If you work long enough, something along the way will probably happen to you. You will work with a co-worker who drives you crazy, a boss that doesn't get you, or an employee that keeps you up at night.

It's all a part of the working world.

At other times, things will happen to you that will throw you for a loop. Your job is eliminated. You are fired without reason. Your industry goes away. This is when it's important to take stock in who are you, what you want out of life, and where you want to go next.

So, how do you get yourself back on track; find your passion and purpose again, and reinvent the next phase of your career? You soul-search and ask lots of questions.

Businesses make hundreds or thousands of decisions every year, many of which seem inconsequential. But the smallest details can have business-changing or even business-ending consequences. Here are 11 of my favorites to watch out for:

1. The lowly extension cord. People get cold feet. They get a space heater. They plug it into a two-pronged extension cord. They forget to unplug it when they leave work. That night, while you are sleeping, your entire business burns down. Your brilliant marketing plan, your three-year projections, all of your records, your new product samples … . You get the idea. This is not something that most business owners think about, but insurance companies know that extension cords and space heaters are major fire hazards. It is good practice not to allow any extension cords in your business that aren’t three-pronged.

Education. Nursing. Business. Telecommunications. IT. What do these fields have in common? For starters, once you get your foot in the door, you've got a great shot at getting your employer to pay for advanced studies, which will ultimately lead to a bigger paycheck.

Just ask Maria Sanchez of Miami. While Sanchez was working as a bilingual customer service representative for T-Mobile USA, the company paid for the remaining tuition credits necessary to earn her bachelor's degree in communication with a minor in marketing from Florida International University in Miami. T-Mobile even granted her two months unpaid time off (complete with health benefits) last year so she could participate in a summer abroad program in Germany focused on marketing.

"My degree has opened doors for great opportunities," Sanchez says. "I was able to get additional responsibilities as I advanced with my curriculum's courses. In addition to the outstanding training in customer service I received at T-Mobile, this leadership experience allowed me a smooth transition into the communications field."

The time comes for everyone where their job isn't what it used to be (or perhaps it never was!). So you have to leave. Some people don't understand that being unhappy in a job is more important than your income at the time. You just have to do it.

So what's the best way to go about it? How can you minimise the impact on both your career and your soon-to-be ex-employer?

Tie up loose ends!

You weren't thinking about just walking out were you?

It's a move a lot of people make and can be a big mistake. It could be argued that there are a lot of issues in the workplace that could mean just getting up and walking out would save a lot of hassle, but it could also be argued that you should at least try to resolve these issues first.

If you have outstanding work, then try to get it finished. If other departments are relying on you to do their jobs, then it is only professional courtesy to not let them down. How would you feel if you couldn't hit the deadline because someone just up and left?

Everything is going well. You arrived on time, you're making excellent eye contact and you're acing every question that's being thrown at you. You've got this job in the bag, until you hear the interviewer utter, “What’s your biggest weakness?” You know you shouldn't answer too quickly, so you take your time and then suddenly realize you're not sure how to answer. You may be tempted to blurt out, “I have no weaknesses,” and hope to illustrate your confidence in your abilities, but we all know (and your soon-to-be boss will too) that's a lie. Since you can't opt for a pass as you would in a game show, here are five strong techniques to answer the popular interview question, "What's your biggest weakness?"

"I tend to talk too much."

Certainly, this answer is not to give the impression that you prefer to spend half of your day in idle chitchat with your coworkers. Illustrate how, in a world of e-mailing, being able to effectively communicate in person is a huge plus. Additionally, this can flow over into being able to get on the phone and talk with prospective partners or clients -- a skill that employees lack more and more in business today. In group activities, note how your verbal communication skills allow you to quickly convey the message and encourage discussion. In some cases, you may be classified as being too talkative and state that you are aware of that, but this approach gives you confidence that the message is being delivered appropriately. Of course, use this answer in the correct setting. For example, it likely applies more to a communications or sales position than to a number-crunching job.

The accepted aesthetic of the modern office have unfolded and changed through the generations as dramatically as the typewriter’s evolution into the desktop PC. Few employers continue to force draconian, sterile environments upon their people; they now encourage flexibility, comfort and personal expression at work -- a concession that’s best proved by the personalization of your desk.

Now, that’s all very well -- thank goodness our days are no longer spent staring at Bartleby’s “dead-wall” -- but while corporate policy may have changed, human nature has not. This means that what your desk says about you will serve as the basis for what others will think about you.

You see, your desk is where your boss hovers over your shoulder, where clients will wait for your return and where your peers will judge you as they leave the office for lunch. As the rookie in the office, you may want to carefully consider what your desk says about you, but that’s not to say that the oldest veteran is free to express his inner salsa dancer. The calculated management of your workspace and the careful consideration of what your desk says about you are imperative if you seek to impress.

We've compiled some suggestions to help you make sure that what your desk says about you is positive.

Aka - get drunk and tell the boss what you really think of him!

At this time of year, most people will be attending or have been to their office Xmas party. It is supposed to a time where everyone can relax and get to know other people that you don’t have a chance to at work.

But does it work out like that?

Not a chance!

This article is just a wee humorous look at the office party phenomenon and how to avoid that dreaded entrance into work the next Monday morning!

Hmm…Clare from accounts looks good tonight…

How many times have you been to an office party where you or one of your co-workers have hooked up with someone?

Office parties hold that unique appeal of “anything goes”.

It is the one event in your annual calendar that you will see more relationships start and end on the same night, than on any other day of the year.

It usually is leading up to an important event – most usually Christmas, where everyone decides to let their hair down and relax.

Big mistake!

Does your boss sneer, scream, or intimidate? If so, you could be working for a career-damaging bully.

"When the bullying comes from the boss, the aggression has its strongest negative effects," says Sandy Hershcovis, a researcher at the University of Manitoba who reviewed 110 studies on workplace aggression.

A bullying boss damages job satisfaction and advancement, turns up job stress, and increases turnover, she says. Her study found that workplace bullying is more pervasive and more damaging to one's career than sexual harassment.

What to Watch For

Are you being bullied? To know for sure, consider these factors:

Frequency: Researchers have found 22 signs of bullying, including intimidation, screaming, isolating, and gossip. If you experience two of them a week for six months, you're being bullied.