Yes, the turmoil continues around us. But each of us has the ability to choose our response to that "turmoil." Man's Search for Meaning ranks as one of the most significant books I have ever read - and I've re-read it many times. Viktor Frankl shares about his experiences in a Nazi concentration camp. He was stripped of his clothing, manuscripts and all personal belongings. The Nazi captors even took away their names and gave them numbers. Frankl's number was 119,104. But Frankl said there was one thing they could not take away: "Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms - to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances."
We know our current circumstances include job losses, company closings, mortgage foreclosures, and investment failures. But the question remains: What attitude are you choosing today?
Check out Dave Ramsey's Town Hall for Hope message - linked below.
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Recently I did a phone and web simulcast titled Outta Work but Finding Myself. We've had a lot of requests for that 48-munute replay. Here's the link - just click and listen: Outta Work but Finding Myself.
********************************* "The chief enemy of creativity is ‘good' sense." -- Pablo Picasso
No, I really didn't make that up. As usual, the rich life stories I hear in working with people in transition offer enough real anecdotes that I don't have to be very creative in finding phrases that colorfully describe real situations.
In anticipation of meeting with me, a very "successful" young lady wrote this in her pre-coaching form: "My company is going in a strictly money-motivated direction, and my manager may very well be Satan's offspring."
She further validated her suspicions with lots of examples that certainly convinced me she might be accurate. While we saw the humor in her portrayal I also helped her go through a list to confirm the possibility of a less than Godly work environment.
Here's the checklist to tell if your boss (co-worker or the guy in the mirror) is Satan's offspring:
Immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures
Hostility and fighting
Jealously, outbursts of anger
Selfish ambition, dissension, hard to get along with
Complaints, criticisms, arguing and causing trouble
The feeling that everyone else is wrong except those in his own little group
Envy, drunkenness, wild parties
This list is actually a mixture of this lady's stories and another source I refer to frequently. If it sounds a little familiar, you might want to check the list yourself in Galatians 5:19-23.
It's a well-known fact that we tend to take on the characteristics of those around us. We recognize this phenomenon easily in children. Clothing, music, foods and slang expressions all quickly become a reflection of the group of friends involved. We do much the same as adults. If the list of characteristics above describe your work environment, you are likely to start exhibiting those same characteristics. And if you bring those home with you, your family will start to reflect those same traits.
Fortunately, if you want to break that cycle, we also have a list of what to expect in a healthy, positive and Godly environment:
Love
Joy
Peace
Patience
Kindness
Goodness
Faithfulness
Gentleness
Self-control
Not too difficult to tell your boss's allegiance, is it? And if you've gotten sucked into the first list, you can decide today to move to the other camp. Your words, actions, and attitudes easily show which "boss" you are following today.
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"Keep away from angry, short-tempered men,
lest you learn to be like them and endanger your soul." Proverbs 22: 24-25
Many of you have been asking about Dave Ramsey's Town Hall for Hope replay. On April 23rd Dave presented this live event from LifeChurch.tv in Edmond, Oklahoma. He framed the current "recession" we are experiencing and unpeeled the most common fears associated with that.
There was no charge for being at the live event in Oklahoma or for attendance at any of the over 6000 churches that broadcasted the simulcast. And yes, you can still click in and watch the event in its entirety.
If you are struggling with hope and confidence in your own situation you need to watch this event. You will likely find many of your fears disappearing. Not only is now a time to be confident, it's also a great time to move forward with those long dormant dreams.
You can watch the entire presentation at this link - no cost, no downloading to your computer - just click, watch and be inspired.
Each week I read though the questions submitted to select a few to respond to in this recorded podcast.
Only 6 more years of misery
I work at a job that is a dead end job; I will be doing the same job in 20 years as I do today. I do not like the job but it is stable and pays a living wage. The new job pays significantly less than I am making now. I could pass on this job and stick it out for a year and hope the labor market improves or take this job and struggle with the loss of pay. Any advice you can give would be appreciated.
I am self employed and have been for years. I am 33 years old and I started a cabinet shop 13 years ago. I was headed to college to become an architect but my father was killed in a accident. So I quit and stayed at home to help out. I decided to start my own business and that was to build furniture but that turned into cabinets which was fine. I have a true passion for this work. I do not want to do anything else but the economy is making it impossible.
I love your show. I've discovered that I love to read books. Is there a way to make a profit by reading books and writing reviews? Do you know of any solid resources, books, websites, etc on this topic?
Can anyone set up a store like this (Dan's Reading recommendations -- http://astore.amazon.com/48days0b-20) and sell other people's products for a profit share or percentage of the take for the referral?
I have 30 years of service; however, because I started at such a young age I'll need to serve another 6 years to draw full retirement benefits. The management for whom I work are unethical, unprofessional, vengeful spiteful beings. I fear I'll not be able to endure the stress and aggravation much longer. I have 10 to 20 ideas a month with commitment to none and no knowledge of how to bring any of them to fruition. Do you think it would be unreasonable to take the leap of faith? Perhaps the only thing more pathetic than the situation as it stands would be to work unhappily for another 6 years simply to receive a retirement check. Help!
I have been in the security/personal protection industry for more than 15 years. I have been significantly impacted by the recent rash of violent acts being perpetrated in places of worship, and have felt the strong desire to establish a security consulting firm (I have named it already: Safe Sanctuaries) for houses of worship. Do you feel this is a viable business concept where an income could actually be realized?
********************************* 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.
101 Reasons to Love a Recession
My friend Ernie Zelinski has another free and entertaining 108-page illustrated E-book designed to entertain you as well as show you the many benefits of the current recession. On page 15 you'll read the old Chinese proverb: "My house burnt down, but now I can see the moon." Ernie is the author of the International Bestseller The Joy of Not Working. (Over 225,000 copies sold and published in 17 languages) Just click here to get your copy of 101 Reasons to Love a Recession
********************************* Coaching with Dan
Many of you ask if I still coach people individually. Yes, I do. Feel like all you're doing is failing? Maybe I or one of our coaches can help you see some new ways of moving forward. See the details here: Coaching with Dan
********************************* 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.
********************************* What "fits" you?
How do my parts fit together?
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!
"Today we are faced with the pre-eminent fact that if civilization is to survive, we must cultivate the science of human relationships, the ability of peoples of all kinds to live together and to work together in the same world at peace." Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1882 - 1945, President of the United States
"We cannot learn from one another until we stop shouting at one another - until we speak quietly enough so that our words can be heard as well as our voices." Richard M. Nixon, 1913 - 1994, President of the United States
"The world will never have lasting peace so long as men reserve for war the finest human qualities. Peace, no less than war, requires idealism and self-sacrifice and a righteous and dynamic faith." John Foster Dulles, 1888 - 1959, American Secretary of State
"Peace is a daily, a weekly, a monthly process, gradually changing opinions, slowly eroding old barriers, quietly building new structures. And however undramatic the pursuit of peace, the pursuit must go on." John F. Kennedy, 1917 - 1963, President of the United States
"The peace we seek, founded upon decent trust and co-operative effort among nations, can be fortified not by weapons of war but by wheat and by cotton, by milk and by wool, by meat and by timber and by rice. These are words that translate into every language." Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1890 - 1969, President of the United States
How do my parts fit together?
