<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[The Swan Project]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Swan Project]]></description><link>https://www.theswanchapter.com/blog</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Tue, 14 Apr 2026 01:36:21 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.theswanchapter.com/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[7. Who Are You?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Once you have your story back, and some of your visibility (thank you linkedIn), the next question is not just whether you do this alone or get help. It is more foundational than that. Who are you? That is a big question for any woman. But it hits differently in your 50s, especially after a job loss, a layoff, or a season that forces you to stop and rethink everything. If you are reading this, chances are you have been quietly asking yourself that question lately. And you may not have had the...]]></description><link>https://www.theswanchapter.com/post/whoyouare</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69c53c6f3e56773b3bf25e94</guid><pubDate>Thu, 26 Mar 2026 14:06:29 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/685146_39b21d9a230e4144b14752357fc283dc~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>mcdesjardins95</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[6. LinkedIn: The Necessary Evil (and how to nail it — what I wish I'd done sooner)]]></title><description><![CDATA[One of the main reasons All the Cool Girls Get Fired hit a nerve with me is because its key message is so empowering — and honestly, liberating. The authors basically hand your power back to you. They tell us to own our narrative. To take back the control we momentarily (emphasis on momentarily) lost when someone else made a decision for us. “Own your firing” is a sentence they use a lot, and it’s refreshing — because it doesn’t ask you to hide. It asks you to stand in the truth. And they put...]]></description><link>https://www.theswanchapter.com/post/6-linkedin-the-necessary-evil-and-how-to-nail-it-what-i-wish-i-d-done-sooner</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69c53bbe5ed83abd8bbbde2c</guid><pubDate>Thu, 26 Mar 2026 14:02:13 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/685146_924c2740a6234cd6a3debdc5c2e97279~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>mcdesjardins95</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Becoming You by Suzy Welch]]></title><description><![CDATA[If you’ve been thinking: “I know I need a career reset, but I do not know what actually fits me next.” Why it’s worth your time: It gives you a more useful question than “What is my passion?” and pushes you to go deeper on your values, aptitudes, and interests that can realistically translate into work. It helps you separate what matters to you from what you were taught to want, especially after years of performing, achieving, and adapting. It brings structure to a messy season by helping you...]]></description><link>https://www.theswanchapter.com/post/becoming-you-by-suzy-welch</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6998a37af63bd550f09f8463</guid><pubDate>Fri, 20 Feb 2026 18:10:37 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/685146_2a0656a44d41448d9d7e43547f9a85de~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_993,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>mcdesjardins95</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Inside B-School: A Review in Progress]]></title><description><![CDATA[A clearer look at what’s inside and who it’s really for. B-School is one of the most well-known online business programs for a reason. It is designed to help you build a business you love by strengthening the foundations that matter most: your offer, your messaging, your marketing, your sales, and your ability to grow in a way that feels both smart and sustainable. One of the biggest ideas in the program is getting clear on your ICA  — your Ideal Customer Avatar — because when you know...]]></description><link>https://www.theswanchapter.com/post/b-school-by-marie-forleo</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6998a3411d8cdde544491d45</guid><pubDate>Fri, 20 Feb 2026 18:09:35 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/685146_71b3168508dd4b3697aefed4ec3a8768~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_568,h_630,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>mcdesjardins95</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[5. Career Truths From High-Profile Women Who Have Been Fired]]></title><description><![CDATA[In  Part 4.1 of Inside the Cool Girls Club ,  we sat with the first four truths from the women in All the Cool Girls Get Fired : It is not all about you, but you still need to look in the mirror. Loss begets growth, if you give yourself time to grieve. This is your moment to be a lifelong learner, not a panic applicant. “What went wrong?” is a better question than “What did I do wrong?” That was about understanding what really happened. In this part, we move to a different question: If this...]]></description><link>https://www.theswanchapter.com/post/part-5-inside-the-cool-girls-club-career-truths-from-high-profile-women-who-have-been-fired</link><guid isPermaLink="false">698b801f0a33f86ef415c574</guid><pubDate>Tue, 10 Feb 2026 19:02:35 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/685146_ca0bd0737e1a4796b80e77eaa2413e97~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>mcdesjardins95</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[4. Inside the Cool Girls Club]]></title><description><![CDATA[By now, you have the lay of the land. Part 1: I got let go. Now what. Part 2: Three truths — you are not alone, you are not done, and you will not only feel better, but you will also be better. Part 3: Oxygen mask first, with your severance and legal basics. This one is different. This time, we are listening in on some of the high-profile women in All the Cool Girls Get Fired  and asking a simpler question: How does my story shift if I let their experience shape it? A quick note: in this...]]></description><link>https://www.theswanchapter.com/post/part-4-inside-the-cool-girls-club-career-truths-from-high-profile-women-who-have-been-there-a-k-a</link><guid isPermaLink="false">698b7e4b0a33f86ef415c128</guid><pubDate>Tue, 10 Feb 2026 18:57:11 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/685146_35c361bd2d164d10a8451d93afdee700~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>mcdesjardins95</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[3. The Cool Girl’s Guide to Severance]]></title><description><![CDATA[If there is one blog to read in the first days after getting let go, it is this one. Part 1  and 2   were more about the emotional side: you are not alone, you are not done, and you will BE better. This one is about something more technical but oh-so-important: your severance package and the basic legal steps that protect you. Think of this as putting on your own oxygen mask first. I am not a lawyer, HR expert, or financial advisor. I am a woman in her 50s who got let go and is now building...]]></description><link>https://www.theswanchapter.com/post/part-3-the-cool-girl-s-guide-to-severance</link><guid isPermaLink="false">698b7ce5d471d728ee6c6341</guid><pubDate>Tue, 10 Feb 2026 18:48:15 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/685146_a43fbc302d2a40bbac818a3b6edc8d21~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>mcdesjardins95</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[2. What This Book Is Really About]]></title><description><![CDATA[In  Part 1 All The Cool Girls Get Fired: Start Here , I shared why I am starting The Swan Chapter with the All the Cool Girls Get Fired  blog series. This post is about what the book actually does, and the three truths you need to hear as a 50+ woman who got laid off. What This Book Actually Does (and Doesn’t) Even though All the Cool Girls Get Fired  is not a step-by-step formula for landing your next dream job, it is full of very practical action steps: legal, financial, healthcare, mental...]]></description><link>https://www.theswanchapter.com/post/what-this-book-is-really-about</link><guid isPermaLink="false">698b7b023faa9e439bef0b64</guid><pubDate>Tue, 10 Feb 2026 18:40:07 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/685146_145afcc8b77a4800ac202fdd5b3c25b8~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>mcdesjardins95</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[1. Start Here: All The Cool Girls Get Fired]]></title><description><![CDATA[If you’re here, you probably didn’t just “decide to make a change.” You were laid off. You were restructured. You were invited to “explore other opportunities.” You were performing and giving it your 200%. And then, one day, you weren’t needed anymore. Same. I’m a 50+ former media executive whose career ended quickly and not on my terms. One calendar invite, one short meeting, and suddenly the role I had poured myself into and the identity that came with it were gone. The Swan Chapter is...]]></description><link>https://www.theswanchapter.com/post/part-1-all-the-cool-girls</link><guid isPermaLink="false">698b77513faa9e439bef024b</guid><pubDate>Tue, 10 Feb 2026 18:23:04 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/685146_c2a1ffc8319c4e15a2a325338a8bd19c~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>mcdesjardins95</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Built On Five Comforts]]></title><description><![CDATA[Your Cozy Corner Office is built on five comforts: softness, pulled-together ease, a mood-setting scent, a perfectly kept drink (warm or cold), and support you can feel — body and soul. My filter Home energy only: warm, lived-in, inviting Quality you can feel: materials that last Quiet beauty: no loud logos, no trend-chasing Fewer, better: everything earns its place Some links may be affiliate links at no extra cost to you. I only recommend what I genuinely use, love, gift on repeat, or would...]]></description><link>https://www.theswanchapter.com/post/built-on-five-comforts</link><guid isPermaLink="false">698b54f3e2bc92e835dd77e1</guid><pubDate>Tue, 10 Feb 2026 16:01:31 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/685146_3eb8635934a6443fb99cc6d5332b88be~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>mcdesjardins95</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Is your boss ghosting you?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Listen:  Becoming You — “Career Confidential: The Secret Life of A Boss About to Fire You” (with Susie Welch + Dustin Lou) If you’ve been thinking: “The vibes are off… am I imagining it?” “If I’m at risk, what do I do before it happens?” “If it already happened, how do I recover without spiralling?” Why it’s worth your time: The 5 pre-fire signals  (dead-person-walking energy, documentation, workload shrinking, surprise assessments, “I’m untouchable” arrogance). A prevention playbook  that’s...]]></description><link>https://www.theswanchapter.com/post/is-your-boss-ghosting-you</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6984d1f3840b9b8e1d2c8271</guid><pubDate>Thu, 05 Feb 2026 17:25:04 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/685146_66ec116767ac401399afd2407989d8c8~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>mcdesjardins95</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Fit or Quit: Diagnose the real problem before you make a big career-reset move.]]></title><description><![CDATA[Listen: Think Fast, Talk Smart — “Fit or Quit: Find the Job That Is Right for You” (with Catherine Fisher) (Catalyze Your Career mini-series with LinkedIn) If you’ve been thinking:  “Something feels off. But is it my job, my manager, my motivation… or is it time for a real career reset?” Why it’s worth your time (3): Spot the early signals (before you panic-apply or quit): motivation drops, curiosity fades, and little things start feeling huge. Use job descriptions as a roadmap: pick a role...]]></description><link>https://www.theswanchapter.com/post/fit-or-quit-diagnose-the-real-problem-before-you-make-a-big-career-reset-move</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6984d0c8e14322a9a90f1697</guid><pubDate>Thu, 05 Feb 2026 17:20:44 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/685146_a81ffaad01674335addd3f6bb70aa671~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_293,h_172,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>mcdesjardins95</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Career reset? This is the wake up call episode you need to listen to]]></title><description><![CDATA[Listen:  The Mel Robbins Podcast — “Hate Your Job? Burnt Out? Laid Off? Reimagine Your Future &#38; Take the Next Right Step” (with Amy Porterfield) If you’ve been thinking:  “This job is not working for me anymore. Is it too late for me to change direction?” Why it’s worth your time (3 bullets): How to spot a “starter idea” using what you’re already good at (and where you’ve already gotten results) How to use “jealousy” as a clue for what you actually want next. What do you want your life to...]]></description><link>https://www.theswanchapter.com/post/career-reset-this-is-the-wake-up-call-episode-you-need-to-listen-to</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6984cebd0b2d097f708e144e</guid><pubDate>Thu, 05 Feb 2026 17:11:47 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/685146_74fdf15d1dc045479d73d8eb9f2cc9c6~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_872,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>mcdesjardins95</dc:creator></item></channel></rss>