Even a Turkey Can Fly

By Dan Miller
48days.com

CBN.com – If you’re reading this, I know you’re not a “turkey.” Rather, you are likely an eagle, a bird with much different characteristics. You are already rising above the turbulence we are seeing in the workplace today. Check out the first article below to confirm that you are on the right track.

If you need a re-alignment in your work life, we’ve got The Ultimate Fresh Start Package – that includes 48 Days to the Work You Love and other materials that will help you move into work that matters -- for only $48.

”Don't waste your life in doubts and fears: spend yourself on the work before you, well assured that the right performance of this hour's duties will be the best preparation for the hours or ages that follow it.” -- Ralph Waldo Emerson

In a tornado, even a turkey can fly

This is a quote from venture capitalist Eugene Kleiner. He understood that when the economy is strong, even bad companies can look good. His principle seems to have application as we look at the current economy and workplace.

We know the job and business market have taken a beating in the last two months. In the five years prior to that, it seemed any investment was sure to go up, any house would appreciate in value, even questionable products could be pushed through with flashy marketing, and "just doing your job" could still get you a paycheck. Now it’s pretty clear we are in the downward turn of a cycle – or perhaps it should be called a cleansing, a purging, or a healthy realignment. Wall Street is admitting that many of the “investments” they sold us were nothing but smoke and mirrors. Houses do not automatically just appreciate in value. Interest-only mortgages are a really bad proposition. Starbucks cannot just keep adding new locations without careful planning.

But we also know that great people prove themselves in tough times, not easy ones. Butterflies don’t fall out of trees; they first struggle relentlessly to push out of the cocoon. Great people survive adversity by returning to integrity, character, and hard work.

In No More Mondays I outline the five characteristics we see in highly successful people:

Passion
Determination
Talent
Self-Discipline
Faith

Those characteristics will allow you to survive this cycle and to thrive in the next five years. This is a time to clearly identify your strongest areas of competence. “Turkeys” will fall back to the ground -- but YOU are not one of them; you can find those unique opportunities and soar even in tough times. And remember, this is a cycle. If you focus on the “downturn,” you will be discouraged. Focus on the “cycle” and prepare now to take full advantage of the inevitable upswing.

A tornado is a temporary and artificial environment. Don’t depend on one to create artificial success either. Comment here.

But I don’t have enough time

The biggest deterrent I hear to starting a new business, writing a new book, becoming an expert in one area, or moving up the ladder of achievement in any way is “I don’t have enough time.”

I just received my Nov/Dec issue of The Futurist magazine. In an article on How Americans Spend Their Time, it reports a recent Bureau of Labor Statistics survey. Among other findings it shows:

Watching television remains the single most common and most time-consuming leisure activity among Americans. Both men and women spend an average of 2.6 hours per day surfing channels from the couch.

Holy Moley! 2.6 hours a day. What are these people thinking? That’s 18.2 hours a week, 78.8 hours a month, or 949 hours a year. A typical work week only accounts for 2000 hours a year – so we’re talking about almost half as much time spent watching TV! You know what you could learn and accomplish in that same amount of time?

I’m convinced a person could take that TV time, read a great business book every week, spend 4-5 hours focused on developing a new business, 30 minutes a day in quiet meditation that would explode their creativity, and still catch 10 minutes of daily news on TV. In 90 days that person would have clarity about their passion, purpose, and calling, in six months they could put themselves in the top 3% in income, and after one year would look back in amazement that they wasted so much time previously.

Comment here

48 Days Online Radio

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. This one is from October 15.

I begin by commenting briefly on the state of the economy and sharing a couple of helpful resources sent in by listeners. I’ve been getting asked a lot about whether this is even the time to be looking for new, innovative ideas – or should we just get ready for a long, cold barren winter? Then I hit the great questions – lots of variety and always more interesting than I could possibly dream up.

What should I do if I know I want a home business but have no idea what I would do? I don’t have any unique skill or idea as a starting point.
How do I know what to charge for my services? Business owners are asking me to help them conduct business in other languages.
I have an idea for a business but don’t have the money to start. Should I borrow it or just wait until I can save it myself?
How can I get your list of 48 low-cost ways to promote my business?
What do I need to be able to do a podcast like you’re doing?
I’m living in Sydney, Australia and am ready to buy a cleaning franchise. Is this a bad time to start a business of my own?

If you have a question, just click on the 48 Days Online Radio link 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

212ºConnection
If you’d like to be a group where you can get inspiration for taking your ideas to a whole new level, check out our 212ºConnection. Every day new people are becoming part of the exciting group – sharing ideas and gaining momentum. You can read all about it here – and see the growing number who are turning their ideas into time freedom and income.

FishNet Live Concerts
On October 25th and November 1st I’ll be speaking at the FishNet Live concerts along with Mandisa, Chantel Hobbs, Jeff Allen, Mary Mary. and the David Crowder Band. I’d be delighted to have you join us for those events in Woodbridge and Hampton, VA.

Personal Coaching
Many of you are asking about my personal coaching. Yes, I still work with two to three people a month. And, yes, we get a lot of requests. I screen each request and either contact you myself – or refer you to a matching coach in our network. I take seriously the confidence shown by the requests and make sure each one is given personal attention. If you want to review the options and give me some basic information, I’ll be honored to evaluate it and give you some feedback. Just go to Personal Coaching and get started.

Chuck Bowen Coaching - Financial, Career, & Business
"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
Need help releasing the butterfly in you?
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!

Quotes: Tough Times

”Human kindness has never weakened the stamina or softened the fiber of a free people. A nation does not have to be cruel to be tough.” —Franklin D. Roosevelt

”Strong managers who make tough decisions to cut jobs provide the only true job security in today's world. Weak managers are the problem. Weak managers destroy jobs.” —Jack Welch

”Again and again, the impossible problem is solved when we see that the problem is only a tough decision waiting to be made.” —Robert H. Schuller

”Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” —Winston Churchill

"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us." —Ralph Waldo Emerson

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.