"It's too late. I've spent too many years doing exactly what was expected of me: being a good son. a good husband, a good father. In my company I'm known as a 'good soldier'. When I ask myself what I am about. I'd have to say I don't know any. more. I've tried for so long to fit in, I've held back for so lone, I don't know what or who I am." Middle-Aged Executive, Multinational Corporation

High self-esteem provides the power to know what and who we are. It gives us the courage to live out that very personal knowledge in our daily actions, choices and way of interacting with the world. Conversely, low self-esteem cripples the ability to "make waves" on behalf of what we know is right and truthful for ourselves. In extreme cases, it hides what the individual wants. In striving to achieve emotional security, acceptance and a sense of belonging, people who don't think well of themselves violate their own life and its directives in favor of the wishes and expectations of others.

People with high self-esteem have many advantages when it comes to choosing their right livelihoods. Thus, as a first step in our discussion of this topic, it is helpful to examine the critically important skills and characteristics that such individuals share:

•  They know what they want because they hear themselves, are able to pay attention to the silent, indwelling push to pursue one career or life-path over another. In this way they acknowledge their unique life's purpose.

•  They have the sense or feeling that they deserve to have a life – including work – that makes them happy. They feel deserving because they have experienced themselves as being in their own corner, rather than abandoning what they know is right and fulfilling. They are not weighed down with the heavy, extraneous baggage of fear, guilt and nameless self-defeating thought patterns.

•  They solve problems creatively and assertively, acting from a consistent base of self-trust. Their self-statements tell them that they have what it takes to figure out what to do. They have learned that they must respond to trouble, and so they face squarely whatever challenges they meet.

•  They are self-disciplined and willing to take time to get what they want. Not compulsively motivated to have everything "instantly," people with high self-esteem are willing to pay the costs of being in charge of their own lives. This means they behave in consistently disciplined, patient, concentrated ways, as opposed to hoping that someone will do the difficult chores for them or rescue them from the tedious, demanding task at hand. This characteristic further bolsters their self-esteem.

By contrast, those with low self-esteem do not know what they want out of life. They have lived protected, restricted, perhaps indulged or abused lives so much that their day-to-day behaviors are constricted, fear-motivated and timid. The person with a healthy self-view knows how to fend for himself, in work as well as in other areas of life. He places great reliance upon himself in determining the course of his life and in deciding how to act. Active, creative and enterprising, this individual initiates more activities directly related to his own life's goals than does the person with low self-esteem. As a result, his subjective level of comfort and satisfaction is higher, too.

Unconscious Power
The unconscious mind is a very powerful tool. Take advantage of this and each night before heading off to bed, take some time to pose questions to yourself and then allow your mind to hash them out while you sleep. In addition, mediate in whatever way you find relaxing before going to bed to clear your mind from clutter and allow the subconscious mind to go to work.

Identify Procrastinations
If you have a problem with procrastination, make a list of the things you constantly put on hold. This will help you identify your poor patterns and make the appropriate adjustments. Local colleges often have improvement courses regarding making better decisions and procrastination. Locate a class that would help you with this kind of challenge.

Want Versus Need
When you strive for success, do it because you want it, not because you need it. When you want something, it brings about intention, desire, and action. However, when you need something, it will lead to pain, stress, and frustration.

"One of the greatest discoveries a man makes, one of his great surprises, is to find he can do what he was afraid he couldn't do." – Henry Ford (1863-1947)

"The competitor to be feared is one who never bothers about you at all, but goes on making his own business better all the time." – Henry Ford (1863-1947)

"The only real security that a man will have in this world is a reserve of knowledge, experience, and ability." – Henry Ford (1863-1947)