Get Ahead: Be a Brazen Careerist, Make Caribbean Ties, Plan A Short(er) Vacation

Published: Jun 18, 2007

MEET Penelope Trunk

Get Ahead hasn't yet seen Penelope Trunk's acclaimed new book, "Brazen Careerist," but we're quickly becoming fans of her sharp and insightful Web site, also called Brazen Careerist.

It's all about maintaining a healthy balance between work and life and, unlike other material we've seen on the same subject, actually seems to be written by someone who has had some experience being overworked and exhausted.

Meet Trunk at 6 tonight at Inkwood Books, 216 S. Armenia Ave., Tampa. She'll discuss how to succeed at work on your own terms. And, if you would like to buy a copy of "Brazen Careerist," we're sure she'd love to sign it for you.

Can't make it to Inkwood? Check Trunk's blog at blog.penelopetrunk.com.

SAIL your business into the Caribbean

When the Get Ahead crew heard about business opportunities in the Caribbean, our minds turned immediately to thoughts of Jolly Rogers, treasure chests and bottles of rum.

You can't blame us, though. We heard about the upcoming inbound Caribbean trade mission while we were still scraping the Milk Duds out of our teeth from that new pirate movie.

On Wednesday, June 27, representatives from 21 Caribbean companies will be here in Tampa looking for trading partners.

Go to tinyurl.com/36nunt to see a list of Caribbean companies involved in the trade mission. One-on-one meetings are free; the mission luncheon costs $20. The event starts at 10 a.m. at the DoubleTree hotel on Rocky Point Drive in Tampa.

BREAK away (but not for long)

We're still big. It's the vacations that got small.

American workers appear to be taking more three- and four-day getaways, packaging their vacation time around weekends, instead of taking a traditional once-a-year, two-week-long holiday, according to the results of a recent survey by Chicago outplacement firm Chicago Gray & Christmas.

People are opting for shorter vacations because of high gas prices, fears over job security and more hectic family schedules, CEO John A. Challenger said.

Dave Simanoff

SHARE your thoughts

What's your strategy for dealing with work when you're on vacation? Do you unplug completely, or do you bring along your BlackBerry and laptop? Join the discussion in the Business & Finance group at TBOforums.com.