For those visitor's around the world, who may not be familiar with the following word, I will define it for you.

- hooky; (definition) unjustifiable absence from school or work, etc.

We've all had to go to school, and nobody promised any of us a rose garden! In the year 2008, we live in a world economy, which means more competition for everyone, and the days of job security in the work place is over in the United States!

"I was taught that the way of progress is neither swift nor easy." Murie Curie

For over a decade or so, I have lost six jobs, due to layoffs...and all for legitimate reasons such as: defense cuts; companies closing; down-sizing; out sourcing, etc. I have never been fired from a job because of attitude, poor attendance or anything else.

Here, in Albuquerque, New Mexico (USA), where I live, we have had several large companies close or move out of town including, Motorola, Seimens, Digital, Phiips Semi-Conductors; Trend Technologies; EG&G; Plastech; and the last large company to close its doors, was the large call center at AOL, and over 1,000 people lost their jobs! AOL had been in town since 1996, and they closed at the end of 2006.

Many years ago, and during one of my job interviews, I was asked the following question: "What is one of the most important things you've accomplished thus far in your life?" The answer was easy. "Quit smoking," was my response. (See: Smoking Sucks: How I Quit Smoking)

It took DISCIPLINE to quit smoking! I lost 40 pounds in 2001, and it took DISCIPLINE to lose weight as well. (See: Here's the Skinny On How I Lost 40 Pounds) Today, young people will have to exercise DISCIPLINE to stay in school, if they want to succeed in life. One of the most important things I learned while I was in the U.S. Air Force for four years...was DISCIPLINE!

"Life has no limitations, except the ones you make." Les Brown

Peer-pressure is not just for teen-agers. The ugly face of peer-pressure will follow us all to the grave, by those who want us to go in a different direction with our lives. DISCIPLINE is required to fight off peer-pressure, by those who want to get us in trouble, or take you down into the gutter with them, etc. Always remember the old saying, "misery loves company!" "You can't do it!" Whether it's losing weight; quitting smoking; making the team; auditioning for the orchestra...you'll always have somebody around you say that you can't do it! I call these type of people the "little minds of the world," and when somebody tells me something like that, it motivates me more and I am more determined to accomplish my goals, etc.

In the year 2008, the world economy brings with it more competition for jobs. My father died in 1996, and he worked at General Electric for over 35 years. Those days of job secruity are gone forever. Most companies today are not offering a benefit package or a pension, etc. You're going to have to provide all that yourself.

For lack of a better word, everyone knows that the cost of education today is OBSCENE! How do parents put their kids through college is beyond me, with all the greed in society. Young people should try to get the education where they can; community college; military; correspondence courses; the school of hard knocks, etc. Young people, today, have to realize that their journey through life, wil be a life-time of learning, to try to stay on this fast-moving train we're all on.

"There's no more security on earth...only opportunity." Douglas MacArther

Here are a couple of facts, that I hope will inspire the reader no matter at what age.

- In my 40's, I went back to the books and completed three writing courses; the Writer's Digest course; the National Writers Club course; and a creative writing course at the University of New Mexico, and all this took about 15 months to complete.

- In my 50's, and with the computer revolution upon us, I completed three computer classes which included the following; Windows 3.1; Word 6.0; WordPerfect 5.1 and MicroSoft Excel. All this took about a year to complete. Employers are demanding more and more out of their employees, and it was a must that I get computer skills.

Winners are never quitters...and quitters are never winners! Isn't that the way the saying goes? Don't break the promise you made to yourself, and finish the job you started in school. Here are a few tips I can offer;

- Never use the word, "fail," use "set-back" instead.

- Nothing worthwhile doing comes easy. If you fall down, find the courage to get up again and continue on your journey.

- Think for yourself...and THINK POSITIVE.

- Don't hang around the wrong people, and STAY OFF DRUGS!

- Believe in yourself. People who don't even try, are the losers and failures of the world, so feel good about yourself.

So, decide what you want in life, and don't let anyone distract you from reaching your goals and your dreams. To all the young people out there...STAY IN SCHOOL...you won't regret it! Remember, you're always number ONE to yourself...YOU CAN DO IT!