It has always been my experience in life that when I am faced with a problem, no matter how big, taking action is the key.  When I say taking action, I mean even if the action is just a baby step - the bottom line is that without exception, I have found that action inevitably leads to a positive result.

Now, it is easy for me to say it, but I gave this exact advice to my own son when his business failed and he had to find a job.  It is always hard to know as a parent when to intervene and save the day and when to let them sink or swim.  In my son's case, I felt that if I had intervened I would have done little more than emasculate him.  No, he had to find his own way if ever he was to become the man he could be, so I did not do the easy thing and send him a check to paper it all over.  Instead, I told him to hit the street, do what he had to do, not wait for want ads in the newspaper or online to show him the way, and just pound on doors and make applications everywhere he could.

On background, my eldest son is not a college graduate.  He is a hard worker but has no specialized job skills like an x-ray tech or computer programmer.  His was not an academic path.  Instead, he is a people person and that is a harder sale than a specific job skill when finding work.  So he had a couple of strikes against him in this horrible job climate as there are many college graduates out there competing for the same positions.

More than once he called me dispirited and I could tell he wanted me to step in and save the day.  I did not.  Instead I gave him this simple advice; action always leads to a positive result. Keep pounding the streets, keep making contacts or new customers even if the company you are at says it is not hiring, and good things will result.  And what happened?

Within 2 weeks he was offered a great job selling industrial chemicals with a huge company and he is now making an excellent living and has a bright future!  And interestingly enough, he got the job because he happened to walk in at the very moment that the boss at the company had found out that a key employee was leaving and had to find a replacement.  He was in the right place at the right time but wouldn't have been if he were sitting home dejected at the lack of jobs or opportunity.

Look gang, bosses love initiative.  If you pound that pavement, make those calls, and if you get lots of "No's" sooner or later, you will get a yes.  Action breeds success, period.  No miraculous save is going to happen to you if you are sitting in your living room.  I promise!