Learn How to Ladder Climb In The Career Jungle in Stilettos!

ATTENTION WOMEN AND FEMALE IMPERSONATORS! According to the 2003 book, Women Don't Ask , by Linda Babcock and Sara Laschever, you stand to lose more than $500,000 by age 60 if you don't negotiate when first presented with a salary by a hiring employer. What's most disturbing: Men are more than four times as likely as women to negotiate a starting salary. Whether it's due to our parents telling us that we're lucky to have jobs, or because we're scared of rocking the boat when we first arrive, it's difficult to make demands of a new employer.But come to this much needed seminar and you can learn how to boost your monetary future...Yes, on FEB. 28TH, from 7:00-9:30 p.m. at The Studio Theatre at Theatre Row 410 West 42nd St. (between 9th & 10th Aves.) you will quickly see that negotiating is a skill that can be developed like any other. Offering clear tips and advice on how to ask for more will be a panel of professional life coaches (um...yes...including your notsalmon.com hostess, Karen Salmansohn), as well as financial advisors, and other speakers to tell women how to take control of their finances and careers and stop the cycles that, left unchecked, could hold us back. Speakers include: Karen Salmansohn, life coach; best-selling author of Enough Dammit: A Cynic's Guide to Finally Getting What You Want out of Life; columnist, "One-Minute Career Therapist," AM New York; Adena Berkman Conway, career counselor; principal partner in BerkmanFives: Career Development for Women;Galia Gichon, independent financial consultant and author of Financial Lessons Every Woman Needs to Know; founder, Down-to-Earth Finance...WHEN Monday, February 28, 7:00-9:30 p.m. WHERE The Studio Theatre at Theatre Row 410 West 42nd St. (between 9th & 10th Aves.) price:$19.00 or $15.00 Avant Guild members, cocktails/discussion/networking at nearby bar afterwards. For more info 212-714-2442!

CAREER TIP: Laugh your way to the bank.

I've often said that comedy is when bad things happen to anyone who is not me. And believe it or not…that’s a Buddhist thought...because "anyone who is not me" = "the ability to separate one's ego from the situation and see outside yourself to how funny life can be." As Neitzche said: "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, gives you good screenplay material and/or a funny anecdote to share with friends over margaritas." Or at least Neitzche said something like that. Anyway: MY POINT.... Don't forget to enjoy the process of growing your career. IT'S NOT THE FEAT. IT'S THE EMOTION! It's not he who dies with the most toys who wins, but he who has the most fun playing with his toys who wins. Personally I believe the sign that someone is leading a truly successful life can be measured by how often they laugh within their day. And here's the double punchline to all this: Money doesn't bring you happiness...but happiness can bring you money. The happier you are, the less stressful you'll be -- and thereby the more successful you'll be. So laugh, dammit, laugh!

THE SECRET TO A HAPPIER CAREER -- IF YOU LIVE IN NY:

READ ALL ABOUT IT! I am now the career columnist for AM-NY newspaper -- starting today -- so if you live in NY read my new career column -- ON PAGE 23 -- on every monday morning -- to get your work week off to a perkier start!