Are you waiting for news or an update? Maybe you have sent out a few dozen or a few hundred resumes and haven’t been invited for an interview yet, or perhaps you had an interview and haven’t been able to get any feedback or update. Are you getting nervous? Of course you are.

Nervous energy can be a very powerful tool when coupled with hope, optimism, and a positive attitude. We cannot mask the realities of unemployment, nor should we. Instead we just need to amplify our efforts and attitude, keeping ourselves and our support systems around us energized.

When you think you have sent out as many resumes as possible, send out more. If you feel like you have reached out to everyone in your circle of family, friends, and prior businesses associates, reach out again. At the end of the day you may have left a dozen follow up voice mails, pick up the telephone and make more calls. If you think you have checked each and every job board, search the Internet again to find more sources.

Waiting for news or updates from prospective employers without maintaining an aggressive and active approach to your job search is not the answer. We have to fill our minds with good, positive, and powerful thoughts. If we yield an inch to negativity it will take a yard, corrupting our attitudes and behaviors that will invariably become apparent when we do get that call back or invitation to interview.

Zig Ziglar says it this way, “You can change where you are and what you are by changing what goes into your mind.” While aggressively pursuing new career opportunities also take the time to renew your spirit and sharpen your mind with motivational materials in audio, video, or book forms. Find authors and content that really resonate with you personally, maybe even a local seminar. Surround yourself with other like-minded individuals who see hope instead of fear. And avoid getting together or connecting with people who cannot adopt or adapt a positive outlook, they will just drag you down. Misery does love company, so if you are in one of these groups or find yourself gravitating towards one, take the high road and be the voice or excitement and enthusiasm raising their energy levels.

Sooner or later good news will be here, maybe not tomorrow and maybe not next week, but it is coming. An update via e-mail or returned call is just around the corner. And if you are nervous, that’s a good thing as it will keep you focused on your skills and activity. Hold yourself accountable to believing in you!

Wow, thanks again for all the e-mails, your insights and input, are greatly appreciated. Let me know about your job search and if you did find a job let me know how you did that so I can share it with others at msnorton@comcast.net and make it a better than good week! I believe in you!

Michael Norton, a resident of Highlands Ranch, is the former president of the Zig Ziglar organization and CEO and founder of www.candogo.com.