| And a little stand by-the-side-of-the-road is a good | | | | done with computers and all the programs I knew |
| spot to learn from a wise saying: If life hands you | | | | really well through self-study and, I listed out all |
| lemons, make lemonade. But, we'd like to add, | | | | the people I had trained on these software |
| then market it, franchise it, and sell it to a major | | | | programs at the various companies I had worked. |
| international conglomerate as a fresh fruit drink. | | | | I was honest and created a new resume fit for a |
| [1996 F. Popcorn Clicking iii. 408] | | | | software training position. I sent out this resume |
| A favorite addage started me thinking about how | | | | along with a cover letter that expressed my |
| tough these current times are and how we're all | | | | personality. I made sure to submit it to any and |
| being called to rise to the challenge. Here in New | | | | every position that I saw listed in any want ad |
| Jersey, where I currently live, we're facing record | | | | regardless of whether or not it stated that a |
| foreclosures, job losses in both the public and | | | | college degree was required. My persistence paid |
| private sector and many are finding themselves | | | | off and I soon found myself in Atlanta for a |
| distraught over the drastic changes they are | | | | "make it or break it" week of train-the-trainer for |
| experiencing. I have friends in the public school | | | | a growing software training company. |
| system who, as teachers and/or teacher's | | | | I returned to my new position and within a short |
| assistants are losing their job. They have been | | | | period of time won the "Circle of Excellence" |
| provided options for re-employment by those | | | | award which was given to a trainer who had |
| systems but for less than desirable wages and | | | | received the highest score on the class feedback |
| the possible loss of all benefits. When asked what | | | | forms for three consecutive months (or one |
| they should do, here's my advice. "Time to | | | | quarter). I had come a long way, without a |
| re-invent yourself. Time to think outside the box." | | | | degree. The hiring manager said that it was not |
| Since life is throwing them lemons then it is time | | | | only my resume that sold her on the idea to give |
| to make lemonade. My advice to them is to start | | | | me a chance even despite the lack of a degree |
| to really assess whether their job defines them | | | | but my winning personality led her to believe I |
| or they define who they are. Perhaps now is the | | | | would be a great instructor. People would come to |
| time for them to branch out into their own | | | | that software training facility hoping they would |
| business. Becoming an entrepreneur may be the | | | | have me as their instructor for the day because I |
| answer to their current dilemma. I direct them to | | | | poured my heart into it and made it fun, easy and |
| begin to create a list of all their current skills and | | | | comfortable for them to learn. |
| assist them in thinking outside of the box. Then I | | | | When I left that personal growth seminar, I had a |
| direct them to create a list of all those things | | | | vision of what I wanted to do and I kept my |
| they have always wanted to do whether hobby | | | | focus on that vision. Keeping my focus on that |
| or possible career. Taking stock of what you | | | | vision is what made the transition smooth and |
| already know is something that has worked quite | | | | effortless. Training was something that I was |
| well for me in my life. Sometimes even your | | | | passionate about so it made sense that once I |
| personal qualities may benefit you in a newly | | | | gave the universe a clear picture to fulfill on and |
| chosen or created career. | | | | then went about taking the necessary action to |
| I have first-hand experience in how personal | | | | meet it half way in the creation process it would |
| qualities can translate into the career of your | | | | become my new reality. |
| dreams. In the 1980's, while having no degree and | | | | If you ask me about the law of attraction, I can |
| no hope of going from being a secretary to | | | | honestly tell you that I have been practicing it at |
| something more lucrative, I took a personal | | | | various points in my life and successfully |
| growth seminar that helped me awaken to my | | | | manifesting in various ways. |
| true potential. The key that unlocked my potential | | | | So, how does anyone go through the kinds of life |
| came through one simple concept expressed by | | | | altering events that many are currently faced |
| the seminar leader as follows: "When you're | | | | with and still manage to achieve personal growth |
| perusing the want ads for jobs, by show of hand, | | | | or success? By becoming the visionary |
| how many of you skip the ads that list college | | | | entrepreneur whose personal qualities become |
| degree as a requirement because you don't have | | | | their best asset in a new career or business. You |
| a college degree?" I, along with many of the 250 | | | | are the author of your book of life and you can |
| participants, raised hands. We were asked to look | | | | build a business that will light you up and make |
| around us and see how limiting self talk was | | | | you happy to be alive. Become the visionary |
| keeping us stuck; keeping us from moving into a | | | | entrepreneur that you know you can be and |
| new world. | | | | when you set out on that endeavor don't stop |
| I left that seminar with a new vision of myself | | | | until you "have" reached your goal. |
| and my future. I took stock of everything I had | | | | |