Identify what’s blocking your results.

Making a career transition, whether it’s to find a new job, assume new responsibilities or start a business, is stressful. If the stress is positive, it can increase your chances for success. If it’s negative, however, it can undermine your efforts when you most need to project confidence and achieve results.

Hiring managers, for instance, often can detect anxiety and desperation during job interviews. Executives who can’t handle change-related stress won’t be effective in the current corporate workplace because jobs today involve constant change.

Learning to maximize your time allows you to accomplish what you want. The battle cry of this era is "I don't have time." Before you can make decisions about the best use of your time, you must be clear about your goals. Good planning and a focus on your priorities will help you to feel in charge of your life.

Work has the potential to be a vehicle for your creative self-expression as well as cover your expenses. A key success strategy is to choose work that suits your talents and lifestyle and reflects your passion as well.

Bonnie, president of a small business consulting company, stares at the stacks of paper on her desk. For weeks now, she hasn't been able to concentrate on her work. Her once contagious enthusiasm has deteriorated to apathy.

Trevor, a top sales representative, overhears a co-worker complain: "What's the matter with Trevor? He has no patience with anyone and criticizes everything we do." Trevor fumes over these words and pops another tranquilizer to dull his escalating rage. He must concentrate on his sales quota.