4. Encourage your child to experience success in any area of her life.

Did she make honor roll? Get selected for a play, a club, or athletic team? Win an election for competitive office? Survive a strenuous application process for a summer job? Once your child has tasted success, he will know how it feels and will act like a winner when he enters job market.

Cecilia, a shy twelve-year-old, blossomed when she won lead in a school play. "We want you to improve your grades, not spend time in rehearsal!" fumed her worried mother.

To everyone's surprise, Cecilia's grades improved and she made new friends with "good kids" who were also achievers. Most important, no matter what happens, Cecilia can return to that feeling of success whenever she gets discouraged.

5. Getting into a top university -- or any university -- will not guarantee success.

I've met Ivy Leaguers who have experienced unemployment, bankruptcy and even homelessness. I've met high school drop outs who flourished on their own initiative. In my own small town, a couple with degrees from excellent schools have dropped out to pursue artistic careers -- and they clean houses to pay bills. Recently a minimum wage job was posted by a nonprofit -- and several unemployed lawyers applied.

Career-changers who face future with an attitude of "I can handle anything" are ones who win today. Tossed into ocean, they'll improvise a set of oars and keep up their spirits till they figure out what to do next. Those who feel betrayed ("I thought I was set for life") flounder around for weeks, months, even years.

Entitlement is over. Those who have a positive outlook, who can seize unexpected opportunity, can count on reaching shore. And they realize that only they can transform a resting place into a safe harbor.

Cathy Goodwin, Ph.D., author of Making the Big Move, helps midlife professionals navigate career and business transitions. "How Smart People Can Derail Their Transitions" complimentary Special Report http://www.cathygoodwin.com/subscribe.html . Contact: http://www.cathygoodwin.com/feedback.html Phone: 505-534-4194

Does Hermione find herself drawn to chaotic environments where she can introduce order? Does she have a high tolerance for ambiguity?

Does Marvin seek certainty when he moves to a new location or hires a career coach? Can he identify circumstances where he enjoys responding spontaneously?

Some clients discover they cannot work around a particular need, such as a desire for structure or a craving for autonomy. Others can learn to operate in a new style. Marvin, for instance, may learn to trust his intuition and give up some need for structure.

Some clients learn that a certain talent must be focus of their working lives. Others realize that expressing same talent is a "nice to have." Hermione might find a dream job that doesn't seem to make use of her talent for seeing patterns in unrelated data. Or she may find ways to use this talent that aren't included in job description.

The first "aha" moment becomes, "Hold that thought." It's only by delving into meaning of discovery that we can talk about its place in your business and career strategy.

Cathy Goodwin, Ph.D., author of Making the Big Move, helps midlife professionals navigate career and business transitions. "How Smart People Can Derail Their Transitions" complimentary Special Report http://www.cathygoodwin.com/subscribe.html . Contact: http://www.cathygoodwin.com/feedback.html Phone: 505-534-4194