'Right' Turns Only

By Dan Miller
48days.com

CBN.com – The fall weather reminds us that another year is coming to a close. I know there are many legitimate concerns with the economic turmoil and the recent elections. If you need a recharging of your dreams, join us for an evening discussion of "Hold Fast to Dreams" on November 13th, here at The Sanctuary. See details below.

If you need to find more “right” turns in your life we’ve got The Eaglepreneur Package – that includes No More Mondays and other materials that will help you move into work that matters– for only $48.

A man asked the famous psychiatrist Dr. Carl Menninger, "What would you advise a person to do if he felt a nervous breakdown coming on?" Most people expected him to reply, "Consult a psychiatrist." To their astonishment he replied, "Lock up your house, go across the railroad tracks, find someone in need, and do something to help that person."

Turn to the Right

Wouldn’t it be nice if you could avoid wrong turns in your life? If you could predict in advance the “right” job, investment, or business? I laughed recently when I read that UPS drivers are instructed to make as many right turns as possible, avoiding the waiting that making left turns often requires. In fact, efficiency is so much a part of the UPS culture that 90% of their turns are to the right, as opposed to the left. UPS trucks drove 2.5 billion miles last year, but they estimate that by turning right whenever possible they saved over 28 million miles of driving and three million gallons of fuel.

What if you could find the “right” turns in your own life, avoiding the ones that wasted time, money, and energy? Is there a computer system or programming code that could map things out that strategically? Maybe not, but I’m confident that if we put comparable time into planning our future as UPS does into driving efficiently, we could dramatically increase our success and sense of fulfillment. Too often I talk with people who have just allowed life to “happen” rather than recognizing they can plan and guide tomorrow and the coming years.

Decide now what you want 2009 to look like. Decide what “success” means for you. As part of my 2006 goals, I had written that I wanted to do 25 radio/TV interviews that year. On January 21st of this year, I did 18 radio interviews on that day alone. This year I have done close to 250 interviews. The writing and personal goals I identified in 2006 seem small now – but if I had not written them down, they would likely have never come into view.

Are you identifying your “right” turns for 2009? If not, you will be pulled along by the circumstances of your surroundings. Let’s just commit to making “right” turns 90% of the time in the coming year – and why not go ahead and start today?

What are you full of?

Yes, I know times are tough. I spoke at an event just outside of Washington, D.C., last weekend and had a chance to talk to people who are wondering if there is any reason to be cheerful or optimistic.

As a Russian priest (1829 – 1908), Father John Sergiev first thought he wanted to be a monk in the remote areas of Siberia, but after a vision, he realized God wanted him to be a missionary right where he was – in the hustle and bustle of the big urban city of St. Petersburg. While most priests remained in the safe confines of their cathedrals, Father John would go out into the noisy, dirty, crime-ridden slums and back alleys of the city.

He would find someone down and out in the gutter, sleeping off the effects of the previous night’s drink and activities. Father John would cup his chin, look him in the eyes, and say, “This is beneath your dignity. You were created to house the fullness of God.” Wherever he went, people found new hope and optimism because they discovered, or were reminded, of who they were. Seeing ourselves in the light of who God made us to be is both exciting and contagious.

So, are you housing the fullness of God today? If you are full of despair and hopelessness because of the current economic situation, I doubt there is room for much else. If you are angry and resentful because your stocks crashed or you lost your job, I suspect that is what people will first notice about you.

Can you remember what you were created for? When I hear people complain about how bad their lives are, I’m going to start saying, “This is beneath your dignity. You were created to house the fullness of God.”

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.

Should I stay humble and be underpaid – or move on?

I’ve been fired and I’m suing the company. How do I tell a potential employer about this?
How do I need to handle taxes as a self-employed individual?
I know what to do but don’t act – is there any hope for me?
I have strong academic abilities but don’t know what to do with that
How can I get paid for my ideas?
Despite vast experience, successful leadership, implementation of many projects, and achieving unprecedented cost savings, I have never been promoted to Director level or beyond. Should I continue to humble myself, work as to the Lord, and wait to be “exalted in due time,” or is it time to move on?

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

Hold Fast to Your Dreams Event
On Thursday night, November 13, I will be hosting a live event here in my office building, a converted barn we call The Sanctuary. I’ll be speaking on the topic “Hold Fast to Your Dreams.” The focus will be how to create your own work security by recognizing the opportunity that exists right during this ‘economic turmoil.’ We only have room for 117 people, but if you’d like to be recharged or see how you can thrive in 2009, click on the link to see the details. I’d love to see you there. Oh and as a 48Days subscriber, just enter the code 48DAYS into the Coupon Code for a $31 discount off the $48 registration fee.

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.

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.

Quotes

“Indecision is the greatest thief of opportunity.”– Robert Schuller

“The indispensable first step to getting the things you want out of life is this: decide what you want." – Ben Stein

“Once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen." – Ralph Waldo Emerson

“A wise man makes his own decisions; an ignorant man follows public opinion." – Chinese proverb

“The secret of success in life is for a man to be ready for his opportunity when it comes." – Benjamin Disraeli

“Opportunity dances with those who are already on the dance floor." – H. Jackson Brown Jr.

“There is no more miserable human being than one in whom nothing is habitual but indecision." – The Principles of Psychology, 1890

“The inability to make a decision is often described as patience – or ‘waiting on God.’” – Dan Miller

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.