The credit crisis in America has taken a toll on the availability of student loan products as more lenders drop out of the business. According to Net Worth’s Kathleen Pender “More than two dozen non bank lenders have stopped making college loans and last week, three large banks followed suit.”

The fact that college tuition is spiraling upward with no end in sight, adds to the ever growing importance of a student’s career path decision making process.

3 Pitfalls To Avoid

1. Lost Money: Finding the “right” career path is more important than ever before as even the slightest delays or u-turns can cost students and their families thousands of dollars in lost tuition.
   
2. Lost Time: Without a clear definite path based on passionate interest, a student can begin an ill fated career which can account for years of lost time and lost wages in pursuit of something that does not fit.
   
3. Misguided Deciding Factors: When students and parents look at job markets, financial compensation, and job availability as the only factors in choosing a career path they are setting themselves and their children up for disappointing results.
   

3 Tips For A Successful Career:

Before you consult the traditional counselors, career and interest surveys, and company representatives recruiting on campus consider the following:

• Awareness: You will graduate to the workforce via corporate America or as an entrepreneur with a work life history that averages 40+ years.

• Interest: The career path you pursue should be one that holds your interest. It is imperative that you identify all their interests. Make a detailed list of the things, activities, and rituals you enjoy. This should help to heighten your awareness about what direction to explore.

• Passion: After identifying your interests, which interests are your passions? Which activity, subject, or ritual do you lose time in? Make a list of these passion interests and consider them your priority list moving forward.

“Wachovia plans to cut 600 more jobs than previously expected; total now 11,350.” -Yahoo.com August 11, 2008

“Looming job cuts march on-report: The number of job cuts announced in July jumps 26%. Airlines and financial firms top the list, according to monthly study.” -CNNMoney.com August 4, 2008

“Deepening Cycle of Job Loss seen lasting into ‘09.” -New York Times July 2, 2008

Economic change and political transition are everywhere in America right now. Looming layoffs, election hopes, and uncertainty of our country’s direction have produced a paranoia amongst Americans for the health and welfare of their futures.

Make Yourself Invaluable

1. Your work ethic is the best way to keep your job, if you really enjoy your work, by making yourself an asset that your company can not live without. Be invaluable.

2. Be versatile to the point where you can do your job with a high level of expertise as well as other valuable jobs within your organization. If layoffs come, the person with the largest skill set is often in the best position to remain unscathed.

3. Ask for more responsibility, more work, and do it now. Make sure your positive attitude is seen as a benefit to the organization. Don’t remain undercover; instead be your own PR person.

Increase Your Expertise

4. Read cover-to-cover your industry trade publications, online resources, and niche blogs within your industry.

5. Read as many books as possible about related subjects.

6. Take classes and workshops for hands-on training and comprehension.

7. Utilize the Internet search engines for extensive research.

8. Attend trade shows and industry conferences.

9. Join organizations, professional associations, and niche specific networking groups.

What is an Obstacle?

The underpinnings and support you build for yourself when you begin to implement change in your life are first challenged and often thwarted by what you perceive as obstacles that get in the way of your transition. If you can become aware of these obstacles, you give yourself the permission to change the meaning of the very obstacle(s) that stand in your way. Begin by redefining the word “obstacle”:

“The brick walls are there for a reason. The brick walls are not there to keep us out; the brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something. . . the brick walls are there to stop the people who don’t want it badly enough. . . they’re there to stop the ‘other’ people.”

–Randy Pausch, Carnegie Mellon Professor and author of The Last Lecture

In Susan Hanshaw’s Inner Architect: How To Build The Life You Were Designed To Live, Phase 3 “Breaking Through Fear” contains a very important tool when considering your obstacles: Step 8 “Define What Lies Between You And Change.”

3 Common Types of Obstacles:

1. Fears: Your thoughts about your ability to successfully create change

2. Limited Beliefs: What you think you are capable of acheiveing or becoming

3. Lack of Commitment: Not being completely dedicated to the work involved with the necessary steps

Ultimate Responsibility:

Accountability for your actions and efforts is the ultimate responsibility we all have to ourselves.

“We can commit to becoming accountable and responsible to our jobs-careers, to our family and friends, yet we often don’t make that same commitment to ourselves.”

–Susan Hanshaw, Founder/CEO and author,Inner Architect

In becoming aware of the power of your mind we often believe our thoughts are the most powerful tools available to us. The area we often ignore are the words we choose in expressing ourselves to others as well as to the universe. If you begin to consider the following tip, it will help you manage the power of your mind in creating the reality that you desire.

Word Tip: Consider your words “audio” versions of your thoughts, give your words the same power as you do your thoughts, and consequently say what you really mean because the power of your words matches the power of your thoughts. Remember to utilize words for the reality you wish to create not to complain or identify dissatisfying aspects of your reality

3 Steps To Managing Your Words

1. Awareness: remember that your words can either nurture or stunt the development of your vision-reality. Manage them accordingly

2. Commitment: make the commitment to honor what it is you wish to create by choosing supportive and positive words

3. Follow Through: attempt to “think before you speak”; this is a great policy that will help to make sure your words are in alignment with what you wish to create. You will not be able to do this all of the time but try, before verbally communicating, to measure the power of your words

You now have the confidence you can change your career and design the job you will love.

You have made the commitment to developing your vision.

Effort is the fuel for this development and the quality you bring to your new project. All the pieces are in place-now comes the hardest part that separates those who want to get to their goals and those who want to get to their goals and follow their action plan: perseverance.

Three Steps To Maintaining Your Perseverance

1. Dreams Come True: Be of the mindset that this is your chance to make your dream come true. Working on your dream is more fulfilling and meaningful than working on someone else’s business. Watch your mindset

2. No Room For Regrets: Don’t allow yourself to be side tracked, sabotaged, or completely derailed by any regrets that could arise from not doing everything possible to achieve your dream goals. Learn from your regrets but do not spend anymore time than to learn–the lesson step here is to value the present and the future

3. Challenge Your Weaknesses: Expect anything worth achieving to come with a set of challenges. Most of these challenges will test your weaknesses. Remind yourself that these challenges will be well worth conquering on your way to reaching your goals