by Patricia Clason at:<http://www.lightly.com>

Im feeling very discouraged. I cant seem to find the job opportunity that works for me. Help!

I understand frustration. Let me start by telling you some of my story. I never graduated from college! I left after a semester and a halfbecause of a sprained ankle and the inability to make it from class to class on time, on crutches in thesnow. I got a job and worked my way up from secretary to supervisor in my department of mortgage banking.

I left that job after several years and got a job as an executive secretary in plasticsinjection molding company. From there I went on to be a legal secretary, basicallyfunctioning as a paralegal without the compensatory salary.

Unhappy and frustrated, I went back into mortgage banking. I was fired from thatjob for the first time in my life because I refused to do something illegal. That leadto one and half years on unemployment and then working as a manager at Outpost Natural Foods. Can you begin tosee that I have been all over the board when it comes to jobs? I didnt mention that I was a baker at one time and many times awaitress and bartender.

I enjoyed Outpost and it led me to my interest in martial arts, specifically Tai Chi,which then led to many other aspects of self improvement. I helped to incorporatethe Tai Chi Center of Milwaukee, and organized seminars for our Tai Chi instructor.He told someone in San Francisco of my success and I was invited there to do a seminar on how toorganize seminars. That began a seven year stint of traveling nationwide doing seminars (who have ever thought???) Traveling so muchwas burning me out, so I decided to stay here in Milwaukee and do seminars. I soonfound out that in this conservative city, self improvement was not a big money maker! So I went corporate with timemanagement seminars.

Here I am today, 17 years into the Center for Creative Learning - doing seminarsfor the general public and the business world. Over 25 years of teaching seminars,25 years of self-employment. 25 years of ups and downs and every imaginable challenge.

In 1984, my father died. In 1985, I got divorced. In 1986 I remarried. In 1989, whenmy daughter was 3, I bought an office building and got a divorce. A year later, mymother committed suicide. If anyone could ever hit the top of the stress test scores, I had certainly rung thebell, if not gone over the top. Then a year later, I found out the building had underground heating oil tanks that had not been drainedand had contaminated the soil under the buildings parking lot. Forced to give upthe building in foreclosure or lose everything I had ever gained, I filed bankruptcyand gave it all up.

Yesterday, I paid the business bills for the month and wondered once again wherethe money was coming from for the rest of the month. How would I meet payroll?

Every year I settle in more to the realization that it isnt any different any whereelse. Some businesses have more zeroes at the end of their bills and their income.They all go through cycles of prosperity and lack. We are accustomed to hearingthat General Motors lost 2 million last quarter, yet the cars are still being made andthey continue on.

Life is a series of changes and challenges, highs and lows. It is a process that neverends until we die. And some believe it continues on even after death.

To give in to the lows, to believe that is the way it will always be, to not loveourselves and the learning process, is a big mistake. I told you that my mothercommitted suicide. She was divorced, living alone on social security and her sewing business. She was scared about herability to pay the bills and take care of herself. Her house was paid for, she had only taxes to pay and the utilities. Yet shewas afraid. So afraid she quit. The next day Manpower called with a job for her -she wasnt there to answer the phone. It is important to remember, as cliche as itsounds, it is true, This Too Shall Pass - and its even true about the good times.They too shall pass, sometimes to even better things and sometimes to the lows again.

I have also noticed that as time goes on, our ability to handle the lows grows stronger as we are refined in our faith and our skills. It isdependent on one thing however, that we live in gratitude. Gratitude for life itself. Gratitude for thechallenges and the learning that comes with them. Gratitude for the friends andfamily and people around us that give us support and encouragement.

My friend Scott is blind. He has a life full of challenge. One of his greatestsupporters is his grandmother. A wonderful woman of 83, who works at Jewel foods as a demonstrator of food products. I know whereScott gets his independence and his determination and ability to ride out the hard times. Hewasnt always blind, he lost his sight in his twenties. Today he has rebuilt a life asa computer programmer. He lives alone. He didnt give up.

Colonel Sanders didnt give up and made a fortune on his chicken recipe in hissixties. Abraham Lincoln didnt give up and made it to president. Thomas Edisondidnt give up and eventually created the light bulb. Yet if you read the first partof their life histories, you wouldnt have given them a loan for $10, cause theydidnt seem to have much to how for their lives. Many of the great women we respect today led lives of poverty, abuse,and other challenges - Anne Frank, Nazi Germany - Harriet Beecher Stowe, writer and abolitionist, fought slavery andracisim - Claire Boothe Luce, diplomat and politician, grew up in a time when women wereconsidered very unequal - Oprah Winfrey, television star, millionaire, champion of many causes, grew up in poverty and suffered abuse aschild, yet she didnt give up, look where her determination has taken her! Andthere are many, not so famous, who have lived through challenges and obstacles tosimply do life well and with love. Their names do not carry instant recognition,however their legacy keeps the world together and harbors us in the storm.

Today, I cant get a new credit card. I couldnt get a loan for my computer. Thebankruptcy still follows me - yet it hasnt stopped me. Every time I look at thecheckbook and see the balance close to zero, I dont quit. I have graduated over5,000 people from the programs at the Center. I have been fortunate enough to touch the lives of millions ofpeople over the last 25 years. I am not a millionaire. I dont travel to exotic places to do speeches. I do it quietly in the Midwest, oftenonly several people at a time. And I make a difference. I make a difference to mydaughter, because Im there when she comes home from school. I take her with me often when I speak or teach, and she seeswhat it can mean to be a business woman and touch other peoples lives. Somedays we dont have extra money togo to McDonalds, and somedays we can go on great vacations. All days, we have love, courage andpersistence, and the joy of knowing that we can contribute to the world and each other.

Once upon a time there was a woman who was widowed, left with four small children and no life insurance to help pay the bills. Every night shewould get on her knees and ask God to save her, specifically she asked to win a lottery or asweepstakes so she could take care of her children. She was running out of moneyand patience. After a few months, she got angry at God for not coming through.She raged at him and then she heard a loud voice saying OK you can win the lottery!She was overjoyed, her problems were over. Every day she waited for the news that she had in fact won a lottery. Every day she wasdisappointed. Finally, one night, she got angry at God again. You said I would win the lottery,yet I havent gotten any money! She heard another loud voice, this one was firm,and the voice said You have to buy a ticket!

You cant wait for someone, God, Prince Charming, Mom or Dad, anyone to save you. You have to take action to make your life different. Youhave to buy the ticket by learning a skill, being willing to do the simple jobs, the jobs no one elsewants (you would be amazed how many envelopes Ive stuffed and toilets Ive cleaned in my days). Takingaction, some action, opens the door to opportunity and possibility. Sitting at home feeling sorry for yourself and waiting for the saviornever works.

Another once upon a time, a man was in his home, watching the flood waters rise.The water reached his porch and a boat went by. Get in, said the people in theboat, We have room for you. No, thank you, the man replied. God will saveme. The waters continued to rise. The man was forced to the second floor of thehouse, and he saw another boat go by outside. They called to him, telling him theyhad room, please come with us. The man said No, God will save me. And thewater continued to rise, forcing the man to the roof of the house. As he sat on thevery top of his roof, a helicopter came by. They lowered a rope ladder and urgedthe man to climb up and get to safety. He said, No, I know God will save me. Several hours later, the man had drowned. As he stood beforeSt. Peter, he asked why God did not save him. St. Peter looked sternly at the man and said, God sentyou two rowboats and a helicopter, why did you not save yourself??

Keep your eyes open for the opportunities and the possibilities. Watch for the rowboats and the helicopters. Remember that when we are at ourlowest lows, we have to take action. It is easier to help someone who will take action, than to getapathy moving. When the help comes, let yourself receive and be supported. Manyof you have been fortunate enough to have people who care, in your families and here atInterfaith. Love yourself enough to take in their love and assistance because we cant do it alone. Together we can do almost anything,including weather the most difficult of times and celebrate the most joyous.

Buy a ticket. Ride the roller coaster of life, and instead of hanging on with whiteknuckles, throw your hands up into the air, thank God for the adventure and enjoythe ride! AND checkout the past columns from Employment Times and get some great ideason specific actions you can take to stay with the job process.

"If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost, that iswhere they should be. Now put the foundation under them."
--Henry David Thoreau

Build strong foundations under YOUR castles with a private Coach!

PatriciaClason, owner of "Accountability Coaching Associates" was first toreceive the "Registered Corporate Coach "designation from theNational Association of Business Coaches. Patricia is also a professional speaker, author and trainer in human resourcedevelopment with over twenty-five years of experience!

Visit her at her website <http://www.lightly.com>where you will find helpful articles, a calendar of events for the Center forCreative Learning, and much more!

Or call her at (414) 374-5433

Check out her NEW program on Ethics - the hot topic of the 21st century!

And in the meantime - Take It Lightly!!!!!!!!