Here are some of the rules I live by. I hope they help you in this job search and later throughout your career and personal life.

• You Either Make Dust or Eat Dust…. So Keep Focused – It’s easy to be waylaid by life’s little distractions, pleasures, and depressions. DON’T! Job search time is precious. You can’t afford the luxury for any of these costly diversions.
• Good Enough, Never Is – No matter what, you can always improve something about your life, work habits, job search campaign, resume, personal appearance or your interview style.
• Think Before You Speak or Act – What you say and do not only causes you to succeed or fail, but also affects others around you.
• Be Disciplined – Make a schedule of meaningful things to do and DO THEM, as planned and on time!
• Have Lots of Energy – Start exercising and taking vitamins. It will keep your energy up because, before this process is through, you will need all the energy you can muster!
• Don’t Worry About Rejection - They are not rejecting you. It is simply not the right time or place or someone more qualified than you got the job. Hey, those rules have been, and will continue to be, true throughout your life. Why should you expect a new set of rules to apply to your job search? You were a good person before this all began and you still are.
• Don’t Sweat The Small Stuff - Remember, be concerned only over those things over which you have control, not those things you don’t.
• Develop and/or Maintain Your Sense of Humor - The most popular and successful people in the world have a good sense of humor. Something to think about isn’t it?
• Constantly seek support from family and friends – You are not alone, even though you may think you are. Your family and friends will support you if you ask. On the other hand, don’t complain to them. Nobody likes a whiner but everybody respects a winner!
• Be kind to and certainly respect yourself – Take comfort breaks as planned. Take your spouse or a friend to supper or lunch. Don’t beat yourself up too much. You are your own best friend so treat yourself like one. Work hard, play hard.

REREAD AND PRACTICE THESE RULES EVERY DAY!

On my web page, www.fecent.com I’ve provided a user-friendly reading list. On the web version of this book, there are links designated in blue to connect you to specific web pages, our interactive exercises and forms, email addresses or other valuable “should-look-at” web sites. Put your cursor on the mentioned link, click, and it will take you to the specific exercise or item being discussed. You can work on it or print it out. I highly recommend printing all the exercises and putting them in a binder for reference.

You have undertaken a tough task. Be tough yourself. You can do it! Please share your success stories and let me know what worked best in your particular situation. I heartily welcome your thoughts and comments.

In closing, I want to wish you a lot of luck, which you make anyway, in your search. Good hunting!