CAREER
Do You Deserve a Better Life?
By Dan Miller
48days.com
CBN.com –
The first week of 2009 has obviously already brought you perhaps heartache, challenges, opportunities, new adventures, or unexpected pleasures. Aren't you glad we can take an active part in choosing what the year will bring – or do you take comfort in thinking that you are simply a victim of circumstances? I hope you are in that first group and that you have already decided what the New Year will look like for you.
We have a ”Collective Intelligence” project going on over at 48Days.net. If you have found or created the work you love, please submit your story. If selected in this ebook of 100 “No More Mondays” stories, you will get a link to your personal site and be able to give this to all your friends.
You’ll also see answers to tough questions like the forum discussion going on right now on ”Health Insurance is eating us alive.”
And if you need a fresh start for the year, browse around on the discounted packages Ashley has put together. You’ll find resources to help you break through any obstacles and make 2009 your best year ever.
"There are costs and risks to a program of action, but they are far less than the long range risks and costs of comfortable inaction." — John F. Kennedy
When Fear Gets in the Way
Here’s a question I received today from a coaching request:
Hi Dan,
I am sitting here working on my goals, but I am finding it very difficult, especially on my financial goals. I have put some numbers down with what I would like to make in one year and in five years, but I do not have a clue at this point how or what. At this point in the stage I still feel very lost and not sure of where I am going or what I will be doing. I don’t know if that is because of being beat down so much or what. I have been told so many times to get my head out of the clouds that I think I am starting to believe that. I so badly want to have this belief in myself, but I am finding it very hard. Do you have any recommendations to help me get past this? It is ingrained in my head that I have to find a good job to provide for my family and that is it. I know there is so much more for me, but I am scared to really let go and venture out. I hope you see where I am coming from. I want to move forward, but I am finding it very hard. What can I do to get past this? Even with network marketing, I found this to be my problem. I saw what I could be, but I just wouldn’t let go of this fear I am holding onto. Thanks again so much for your help.
Your consternation is not uncommon. Everything in our culture teaches us to be "realistic" and "practical." We are taught to stay inside the lines in school and to stay on the sidewalk and off the grass on the way home. Being "responsible" seems to force us to forego dreams and just get a reasonable job. The "HOW" stops us before we get clear on the "WHAT." I couldn't start my own business because I don't have any money. I can't get a good job because I don't have a college degree. I can't help people because I can't even meet my own family's needs. We derail the clarity of our dreams by seeing why it won't work in advance. Now some people come by this trait very naturally (perhaps having the gift of skepticism or cynicism); for others it just comes as a result of life beating us down.
Here's the irony of what you have already done. Being in multiple business ventures and network marketing puts you a lot closer to the success you're looking for than if you had never tried anything unusual. Most people who end up extremely successful tried four to five ideas that did not work well before hitting their home-run. Sending for a business opportunity that turned out to be junk, taking a job that didn't work out, or buying a piece of real estate where you lost money are all great ways to learn more about how you will ultimately be successful.
Rick Pitino, the basketball coach, says that failure is the fertilizer for success. If you are pumping water from a desert well, you have to pour the little cup of water left there down the hole to wet the seal. Then you pump relentlessly without seeing any water for a very long time. But you can't stop – if you stop, the water may actually be two feet below the surface. You can't see it, but your efforts are really paying off.
Here's what I want you to do at this point. Don' try to plan the methods for your success; rather, just describe what success would mean for you. What would an ideal day be? How would you feel physically? What would you want to be contributing to your church, neighborhood, and community? What would you like the image to be of you as a husband and daddy? What is an annual income you would need for the life you are describing? You will find that as you are able to describe the "WHAT" that the "HOW" will start to come into view in unexpected ways.
I learned this, at least, by my experiment; that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours. — from the "Conclusion" to Walden, Henry David Thoreau
For information on Dan’s Eagles Club coaching process
Why are You Doing That?
Here's a story from ThinkerToys by Michael Michalko. Imagine a cage containing five monkeys. Inside the cage there is a banana on a string. Before long a monkey walks over and reaches for the banana. As soon as he touches the banana, all the monkeys are sprayed with cold water. After a while another monkey makes an attempt to grab the banana – with the same result. All the monkeys are instantly sprayed with cold water. Pretty soon, when another monkey tries to reach for the banana, the other monkeys will try to stop him.
Yes, you can quickly teach the monkeys to stop each other from eating the one food they all love and that is nutritious and readily available.
Many of the things we do in our churches, businesses, and relationships don’t have a basis in common sense, either – they just became “normal” because people have been doing it that way for a very long time.
Does your church sit in pews, sing three songs, and have a 30-minute sermon because that's normal? Does your company require you to be at the office each day because you could not do the same work from home? Maybe it’s time to take a fresh look at some of the things you’ve accepted as normal.
Read the rest of the article
48 Days Online Radio: No Money, No Problem
Each week I create a new online radio podcast — that you can hear in iTunes or at the 48 Days Online Radio Show link below.
With all the holiday activities at the Miller house, I did not produce a new podcast this week.
So I thought I'd highlight one of the most popular ones from 2008. On June 11, 2008 the podcast was titled No Money – No Problem
If you're starting the New Year off with questions about money being an obstacle, you may want to check this out.
I begin this podcast by sharing about a lunch meeting with an up-and-coming music star in Nashville. Then I spend the rest of the time dealing with this all so common question: How can I possibly start an idea of my own without “enough” money? We had 4,685 questions submitted for our recent 212ºConnection teleseminar. Probably 800-900 dealt with this issue. Here’s just a sampling. Then you can listen to my reasons for moving ahead even if you have zero money.
1. I have worked for a single employer for 30 years. I can retire now with half of my present income with no benefits. I need to earn enough money to make up the difference plus health care for my family (wife and four kids ages 6 to 13). The idea of self employment sounds like a great adventure from the present torture of my current job. I am 49.
2. My greatest concern is that we have so much debt that I feel like we will never get out of it so that I can pursue my dream of owning my own business.
3. I need cash flow and looking for that is interfering with building my business – a bit ironic.
4. How do I transition from employee to entrepreneur without losing income?
5. My greatest concern is that I will not be able to provide income for my family.
6. I have an idea of a business I want to invest in when I save up, but I keep hearing that I can start a business with no capital. But without the structure of the pre-set up business, I'm not sure I will every actually follow through.
7. My idea is good but what is stopping me is my credit. I don't think I can afford the start-up cost.
If you have a question, just click on the 48 Days Online Radio link below and you can ask about starting your own business, getting a better job, or finding your purpose in life.
That’s the same place you can listen to this week’s broadcast immediately – no downloading, no wait.
48 Days Highlights
Personal Coaching
Many of you are asking about my personal coaching. Yes, I still work with a few people each month – and I still love the process. This is a great time to be planning to make 2009 the best year of your life. Also, keep in mind that many companies encourage and pay for professional coaching or transition assistance if needed. With the current workplace changes, people are requesting my coaching as part of their layoff package. If you want to review the options and provide me with some basic information, I’ll be honored to evaluate it and give you some starting feedback. Just go to Personal Coaching and get started.
The Future of ‘Intelligent Dreaming’
48Days.net is our newest project – and, wow, are you all responding! People just like you, with ideas and energy, are joining this “idea network” to share and grow together. You’ll see groups have already formed on speaking, writing, sales, parenting, and inventing. If you have an interest and don’t see it here, you can start your own group. There’s no charge – it’s just one more benefit of being part of the 48 Days family.
Chuck Bowen - Financial & Business Coaching
"Need to do better (maybe a lot better?) with your personal finances? Is your business as profitable, or enjoyable, as you'd like it to be? Contact Chuck Bowen Coaching. If you want to transform your life permanently for the better, he's your guy. Chuck serves as president of our 212 Connection and oversees the business side of that part of our business.
PRODUCT HIGHLIGHT
Know Yourself – Set Your Goals
The most popular product in the 48 Days arsenal continues to be the 48 Days Career Profile. Before you begin seeking a better job or self-employment, you need to be sure you are pursuing opportunities that match your personality style and will fulfill and reward you for a lifetime!
Humor: New Year’s Resolutions
An overweight businessman decided it was time to shed some excess pounds. He took his new diet seriously, even changing his driving route to avoid his favorite bakery. One morning, however, he arrived at work carrying a gigantic coffeecake. We all scolded him, but he just continued to smile.
"This is a very special coffeecake," he explained. "I accidentally drove by the bakery this morning and there in the window were a host of goodies. I felt this was no accident, so I prayed, 'Lord, if you want me to have one of those delicious coffeecakes, let me have a parking place directly in front of the bakery.'"
"And sure enough," he continued, "the eighth time around the block, there it was."
 Dan Miller is the bestselling author of 48 Days To The Work You Love and a renowned Life Coach specializing in career fulfillment. His weekly newsletter reaches 70,000 subscribers. Dan’s articles are featured here at CBN every Tuesday, and you can find out more about Dan at www.48days.com.
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