Most of us have fears: fear of water, fear of the dark, fear of flying. We know these fears can hold us back from enjoying life and accomplishing great things. We also know we're actually safer when we relax and let go.

As a copywriter, I find many business owners suffer from fear of selling themselves. They read the copy. They realize they sound great.

Clients considering a midlife career change often call with the question, "Should I go back to school for another degree? So I wasn't surprised to find an article in a major business journal, featuring a Q&A around the question, "Should I get an Executive MBA after 50?"

Frankly, I wonder why the question even comes up. The real question is, "How will I benefit from a new educational credential? And how can I steer clear of embarrassing headlines, like 'Top Executive Reveals Degree from Diploma Mill?'"

(1) Instead of asking "Am I too old," ask, "What do I need now.

The secret of growing your internet business: Create a website that's more than a calling card. Use your website to create a list of qualified subscribers who agree to accept your email messages. Ideally, build trust by sending them messages regularly, typically through an ezine or podcast.

But as a new internet business, you might have just 5 names.

Service professionals create websites to attract clients. They want more than an Internet presence: they want Internet profits.

Your website will become a productive, profit-generating resource when you attract ideal clients who are right for you - those who contribute to your business growth. So your website needs to target those ideal clients and begin to establish a connection with them.

Career planning is hot. Career mistakes are cold. But almost everybody does something really, really dumb at least once in a working lifetime.

If you're unlucky, your mistake gets into the news. Recently I read a story about a flight attendant who was fired for posting photos of her uniformed self, striking candid poses on an empty airliner, in her blog.

City dog -- an oxymoron? I used to think so. Then I moved to a city with a dog.

I was surprised to learn that city dogs live very comfortably in small apartments (and so do their owners). City dogs introduce you to your neighbors and force you to get out and explore your neighborhood.

After living with dogs in apartments and talking to dozens of owners in my urban dog parks, I have come up with the following 5 reality checks.

Does this scenario sound familiar?

You've been working on a big project for a long time. Maybe you are writing a book or develop a major marketing campaign. You try to move ahead every day, but sometimes you just stop. Even a small task seems overwhelming. And when you take a day off, you feel guilty.

What's going on?

The Time Tyrants have taken over your schedule (and maybe your life).

Creative people tend to keep several projects going at once. But too many clients tell me, "I have a lot of half-finished works in progress. I'm pulled in three or four different directions.

"So I work hard," they continue. "And I end up with nothing to show for my efforts."

So how do you go from creative idea to tangible creation? Here are 10 tips to get started.

You've just received an email from a local business networking group. They want you to give a talk next month.

Your first thought: "A great way to attract clients for my professional service."

But your next thought: "How can I make this work?" Speaking engagements can be more powerful than simply attending a networking meeting.

If you're a career-changing Baby Boomer, you may feel like you've gotten lost with Dorothy in Oz. You've achieved success in your career. You've built skills and a strong work ethic. And now you're ready to move on...and it's not working.

Many of my own clients tell me, "I haven't had to look for a job for 20 years."

Twenty years ago, you probably didn't have a cell phone or an email account.