I trust you had the opportunity to watch or attend Dave Ramsey's Town Hall of Hope last Thursday evening. The response has been amazing - there really are a whole lot of you out there who are not jumping on the gloom and doom wagon. You can still get involved - spread the message of hope wherever you go. Hope combined with a plan of action will set you on a different course than those who are waiting on someone to fix their problems. Check it out and join the fun!

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This week's winner is Dana Williams from Dallas, Texas. Dana is a single mom who is charting a new course for herself after being let go from her job. She receives the 48 Days The Ultimate Fresh Start Package that includes: 48 Days to the Work You Love Interactive Study workbook with 2 CDs, 48 Days to the Work You Love, Is Your Job Your Calling CD? The Rudder of the Day, Negotiating Your Salary: How to Make $1,000 a Minute and our famous 48 Peppermints.

You can still get your name in the hat for this week's drawing. Just send me a quick note about how you lost your job to: outtawork@48Days.com

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Speaking of hope -- We are being inundated with inquiries about teaching the 48 Days Seminars. What a great time to be one who brings hope to those who are struggling. See the link below for more information.

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Ashley has put a super conGRADulation package together, full of tips and inspiration for the new graduates entering this volatile workplace: ConGRADulations Package

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"The fruits of a fulfilling life—happiness, confidence, enthusiasm, purpose, and money—are mainly by-products of doing something we enjoy, with excellence, rather than things we can seek directly."
- Dan Miller

We all watched the news in amazement on January 15th when Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger skillfully splashed US Airways Flight 1549 down in the Hudson River right there in New York City. All 155 passengers and crew members survived in the process. Captain "Sully" had a simple, yet compelling explanation in his interview with CBS news anchor Katie Couric: "One way of looking at this might be that, for 42 years, I've been making small, regular deposits in this bank of experience: education and training. And on January 15th the balance was sufficient so that I could make a very large withdrawal."

I'm always shocked when I talk to someone who is losing their job and then realize that they've gotten no new knowledge or training since getting that position 20 years ago. How could that possibly happen? In working with a laid off $230,000 accounting professional recently he said, "Dan, for 26 years I've had my head down and pencil up."

Inflation and declining stock values have eaten up a whole lot of people's financial investments already this year. But here's a no-lose proposition for you. Deposits made in your own personal development can never be eroded or taken away. If you read a book, attend a seminar or participate in a network discussion, that information and knowledge can never be downsized, outsourced, fired or uninstalled. It's yours forever and can quickly give you a reservoir that will make you a top contender for a job or put you in a position to launch your own business. When your opportunity shows up you'll be able to make your own large withdrawal and easily outshine the competition.

So here's a question: What if over the last ten years you had invested just $1500 a year in buying great books, going to two seminars a year, starting your own mastermind group, and spending 20 minutes a day on idea sharing sites like 48Days.net? How would your life be different today? How many new options do you think would be available to you?

So here's an idea - if you have $250 this month I'd suggest you go to a seminar or buy some books rather than investing in that GM stock you're broker's been suggesting.

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"You will be the same person in five years as you are today except for the people you meet and the books you read." - Charles "Tremendous" Jones

William and Mary had three children, two girls named Kristi and Libby and a son they nicknamed Trey. Since William was a successful Seattle attorney and Mary was a school teacher they thought a career in law would be an appropriate pursuit for their only son as well.

Imagine their pleasure when Trey scored 1590 out of a possible 1600 on the SAT. His parents were thrilled when he was accepted into Harvard in 1973. But Trey had a hard time finding a clear focus for his studies and spent most of his time playing around on the schools computers.

According to Trey's parents they were "sick when he told us he planned to leave college to take advantage of a window of opportunity he believed would be long gone by the time he graduated from Harvard." Much to the dismay of his parents, he dropped out of school forever in 1975.

In the father's recent book, Showing Up for Life, Trey's dad explains the lesson he learned as a father: "Perhaps there's a lesson in this for parents of other curious children who, from the start, require the freedom to meet life on their own terms: It is that there is no statute of limitations on the dreams you have for your children. And there is no way to predict how much delight you might feel when those dreams are realized in a far different way than you could have imagined."

Incidentally, Trey was chosen as a nickname because this son was the fourth William in the family tree. You may know him by his adult name, Bill Gates.

I am hearing from an increasing number of people around the world who describe the inspiration they get from these weekly podcasts. I continue to enjoy the opportunity of responding to your questions like these:

• You mentioned that you enjoy the challenge of starting ideas and once the idea is up and running you get bored with it pretty quickly. I too love to design, plan and implement ideas, but get bored once it is in place. My business goal is to develop products and ideas but I struggle with transitioning an idea into income.

• I was very average in high school and was told I was not college material. I feel I'm being pulled to do something better -- more meaningful... maybe going to college. But I'm terrified at 47.

• I am a very creative person and I have a Leonardo Da Vinci notebook full of ideas and inventions (20+). Fear stems from no money for my ideas. Should I seek out investors, legal counsel, ???

• I have been out of a FT job since 2004, and very discouraged. I want to pursue my calling, art, but realize that my wife and I need $ now. We have pond-scum payday loans to pay, plus other debt. Should I deliver pizzas?

• I have no sense of joy or accomplishment from a days work. I really enjoy the creative side of work. Is it feasible to turn my interests and passions into a business that will flourish and be able to provide for me financially? Part of the problem is that I am not a salesman.

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If you have a question, just email me at askdan@48Days.com and you can ask about starting your own business, getting a better job, or finding your purpose in life.

And you can click the link below to listen to this week's broadcast immediately - no downloading - no wait.

Lead the 48 Days Seminar
Are you someone who just naturally provides hope and encouragement? Would you like to help more people know the 48 Days principles? My daughter Ashley and I are offering a one-day training program to help anyone who wants to be ready to lead this six-week program. We'll provide you with a complete set of leader instructions, DVDs, and the confidence to begin sharing immediately. The one in March filled up very quickly. We'd love to work with you! Certified 48 Days Trainer

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Need a Job Description?
Business and Legal Reports - More than 700 pre-written job descriptions with suggested pay grade and the legal issues properly addressed. If you are hiring people - don't wing it on this. Job Descriptions

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The Office
This show highlghts some of the most disturbing things about a typical workplace. In this episode Michael quits his job then finds his whole industry is tanking. So he decides he'll start his own business - in the same industry. He tries to recruit his former co-workers with lines like: "This is a dream I've had since lunch and I'm not going to let it go." Starting my own business This is hilarious, painful, hopeful and pathetic all at the same time.

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ConGRADulations Package
Do you know someone getting ready to graduate from high school or college? Yes, you could get that person a necktie or bottle of cologne - but how about something that can make them stand out in a sea of job candidates. Ashley has put a super GRADuation package together, full of tips and inspiration: ConGRADulations Package

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Coaching with Dan
Many of you ask if I still coach people individually. Yes, I do. Are you feeling stuck? Are you struggling to get interviews or a job offer? Do you have a business idea but are not sure how to move forward? Maybe I can help you see some new ways of moving forward. See the details here: Coaching with Dan

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48Days.net
By now most of you know about 48Days.net. This is different than 48Days.com. At 48Days.net you'll see lots of other excited people who have ideas - and they're willing to share those with you to help your business grow and profit. If you want your life to be different this year, get involved with people who are on the same path. There is no cost - just lots of helpful people and resources.

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Know Your Personality

What job fits 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!

"The greatest secret of success in life is for a person to be ready when their opportunity comes." Benjamin Disraeli

"Creativity is God's gift to us. Using creativity is our gift back to God." Julia Cameron

"Once stretched by a new idea, the mind never regains its original dimensions." Oliver Wendell Holmes

"Probably the number one clue that creativity and transformational thinking are happening is laughter. Laughter and fun free the mind from barriers and restrictions." Joyce Wycoff

"Most of my ideas belonged to other people who didn't bother to develop them." Thomas Edison

"Creativity, when not used, turns to depression." -- Henri Reiman