Date: 9/29/99

Dear World's Greatest Expert on Getting the RIGHT job,

You asked me to keep you posted -- so I am doing that now! 

Wow. I gave up the classifieds, remembered what my value was and set about researching 7 companies that I wanted to find out about. I did the studying, and then wrote letters personally to each of the head honchos at those companies demonstrating my ability to "think through" their situations. Five of them have called me in for interviews, claiming to be "intrigued by my unconventional approach."

I found out about jobs that no one knew existed and have even had an offer to become a partner in one of them! Yikes! Now I am assessing each offer I've gotten to determine if it is right for me.

I learned something important about myself in the process and it is this: I need to like what I do. It seems obvious, but in the endless interview process you get scared and forget that. I want to be paid well and I like benefits as much as the next guy. But, being able to get up in the morning thinking, "Yippee!" is a big one for me.

Besides the very practical information in your book, the one piece that truly turned me around was the part where you talked about remembering your value.

Thanks again, Nick, for pointing me in the direction of my own sense of value. The employment scene didn't change -- I did.

I owe you big.

Warm Regards,

Laurel Hastings