Transferable Characteristics as an Employee: - complete projects on-time and within budget - work well with people - reliable and dependable - follow-through skills - computer skills

Highlight Former Profession Do not overlook generic qualities of your former profession, when presenting yourself to a potential employer in a new field. These include verbal and non-verbal aspects of communication, and are considered portable skills. If you feel you are lacking in some of these key areas, then think about acquiring these skills through training. I have often recommended something like Dale Carnegie’s course, “How to Win Friends and Influence People.” If cost for this course is prohibitive, then consider acquiring some books or audio tapes which help to build these skills.

To maximize success in your new field, I suggest that during education or retraining process, you become a member of a professional organization. Plug yourself into an association, either local or statewide, related to your specific industry niche. Go to monthly meetings. Get to know people. Start selling yourself by way of relationships and friendships. By time you’ve finished your education, you’ll have a network of people who will be aware of your skills and availability. Select any one of three methods I’m recommending, or combine aspects of all three. You’ll be well on your way to landing a new position. Your new field might not open up to you right away, but if you are persistent about it, you should be successful.

One of differences is that we are more technologically advanced, in some geographic and geopolitical areas. In these regions of technological advancement, we actually may be more socially isolated from a family perspective, and more separated from basic natural gifts of clean air and pure water.

I hope and pray that we may all examine manifold gifts that each and every one of us has. May we also reflect upon phrases we utter in speech, song, and written form, during this short holiday period. These few remaining days of year 2003 are rapidly coming to an end. May this time give you peace and good will, my friend.