I'm confident that if you're a reader of this newsletter you are not one who is just "making a living." So maybe you can pass my first article on to someone you know in that category. And you can continue "making a life" that is full of joy and meaning.
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*********************** “One of the most tragic things I know about human nature is that all of us tend to put off living. We are all dreaming of some magical rose garden over the horizon instead of enjoying the roses that are blooming outside our windows today.” -- Dale Carnegie
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How many times have you heard someone say about their work – “Well, at least I’m making a living.” Maybe it would be more accurate to say “I’m making a dying.” The work they describe is unfulfilling, boring, and stressful. They dread going in on Monday morning – and every other morning. Often they are embarrassed about their work and admit readily they are doing nothing meaningful; only extracting a paycheck in exchange for their time.
Does that sound like “making a living?” I don’t think so. They may brush it off as just something we all do; that work is never going to be purposeful and enjoyable. They may pretend it doesn’t really matter. But then I hear painful phrases like, “I feel like my soul is being sucked out of me,” or “I feel like a prostitute – in exchange for my life I’m getting a paycheck.”
If you’re caught up in the typical American view of work you may say you’re making a living when in truth something inside you is being killed each day. Every day, millions of people rush to get to jobs they don’t love and yet those people defend their choices as responsible, practical, and realistic. How can it be responsible to live the biggest part of our lives devoid of meaning, joy, and purpose?
“Making a Living” implies that you are releasing those skills and talents that make you fully alive. Doing work where the time just flies by – work that you would want to do even if you were not paid for it. Work that is meaningful, fulfilling, purposeful and profitable.
In a recent issue of Rick Warren’s ministry newsletter, the author of The Purpose Driven Life was talking about this idea of meaningful work. Rick referenced this verse from Ecclesiastes 10:15 (Today’s English Version): “Only someone too stupid to find his way home would wear himself out with work.” How do you like that? Have you been worn out at work lately? Did you know that you’ve just been put in the category of being “too stupid to find your way home?”
Well, maybe that’s a little harsher than it was intended to be and you’ll find softer language in other Bible translations, but I like the message. Don’t be so busy trying to “make a living” that you’re too busy to make a life.
And I don't even have space here to describe what most people are doing to themselves when they think they're "making a killing."
I feel bad for kids today who come out of college without ever having had a job. Those first jobs are a great way to experience the real world and help clarify your true talents.
I sold Christmas cards, peddled sweet corn out of a little trailer, cleaned fence rows, shoveled cow manure, bought and sold bicycles, waxed cars, and grew popcorn before I was 16 years old. By the time I got to college I knew I wanted to use my brain more than my muscles.
Here are just a few jobs held by people who you may know for other vocations today:
As a teenager Mick Jagger worked as an ice cream salesman. After entering the London School of Economics, Jagger also worked as a porter at a mental hospital.
Need a rat catcher? Call Warren Beatty. He caught rodents to pay the bills before hitting it big.
Warren Buffett’s first job was at his grandfather's grocery store, although he eventually worked his way up to a gig at J.C. Penney.
Before rising to prominence with Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne worked in a slaughterhouse.
As a young man, Matthew McConaughey wanted to get away from Texas for a while, so he spent a year in Australia. To support himself, he took on a number of jobs, including one that involved shoveling chicken manure.
Jimmy Stewart was a man of many talents, from acting to being an Air Force general. As a young man, though, he had a job painting the lines on roads and also spent two summers as a magician's assistant.
Bill Cosby played four sports in high school, but he still found time to sell produce, shine shoes, and work as a stock boy at a supermarket.
Tom Cruise's family moved around a lot when he was young, but during one stint in Louisville he picked up some spending money as a paperboy.
Brad Pitt did all sorts of things to earn a buck while he tried to start his acting career, including dressing as a giant chicken to promote an el Pollo Loco restaurant.
Most early jobs are not a mistake or misdirection – they are simply part of the clarification process. But if a young person is “privileged” enough to not have to work they often end up with a fine education and a life that is off track. Or they discover at age 45 that they are living someone else’s dream.
Help your kids this summer by allowing them to work for the money they want for movies, cars and goodies. What they get may be far more important than a few dollars.
Welcome to 48 Days radio where each week I look through the submitted questions and then blast through as many as possible right here to give you the unique tools for your own success.
You can now call and leave an audio question for Dan: (304) 729-4848 or send an email to askDan@48Days.com
Here's a sampling of this week's questions:
I enjoy woodworking, but only have enough room for a tiny home shop. I think that a membership based woodworking shop where people pay a monthly fee to have complete access to a huge selection of woodworking machinery and tools could be a big success. What sort of creative ideas do you have to work out the rent of a building?
I really enjoyed listening to "No More Mondays." Here's my question: I strongly desire a $10K month income working at home in my own business. Currently, I'm unemployed, facing foreclosure. What immediate action steps do you best advise?
I'm a single 39 year old woman. I have a graduate degree in social work. However, I just looked at my student loan balance and I owe $163,000. I am currently a manager which I make about 49,500.00. Clearly, my salary is just a fraction of what I owe. I am very involved in ministry in my church and I cannot afford to take a regular part-time job with weekly hours but I love photography, particularly wedding photography.
As I consider your questions for finding passions, I have determined that what I am drawn to is stuff of an outdoor/athletic nature, and especially golf. I read everything I can get my hands on, and time flies when I am participating or learning. Two problems: This doesn't do anything to serve society, and I have no idea how to turn this into a career. Are some passions just destined to be avocations rather than vocations? Is it time for me to grow up and put aside childish things?
I started an HR consulting business almost 2 years ago, and have had minimal success due to my lack of marketing skills. I’m great at HR, but stink at selling. Although I’ve loved the freedom of working for myself and wish I could sell myself better, I think I might be better suited as a “work horse” in the corporate environment. How do I answer the inevitable interview question “Why do you want to quit consulting and work for us?” without presenting myself as a failure?
After reading No More Monday's, I believe I have a coaching, speaking and consulting business within me. I have being doing several workshops over the last couple of years that help individuals and organizations realize their purpose and develop a written vision plan for their lives or organization. I really, really love doing this. I love to see the excitement on an individual face when I am presenting this information. I have written a couple of presentation workbooks that I use with each workshop. My question is how do I move this into a full time business? I have been getting great feedback from the workshops.
*********************** 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. Or call (304) 729-4848 to leave an audio question.
And you can click the link below to listen to this week’s broadcast immediately – no downloading – no wait.
Live Events at the Sanctuary
Perhaps the most fun we have all year is at our Live Events at the Sanctuary. Here’s what’s coming up this year. Just click on any event that tweaks your interest and you can see the details:
*********************** Coaching with Dan
Many of you ask if I still coach people individually. Yes, I do. Feel like you've taken too much time to get to the success you want? Is fear holding you back? These are common issues with the hundreds of people that contact us each month looking for a new start. Give us some brief information and I'll recommend one of my coaching packages to launch you into the next successful season of your life: Coaching with Dan
*********************** Are you a Coach?
If you are building your own coaching business, come join us at the Sanctuary on March 25-26th for the Coaching with Excellence two-day event. We will cover - how to get started, including introducing our Coaching 101 Program, establishing and promoting your business, and ways to generate additional income beyond one-on-one coaching. Our live Sanctuary events fill up quickly so let us know if you’d like a reserved seat at this event. Coaching with Excellence
*********************** Want to be a 48 Days Coach?
Lots of people ask about being included in the list of the 48 Days Coaches here. We have a list of coaches and also identify those who are endorsed 48 Days Coaches. If you’re a coach and would like to join others who are building their coaching businesses, check out the details here: 48 Days Coach
*********************** 48Days.net
At 48Days.net you’ll see over 5000 other excited people who have ideas – and plans to make 2010 their best year ever. If you want your life to be different in 2010, get involved with people who are on the same path. There is no cost – just lots of people who are committed to helping each other succeed.
************************ Are you using your best skills?
Don't put your time in an area that doesn't even "fit" you.
The most popular resource we have continues to be the 48 Days Career Profile. With your unique strengths, what kind of work should you be doing? You can find out here.
“It is not living that matters, but living rightly.” -- Socrates
“Every man dies - Not every man really lives.” -- William Wallace (Braveheart)
“Carpe diem! Rejoice while you are alive; enjoy the day; live life to the fullest; make the most of what you have. It is later than you think.” -- Horace
“To be able to look back upon ones life in satisfaction, is to live twice” -- Kahlil Gibran
“When I am anxious it is because I am living in the future. When I am depressed it is because I am living in the past.” -- Author Unknown
“Whatever your life's work is, do it well. A man should do his job so well that the living, the dead, and the unborn could do it no better.” -- Martin Luther King, Jr.
“Don't go around saying the world owes you a living. The world owes you nothing.” -- Mark Twain
Don't put your time in an area that doesn't even "fit" you.
