With his smart, holistic approach, Walter Akana supports mid-career professionals in making conscious plans that enable them to take control of their careers and lives. Enthusiastic and forward-thinking, Walter brings his passion for self direction and personal responsibility to his life and his work. He currently works with clients who want more satisfaction and meaning in their careers and lives.

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	Be Yourself, Only Better by Walter Akana - Sep, 2011 Recently, I posted to Instagram a photo of myself at the gym. I was wearing a Mizuno T-shirt emblazoned with Japanese characters, and the phrase, “Be Yourself, Only Better." Later that day, a Japanese Instagram friend posted the simple comment, “Me too” – along with the same Japanese chara...
	Mid-Year Check Up: The Full 360 by Walter Akana - Jul, 2011 Okay, I can almost hear what you’re thinking: “Washington is making massive job-killing mistakes, employers are either getting by with less or unwilling to expand, and besides it’s summer. So, what can I possibly do to move my job search forward?” Frankly, if you’ve honestly been taking r...
	Make Your Career More Social: Show Up and Engage by Walter Akana - Jun, 2011 It often seems to me that many people in the career transition space continue to party like it’s 1999. That was the year when we were all concerned about defending life-as-we-knew-it from the looming Y2K Bug. Had disaster struck, it would have included a setback for job seekers who were ju...
	Brand Story in a Social Media World by Walter Akana - Jun, 2011 At the invitation of Sarah Behunek, Director of Alumni Relations, I had the privilege of doing a video shoot, with Tonya Riggs Clement, for the University of Colorado Leeds Business School. In case you don't know who she is, Tonya is one of the Everest Peace Climbers. In fact, she’s th...
	Succeeding in a “Final Jeopardy!” World by Walter Akana - Jun, 2011 Yes, I’ll admit it. Upon seeing this month’s topic, my first association was Jeopardy! Perhaps it was the listing of categories in search of answers, but in a flash, I was thinking, “l’ll take re-tooling for 100, Alex.” And in my rapid free association, the answer “commodities” came to mi...
	When it’s Time to Recycle Your Career by Walter Akana - Jun, 2011 When I think about how people make career choices, I often recall the scene from the classic movie, The Graduate. In it, a well-meaning family friend, Mr. McGuire, corners young Benjamin resulting in the following exchange: Mr. McGuire: I want to say one word to you. Just one word. Be...
	Conversations Without A Net by Walter Akana - Nov, 2008 Messaging is critical to personal branding and career success. Yet, in the early stages of developing and using clear and consistent messages, it’s all too easy to rely on scripted talking points the way a trapeze artist relies on a net. However, as life coach Gail Blanke points out in the...
	Increase Your Karmic Footprint by Walter Akana - Nov, 2008 With the call for a green revolution, it seems more people are paying attention to reducing the size of their carbon footprint in order to create a better environment. While protecting the physical health of our planet is important, it occurs to me that we can make the world a better place...
	Showing Up: Gaining Visibility with Social Networking by Walter Akana - Nov, 2008 As Woody Allen once said, “Eighty percent of success is showing up.” This is certainly no less true today – especially on line. As personal branding and online identity strategists, I and many of my colleagues recognize this, and can point you toward several useful strategies for increasin...
	Your Brand in the World of Digital Intimacy by Walter Akana - Nov, 2008 At a recent personal branding seminar, I identified Twitter as one of my favorite brands. This drew blank stares from people who had not heard of it. On the other hand, it drew good natured but relentless ribbing from those who had; so, I endured their suggestions to tweet my lunch menu an...
	Your Passport to Success by Walter Akana - Nov, 2008 Perhaps no skill set is more critical to managing your career and your personal brand than networking. It is indeed your passport to success! Yet, in my experience, I’ve noticed that networking is something too many people get wrong: whether it’s by being fearful and getting tripped up whe...
	Career Advice – From the Dating Section by Walter Akana - Mar, 2008 Being an avid Men’s Health reader, I’ve nearly devoured my January/February issue with advice for making 2008 a great year. I admit to being a little disappointed with the career section. It offered good advice on ways to improve your job today, how to double your salary in two years, and ...
	Not Just Another Commodity by Walter Akana - Mar, 2008 This morning, as I was making myself a cup of tea, it occurred to me that the experience is way better than any of the supermarket brands of my youth. Tazo tea is a brand that not only embodies quality but is packaged in a way that exudes it! It then occurred to me that career success ...
	Personal Branding and the Sustainable Career by Walter Akana - Mar, 2008 Recently, I've been working with outplacement clients who want to pursue sustainable careers; that is, to work in socially or environmentally responsible companies performing activities that make a difference in the world. I think this is laudable and hope they are able to find their ideal...
	Blended Living in an by Walter Akana - Nov, 2007 In their book, Career Distinction: Stand Out By Building Your Brand, William Arruda and Kirsten Dixon make the point that the lines between work and personal life are blurring; they say: “The BlackBerry, ubiquitous Wi-Fi, and mobile phones have created a ‘work anytime, anywhere’ world....
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