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Swine Flu

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Here in the UK every household this week received a little booklet in the mail – Swine Flu Information.

This 10 page booklet contains such useful gems as “carry tissues”, “cover your mouth and nose when you cough and sneeze” and “wash your hands often”.

I would never have thought of any of those.

It even lists among the possible symptoms – headache, sore throat, tiredness and aching muscles. Just about what you would get after a big night in the pub.

To be fair it also listed another symptom as loss of appetite. My wife, who is trying to lose some weight, now wants to know where she can get some of this swine flu.

I think we might file it in the “more silly government initiatives” section.
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Secrets of Success

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Instead of worrying about swine flu let’s  think about Success and what you can achieve.

Read this quotation and see if you know who it is.

"I began to harbour doubts about the path I had chosen; I began feeling the way I imagine an actor or athlete must feel when, after years of waiting tables between auditions or scratching out hits in the minor leagues,  he realizes that he's gone just about as far as talent or fortune will take him. The dream will not happen, and now he faces the choice of accepting this fact like a grown-up and moving on to more sensible pursuits, or refusing the truth and ending up bitter, quarrelsome, and slightly pathetic".

He goes on to say:

"At some point, though, I had arrived at acceptance -of my limits...... I refocused on my work.... and took satisfaction from the reforms and initiatives that my position afforded. I spent more time at home, and watched my daughters grow, and properly cherished my wife, and thought about my long term financial obligations. I exercised and read novels. And it was this acceptance, I think, that allowed me to come up with the thoroughly cockeyed idea of running for the United States Senate."

Have you guessed yet? This quote of only a few short years ago was made by no less than current US President Barack Obama.

The quotes are taken from his book "The Audacity of Hope".

Those comments also apply to anyone who is trying to forge a career in the corporate or Information Technology worlds.

Success comes by:

- accept where and what you are now

- focus on the job you have and do it well

- nurture the people around you

- think about where you want to go

- increase your general level of relevant knowledge

- look out for the opportunities that WILL come along

What you want and what you do about it are far more important than your age, present position and qualifications.

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There is no doubt these are difficult times. I personally know many unemployed or under-employed IT professionals. Some are really struggling. Most of these people have never known unemployment before.

That’s the bad news. The good news is – these recessions always end, and when they do things bounce back very quickly.

Whether it’s later this year or in 2010 things will improve and these same people will be turning down job offers and enjoying a high income again.

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So right now is the perfect time to re-invent yourself and prepare for the good times just around the corner.

We at Jack's Guides are committed to helping you realise your potential.

We believe that anyone with average intelligence can find the IT career they want. The paradox is - it's an industry desperate for talented people and yet it's not at all clear how people can get into it or prosper in it.

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These topics are discussed at length in our e-book “Jack’s Guide to Lots More Money” available at http://www.jacksguides.com/itjobs.html

If you are ready to make the leap into a much better paid job or contract, and be perfectly positioned as the recession eases, see our website at www.jacksguides.com