Defeat Is The Soil From Which Victory Grows

On August 12, 2003, an article by Catherine Valenti entitled, The Search Is Over: Thousands of Jobless Have Given Up Looking for a Job Altogether appeared on the ABCNews.com web site. Ms. Valentis article stated, In July, 470,000 people said they had stopped looking for a job because they were discouraged by the job market.

Thousands of jobs have vanished in the United States alone. Therefore, it is understandable why some people applying for jobs have become disheartened. As with all adversities, however, the key is persistence, not giving up. But how do you keep from giving up when youre already depressed and discouraged?

Here are seven tips to help you turn a job search or any other difficult situation around:

1. Develop and maintain a positive mental attitude. The primary thing that will determine whether you succeed or fail is your attitude. Remember, it is not what happens to you, but how you decide to react to it. Challenging circumstances like layoffs and economic downturns are going to continue. The only thing that really matters is how are you going to handle it? Start each day on a positive note by reading the Bible and/or other inspirational/motivational books. Listen to motivational tapes. Surround yourself with positive people. Watch your self-talk. Speak only positive phrases to yourself. Count your blessings. Create affirmations (positive statements in the present tense) and use them every day. Take care of yourself physically. Stand and walk proudly. Honor and respect yourself and others. Avoid comparing yourself with other people. Learn to love and value yourself. Appreciate your uniqueness.

2. You must have a purpose. Take control of your destiny because, as long as you feel that it is in the hands of other people, you are going to feel hopeless. Ivy Haley, author of Discovering Your Purpose, says, Every life needs a direction, a purpose. Without it, we drift uncomfortablyPeople who know where theyre going wake up in the morning to carry out their dreams and enjoy their lives. They have meaningful contact with others and live with a sense of fulfillment.

3. Have a written plan. What kind of job do you want? What do you want out of life? Where would you like to be in six months, one year, five years, or ten years from now? Write down the answers to those questions, then, write down the steps you will need to take to achieve your goals. In his book, Maximum Achievement, professional speaker and business consultant, Brian Tracy says, Goals that are not in writing are not goals at all. They are merely wishes or fantasies. When you write a goal down on a piece of paper, you crystallize it. You make it something concrete and tangible.

4. Find your passion and do work you love. In a San Jose Mercury News article entitled, Rediscovering His Passion, it related how Dwight Agan was laid off from a job managing software projects in November of 2001. While meeting with his success team every week, one of the leaders noticed that whenever Dwight talked about the energy industry, his eyes brightened and he became a lot more passionate. Eventually he landed a job at tan energy consulting company. In todays work environment, doing the work you love is the critical factor to personal fulfillment and economic success, according to the book How to Find the Work You Love by Laurence G. Boldt.

5. Keep your life in focus. Many people have huge amounts of credit card debt as well as other expenses. Sometimes, it means taking a job you dont like just to make ends meet. Some people apply for every job thats advertised whether the job is right for them or not. But thats coming from a place of desperation, not from a place of strength. Of course, your immediate concern should be getting the bills paid and keeping a roof over your head. But that doesnt mean that you have to give up your dreams. While youre working to survive at a tem job or a job you dont particularly like, stay focused on your short-term goals and your overall life purpose. Do something every day, no matter how small, to move you closer to your goals.

6. Believe in yourself. Believing in yourself means that you have confidence in your talents, skills, abilities, and all your other attributes. It also means thinking positively about yourself and believing that whatever is thrown at you in life, you can overcome it.

I think that Mohammad Ali is the epitome of belief in oneself. Why? One night I watched When We Were Kings, a documentary about the 1974 Rumble in the Jungle between Ali and George Foreman. Few believed that Ali would win the fight and regain his crown, not even people in his own camp. He tried to rouse them up in his unique, talkative style, but they were only half enthused. However, Ali did not let their belief deter him. He believed in himself. And, as you probably know, he won the fight. This is a valuable lesson. It doesnt matter if anybody else believes in you as long as you believe in yourself.

7. Never give up! No matter how tough things get, one thing is certain, you will never achieve your goals if you stop trying. If what youre doing isnt working, try something else! Remember the words of Winston Churchill, Never give up. Never, never, never, never.

Copyright 2003 Dolores G. Wix

About the author:

Dolores G. Wix, Abundance Advisor, teaches others how to attract more abundance into their lives. Sign up for a copy of her free report, "How to Develop an Abundant Mentality" by visiting