With all the negativity we are fed by tv, newspapers, friends and family it easy to see how people want to give up and stick there head in the sand.

Don't do it!

When things get tough, get creative. Take a notebook and a pen, write down what you want:

- What kind of job do you want? Be specific. Do you want to work 20 hours a week from home? Or do you want to get out of the those and work on site?. What industries do you want to work in? Don't just list the ones that you THINK you are qualified for, list all the ones that interest you.

- Why do you want that type of job? Again, be specific. What is it about that job/industry that attracts you?

- What action can you take to help you land that job? List out the different things you can do to accomplish your goal. Are there certain classes you need to take? Are there networking groups you can join? Who do you know anyone that currently holds this job that you can contact to get advice? If you don't know anyone personally, search on the internet for the most successful person and interview them! Ask them how they got where they are today, and how you can make yourself more attractive to employers.

Sometimes the act of putting what we want on paper helps us to make it more real. We can connect the dots and make a plan. We realize through our conversations that there are more options/jobs out there for you...a former teach can become a textbook editor. A former consultant can conduct research for startups. You just need to get more creative when it comes to jobs and your skills ...you just need to think out of the box.

Remember, as long as you are making some forward movement towards your career goals - you will reach them. It's when we give into our fears, and stay in our comfort zone that we let opportunity pass us by.

By Jack Canfield

As I mentioned earlier, 2009 may bring greater uncertainty and more unsettling economic news than recent years, but these circumstances should compel us to take a deep breath, and pause to think about our lives.

When things happen in the world that seem so far beyond our individual control, it can feel unsettling.

Don't give up on your goals and dreams just because "the time isn't good"... you can still make 2009 the year you uncover a whole new you for the better!

Even in tough times, you get to decide how to respond to certain conditions, opportunities, and outcomes--both good and bad. Life will always be a series of choices and YOU get to decide on what will move you closer to your goals, or farther away from them. External forces will always be part of the equation, even during the good times when the world is thriving.

When people ask me about the single most important ingredient to success, I always share the same response: realizing what's making you achieve success, and then realizing what is stifling your success.

Sometimes recognizing the things that are NOT working in your life can be painful, yet VERY powerful to shaping the life you want. Don't try to rationalize them, make excuses for them, or hide them. This is when it's even more critical to take personal inventory and evict those excuses, rationalizations, and hidden habits that don't serve you. These things will keep you from the life you want to be living. Let me give you some examples.

Ask yourself if you relate to any of these questions:

Do you want to be active, fit, and strong? Then you have to stop making excuses about your weight, diet choices, and lack of exercise.

Do you want to be in a loving relationship based on friendship and respect? Then you have to stop rationalizing why you and your partner are not communicating well.

Do you want to embrace Monday mornings and feel excited about going to work every day? Then you have to stop hiding your true passions and go after whatever it is you really want to be doing day in and day out.

Do you want to lose the debt forever? Then you have to stop ignoring your spending habits and get real about a creating budget that will pull you out of debt and allow you to reach financial freedom.

Do you want to feel more connected to the people in your life, such as your children, friends, and colleagues? Then you have to stop complaining about your poor relationships and figure out why you don't feel as connected as you'd like to be.

These things can be painful to look at because the truth is that you have to do something about them in order to make it work in your life.

You'll have to say no to the second helping of dinner and the dessert to follow and go through the awkward stage of getting into shape... You'll have to confront your partner about the areas that need work... You'll have to get past fears about changing your job or professional path... You'll have to cut back on your spending and be frugal... You'll have to take a good hard look at your personal relationships and perhaps consider your own shortfalls and weaknesses in communicating your needs and concerns.

Plain and simple, you will have to do something uncomfortable.

Successful people don't waste time in denial (or complain or make excuses for that matter). They face situations like a warrior. They look for the warning signs, they find out why things aren't working, and they go about fixing them- even when fixing requires problem solving, hard work, risk, and a level of uncertainty.

It's okay to identify a problem even though you haven't a clue about how to go about solving it right away.

The first step is just recognizing the issue, and then having faith that you'll figure it out with careful attention to it. That's how successful people live--in constant focus on goals, on results, on problem solving, and on the actions that get them to where they want to be.

Following are three things to do constantly in pursuit of your goals and dreams, however big or small:

• Awareness: Keep your awareness on the feedback you are getting from life and decide to address the situations immediately. Don't bottle up feedback, cast it aside, and avoid it like you would a pile of dirty laundry or a stack of unopened bills. Life tells you things every day. Do this. Don't do that. Think about this. Try me. Forget that. We live in a world that seemingly encourages us to live on autopilot. Successful people fly manually every day and so should you. When those feedback signals come in, listen to them and use them in planning your next step.

• Commitment: Commit to finding out why things aren't working and learn what will fix them. Once you start the process it will be much easier to continue. Nothing fruitful stems from inaction.

• Trust: Trust that making changes to the situation will ultimately bring about the best results. Sure you might go through a bit of discomfort during the change, and some unlikely or unwanted outcomes, but in the end you will triumph!

So are you ready to admit the things that just are not working out? Make a list of the things in your life that are working against your success and ask how the situation can be improved. Commit to tackling just one of those issues and be brave!

If you need help organizing those "things" in your life, try using the following list of categories. I recommend reflecting on each of the 7 areas and ask yourself, what's not working here in each one and then brainstorm 3 potential solutions.

1.) Financial Goals, 2) Career/Business Goals, 3.) Free Time/Family Time, 4.) Health/Appearance Goals, 5.) Relationship Goals, 6.) Personal Growth 7.) Making a Difference

Remember, by facing what is not working, you can only improve your life!

© 2009 Jack Canfield Jack Canfield, America's #1 Success Coach, is founder of the billion-dollar book brand Chicken Soup for the Soul and a leading authority on Peak Performance and Life Success. If you're ready to jump-start your life, make more money, and have more fun and joy in all that you do, get your FREE success tips from Jack Canfield now at: www.FreeSuccessStrategies.com.

Searching for a job in the economy can be difficult, but there are opportunities out there. I came across this article on Oprah.com that outlines "7 tips for perfecting your job searching skills"....here's a clip

"If you're searching for a job when the economy is down, understand that you need to boost your job-hunting skills, author Richard Bolles says. "Jobs do open up; jobs do fall vacant%u214maybe not in your former specialty, maybe not even in your geographical area, but nonetheless there are jobs out there, even during hard times," he says. "It just takes greater job-hunting skills to find them."

Read the entire article here on Oprah.com.

by Kelly Watson

Imagine setting your own hours, working in your pajamas and getting paid to share your opinions with the world. Best of all, you don't even need a Journalism degree--just good writing skills and a strong dose of perseverance.

Freelance writing doesn't come without drawbacks. You're not guaranteed an income, for starters, and the pay can be mediocre in certain markets. But if you're willing to work hard and handle rejection, there's nothing stopping you from making a living wage within six months to a year.

WHERE TO BEGIN

For many would-be writers, getting started is the tough part. Fear sets in when they consider taking the first steps to a writing career. You will face rejection, no matter how good your writing skills are. But getting published doesn't have to be hard. Start small, and leverage the connections you already have. Submit an article for your church newsletter. Study your local newspaper's writing guidelines, then submit an op-ed article.

Don't forget to look for commercial writing opportunities as well. They can be just as creative, and often pay more than editorial writing assignments. Volunteer to write a press release for a local nonprofit, or develop some ad concepts for a small business in town.

WRITING FOR MONEY

Once you have a few published writing samples, you can approach paying markets with confidence. Most magazines and other writing markets request that you query first. This means sending a one or two page summary of your article idea and why you're the perfect person to write it.

Before querying a publication, do your research. Read back issues, and get a feel for what the magazine or newspaper has published in the past. Some publications have a list of contributor's guidelines posted on their web site; these can help in your submission. When sending your query letter, make it look as professional as possible. Read it aloud to find typos, then have a friend proofread it for you. If you have professional-looking stationary or personalized letterhead, use it. Then enclose a few writing samples and a self-addressed stamped envelope.

HANDLING REJECTION

Don't be surprised if you get a rejection – and don't take it personally. Getting rejection letters is just part of a freelance writer's job.

Whatever happens, keep querying and studying the publications. You might have to try a dozen times before you get an assignment, but you'll be improving with each new query letter.

OTHER RESOURCES

For more tips on starting a freelance writing career, check out "Six-Figure Freelancing" by Kelly James-Enger or "The Renegade Writer" by Linda Formichelli and Diana Burrell. Peter Bowerman's "The Well-Fed Writer" and Bob Bly's "Secrets Of A Freelance Writer" are two great books for those looking to specialize in commercial writing.

Working from home can be isolating. Luckily, there are a number of online communities where you can connect with other writers. FreelanceSuccess.com is a paid online message board where some of the top writers hang out and share tricks of the trade. MediaBistro.com is a similar online writing community with helpful resources, market guides and more. Talk to other writers, do your research, and don't give up. Rejection is rarely easy, but in time you'll discover how rewarding a freelance writing career can be.

Kelly Watson is a freelance marketing coach and the founder of Womenwise Marketing, a web site full of free marketing tips and other business resources for women. Visit the Womenwise Marketing blog and subscribe to Kelly's free bimonthly podcast at http://www.womenwisemarketing.com.

by Jack Canfield

With the year coming to a close, it's time to acknowledge and appreciate yourself for everything you've accomplished today, throughout the year, and in life.

How many times have you succeed in the past month? Are you able to recall your successes as well as your failures and missteps?

Many people under-appreciate the little things they accomplish every day. And yet they can recall in detail all the times they have failed or made mistakes. That's because the brain remembers events more easily when the are accompanied by strong emotions.

You might recall graduation, losing 10 pounds, winning an award, or landing a highly sought after position. But do you include in your successes how you had a really great talk with your spouse, how you spent quality time with your teen, how you got all your list of things done for the day, how you learned to change your own oil, or got your fussy child to take a nap?

If you don't acknowledge your successes the same way you acknowledge your mistakes, you're sure to have a memory full of blunders.

Acknowledge your own success. Toot your own horn and don't wait for anyone else to praise you!

If you only remember the mistakes and failures, you won't be as ready to take risks that will lead to your successes. Build yourself-esteem by recalling ALL the ways you have succeeded and your brain will be filled with images of you making you achievements happen again and again.

Take time to write your achievements down. Start when you were very young and think of all your achievements since then. Don't just pick the big things, write down all the things you take for granted. You can also create a log of success everyday and review it when you are faced with a new challenge. By writing it all down everyday, you're securing it in your long-term memory and it will become a part of what makes you tick.

Surround yourself with reminders of your success.

Put up pictures, articles, trophies, awards and other pieces that ring your attention to you success. Make your environment speak to you about your achievements. Be proud of them!

People like to be around those who have a healthy self-esteem and who are achieving their Goals. Commit to acknowledging your achievements and you brain will begin to tell you the truth... that you can do ANYTHING!

Taking just 30 minutes to complete this activity will become your positive springboard into 2009 for even more successes.

© 2008 Jack Canfield Jack Canfield, America's #1 Success Coach, is founder of the billion-dollar book brand Chicken Soup for the Soul and a leading authority on Peak Performance and Life Success. If you're ready to jump-start your life, make more money, and have more fun and joy in all that you do, get your FREE success tips from Jack Canfield now at:www.FreeSuccessStrategies.com.

Please share this amazing message written by Nell Merlino....

How many women does it take to put a war-torn country back together again?

In its second election since the genocide ended in 2003, women won 44 of the 80 seats in the Rwandan Parliament -- it is by far the largest number of women in a national legislative body anywhere in the world. Out of one of the worst humanitarian crises in our lifetime, women have survived and emerged to lead the political, economic, and civic recovery of their country. A nation where women were shamed for speaking publically has now implemented a Constitutional mandate for 30% of Parliamentary seats to be filled by women, and they have been elected in even greater numbers.

How many men does it take to ruin a national economy and wreak havoc on millions of lives?

About 55 top dogs, if you keep track of all the similar faces who are being fired, filleted by Congress or carving up the bailout money. There isn't a woman among them; not a single major US financial institution is run by a woman. But there are dozens of men supported by armies in accounting firms, rating agencies and the Federal government, who all believed that there was a new way to make unbelievable piles of money -- new ways for them to be big dogs on the Street and in the world, responsible to no one but themselves, all in step with the "boys will be boys" doctrine.

It just hit me like a ton of bricks reading accounts of the Paulson meeting with the nine big bank boys, who were reluctant to sign on to the bailout if their huge compensation packages had to be brought down to size. Does anybody else feel like the foxes are guarding the hen house? Like the hurricanes of recent years, Americans are facing another disaster, a man-made one this time, that will dramatically change millions of people's lives. This is a crossroads, where we can wait to be affected by the big decisions of a small group, or begin the work of recovery ourselves.

From my recent experience helping US women grow their businesses, I am convinced women will lead America out of the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. Kept out, put out or having walked out of the "boys will be boys" boardrooms, C-suites or the dead end jobs we had propping up the fellas, women have started small businesses in record numbers -- 10.5 million to be exact. Rather than depending on or hoping that the handful who caused this economic crisis will rescue them or bail them out, women are poised to grow their businesses and rescue the country themselves.

Exactly how many women does it take to generate the $700 billion in new revenue to replace the money used in the bailout, and create 4 million new jobs to replace the ones lost in the economic crisis?

It will take 1 million women. There are already 248,000 women entrepreneurs at $1 million or more in annual business revenue. In December, the not-for-profit Count Me In For Women's Economic Independence launch a historic initiative, the Make Mine a Million $ Business race, which will challenge the nation's women entrepreneurs to rebuild the national economy by setting and achieving their goals for business growth in one year. One thousand women have already pre-registered, and are the first to stand on the starting line of a movement which creates jobs and puts our country back on track with creativity, innovation, local green jobs, products and services that create real value. Women have walked for a cure to breast cancer, we have run for nations' highest offices, and in 2009, we will race to rebuild America's economy. Join us at MakeMineAMillion.org.

By Suzy Stauffer, M.Ed.

As moms, we get swept away in taking care of everyone else and often forget about our own needs. Our need for a career, a healthy body, a social life or even new hobbies can go missing. Let's share new ways you can take action in your life and Rediscover the Me in mommy!

As our kids step on the bus, we wave goodbye and start our day. Many of us go home to the same old routine of work, laundry, grocery shopping, list making, and paper shuffling. Self-discovery is usually not going on over a pile of papers! But, now is the perfect time to grow beyond your routine.

How are you living your life? Are you in the driver's seat or the passenger's seat of your life? A driver takes control and determines where she is going next. As a passenger you relies on others to show you the way and you are not even sure where you are going!

You need to be aware you are responsible for your life. Taking responsibility for what is working and what is not working is key to creating what you crave. You have a choice in how you react to people and events. At times you may feel powerless and dependent on others to feel good about your self. Don't get caught up in the 'stories' you tell yourself which are just excuses to stay in a comfort zone. Ask yourself this, does believing the stories allow you the job you want, the body you want, the trips you would like to take, the relationships you desire or the future you crave?

You have a choice to create a future you desire. What do you want to choose? Taking Action is key to being happy and feeling optimistic!

Take Action Now:

Start a Fitness Program: Moms who set time aside for fitness have more energy, confidence and tend to be more organized. Working moms especially need to schedule time for their health and sanity. For fitness programs that work great for moms go to: GetFit2Win

Declare Time for Yourself: You need a break from the noise and distraction so you can hear your own voice inside.

Frumpy to Fabulous: Take five minutes to have a simple yet pulled together look for the bus stop and feel fabulous inside. Looking good is not just for work!

We want you to take action and create a healthy balance. We promise you will discover more energy, passion and purpose when you do.

Sign up FREE for the all- new H.O.T. Mom Club at Beyond the Busstop a great place for moms to support each other in being a Happy, Optimistic and Take Action mom.

I heard of a great new program that I thought many of you would be interested in. Sara Lee a well known brand for many families, has created an internship-like opportunity for experienced mid-career professionals to re-enter the workforce following an extended leave.

"Returnships@Sara LeeSM is a program designed to provide opportunities for mid-career individuals re-entering the workforce after having been away for a number of years. Designed as internships for experienced professionals, Returnships@Sara Lee allows individuals to re-engage with the corporate world through flexible, meaningful work while also "testing the waters" prior to exploring permanent – likely flexible – roles. Returnships@Sara Lee individuals will also participate in relevant business, industry, job-specific and technology education.

At Sara Lee, we recognize that having a workforce comprised of people from different backgrounds and life perspectives is a key to our success. And we believe that Returnships@Sara Lee can provide a win-win for candidates and for our business."

For more information visit www.saralee.com

Do you know a dynamic woman who "does it all?" The Hot Mommas Project is looking for her story!

The Hot Mommas® Project produces curricula for dynamic female leaders. Thre award-winning case studies serve as role models on paper for women and girls around the globe by showcasing: successful business practice, successful personal practices, leadership abilities, work-life balance strategies.

Their mission is enable individuals to serve women and girls by providing scalable, global, free access to role models online.

They launched a Case Study Competition October 13, 2008 with the goal of building the worlds largest women's case study library to be announced March 10, 2009. Final instructions available at competition launch -- http://www.hotmommasproject.org/competition.aspx

I came across this quote, and just had to share it.

"...for a long time it seemed to me that

life was about to begin - real life.

But there was always some obsacle in the way,

something to be gotten through first,

some unfinished business,

time still to be served,

a debt to be paid.

At last it dawned on me that these obstacles

were my life.

This perspective has helped me to see there is no way to happiness.

Happiness is the way.

So treasure every moment you have

and remember that time waits for no one.

Happiness is a journey, not a destination...." - Souza

As mothers we so often put our wants/needs on hold for a later date. Waiting until the baby is born. Waiting until the kids are in school full-time. Waiting for the kids to go to college....waiting, waiting, waiting.

Stop waiting.