire The Heck Out Of You

22 Mom Blogs That Will Inspire The Heck Out Of You Motherbeibeihood can sometimes feel isolating, especially if you dont have amom tribeto turn to. It could be easy to fall into the trap of thinking youre alone, because youfeelalone, particularly if youve decided to take a break from your career and are now finding that your daily social sphere is pretty devoid of other adults.Fortunately, there are plenty of resources for any mom with an internet connection out there. Were talking aboutbaby blogsand mom blogs, which aim to connect with you by being relevant and truthful. Many times, mom bloggers erreichbar will wind up becoming friends IRL, and through these blogs a new community is formed. And even if you dont feel alone, following the work of a mommy blogger can still benefit you by providing helpful and entertaining reads. What have you got to lose?22 Best Mom BlogsInterested in mom-blogging yourself, or simply looking for more relatable material to add to your bookmarks list? Ch eck out these 22 amazing parenting blogs for inspiration and some laughs.1. MotherlyFeaturing real-life accounts from moms, this site is comprised of pieces that are educational and also super relatable. Some of my favorites include While you were sleeping I watched you transform into a toddler and A letter to my daughter about why I went back to work.2. BabbleThis popular site is powered by none other than Disney. It features articles by contributing authors about a range of family topics, including pregnancy, parenting, entertainment, and recipes.3. mom.meA site designed by moms for mom, its a place for you as a mom, and you as a woman, too, featuring articles by parents who have kids in different life stages.4. Baby Boy BakeryI first discovered Jacquis blog right after the tragic passing of her son, Ryan, to whom the blog is now dedicated. She writes about coping with his loss life and love with her husband and daughter and her kid-friendly recipes.5. Scary MommyThis parenting si te is a self-described vibrant community of millions of parents, brought together by a common theme Parenting doesnt have to be perfect. Expect to find some comedic gems on here6. MomasteryThis blog authored by addition survivor, mom of three, and inspirational speaker Glennon Doyle Melton is as motivational as it is touching. If youre in need of some pick-me-up perspective, this is where youll find it. Melton is seen as a queen of the mommy blogger world, and her bestselling memoir was an Oprahs Book Club read.7. Lucies ListBilled as a survival guide for new moms, the site is a veritable encyclopedia of first-time mommy knowledge and tips, including deets on pregnancy, baby product reviews, and more.8. Pregnant ChickenAs the title would perhaps indicate, this blog has a humorous twist to it. If youre in the mood for lighter reading material that is still informational and relatable, look no further. You can enjoy many, many categories of content here, like Asshattery, Scary Shit Series, and a tried-and-true mom favorite, Is It panzerschrank?9. Moments of MusingShameless plug this ones my blog Its a collection of my musings as a wife, mom and more. Its my hope that through connection and collaboration, this space will help to foster the empowerment of women and moms.10. Romy The BunniesNamed after the founders daughter, this blog is great for sartorially inclined readers. Expect lots of cute style spreads, interviews with moms in the fashion industry, and throwback photos of chic celebrity moms, like Audrey Hepburn, with their children.11. Rip + TanThe fashion designer Jenni Kayne created this blog, named after daughter Ripley and son Tanner, to chronicle the day-to-day goings on of her familys California lifestyle. And the whole clan (including their dogs, Chachi and The Dude) is undeniable uber cool.12. A Cup of JoFounded by former magazine editor and current journalist and mom Joanna Goddard, this ones both aesthetically and intellectually engaging. Be sure to check out her motherhood around the world series, which delves into the parenting practices of other countries and is especially interesting from a global womens rights perspective.13. Nesting StoryAre you a mom to twins? Youll definitely want to head over toJoanna Vendittis blog. The mom of four is known for telling it to readers like it is including in apost-pregnancy body confidence blog postthat went viral. From comparing and contrasting her cesarean and vaginal deliveries, to trying out fun play-date ideas, she shares it all.14. Free-Range KidsThis blog should be required reading for helicopter parents. Lenore Skenazy started her blog in 2008 as a resource for worrywart rents to help them raise safe, self-reliant children (without going nuts with worry). Thanks to its increasingly relevant subject matter, Skenazys blog have since been featured on The Daily Show and The View, as well as in The New York Times and The New Yorker.15. Rockin MamaBilled as a lifestyle resour ce for the modern mom,Caryn Bailey has been blogging about parenting, recipes, travel, and creative activities to try with your kids since 07. Baileys blog is truly just a lot of fun, and youll definitely walk away with a few ideas you want to try out with your family.16. Tech Savvy MamaThis is a great resource for any mom whos worried about the impact technology has on their childrens life. Leticia Barrs popular blog does include a lot of sponsored content, but if youre willing to sift through that, youll find genuine product reviews, social media know-how, and lots of tips for best screentime practices in your family.17. Y TravelAustralian couple Caz and Craig Makepeace (really, those are their names) co-created this blog to share their passion for traveling and their deep belief that adventure-seeking doesnt have to end when you have kids. The Makespeaces travel with their two homeschooled daughters all over the world, and their inspiring blog and Instagram feed will give you se rious FOMO (or ideas for your next vacation).18. Love TazaNaomi, also know as Taza, shares adventures from her life with her husband and three kids in New York City. The blog tackles topics such as motherhood, family life, travel, food, and lifes simple joys.19. Redefining MomMom-entrepreneurs should check out this blog for resources on building their own businesses. Monica, who started the blog as a way to connect with other women who were struggling with their work-life balance, offer advice on both blogging and motherhood and shares her personal work and family experiences.20. Family Focus BlogCreate byNashville mom, Scarlet Paolicchi, this blog is a resource for families, parenting, family activities, meals, travel, and home decor. Scarlet shares recipes, craft ideas, and activities to do with the kids, as well as tips for cultivating your personal health and lifestyle.21. Mom Blog SocietyFeaturing opinions of women and men from around the world, Mom Blog Society collects honest reviews of products and services and articles to support parents.22. Soule MamaMother of fiveAmanda Blake Soule writes about her family life living in an old farmhouse in Western Maine, where she and her family raise animals, grow vegetables, and make lots of things.--Jackie is the owner of her blog Moments of Musing, where she writes about her life as a wife, mom, and more living in New York City. She works with survivors of intimate partner violence.