Apparently the economic uncertainty and the political bantering have been unsettling -- to say the least. Our ”Hold Fast to Dreams” event on November 13th, here at The Sanctuary filled up instantly. That’s just one way I want to encourage you and help you develop ideas. Hang on – we’ll schedule another event very soon!
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Speaking of the election -- what was the most important issue for you? Check out this week's poll at: www.48Days.com
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Are you spending a lot of time in your car driving to or from work every day? If so, make the most of that valuable time. Turn your car into an “Automobile University.” Check out this package to put you on track for your PhD of life – for only $32.
For this week only, here is a special discount code for 20% off this package: PHDAUTO
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Be sure to check out the success story by Kevin and Courtney on the main page of 48Days.com. Yes, it’s also inspiring for us when readers discover they are already doing work they love! It’s always healthy to take a fresh look – but for many of you, that fresh look should confirm the choices you’ve already made. Congratulations!!
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“Be aware of wonder. Live a balanced life - learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some.” -- Robert Fulghum
Here’s a new phenomenon we are seeing in Japan. Young professionals are turning down “promotions” because they want a life in addition to their work. Civil service workers are choosing not to take career-advancing exams and thousands of IT workers are looking to switch to less demanding positions. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government (once the goal of many elite workers) now says only 14% of the eligible employees took high level exams for management positions in 2007 – down from 40% thirty years ago.
The “hodo-hodo zohu” translates roughly to the “so-so folks.” Before you jump to conclusions about this new “slacker generation” please remember there is another term that has been very popular in Japan in the last 20 years as they have gained business and economic prominence. That term is “karoshi” and it means “death from overwork.” There have been cases of 30 and 40-yr olds who have died at their desks after weeks and months of 14 hour days, seven days a week in their attempts to climb the corporate and financial ladder.
So where’s the balance here? If you turn down a promotion you will be seen as a “slacker” and similar to the “hodo-hodo zohu.” If you work 70 hours a week you may be risking “karoshi.”
We all have 168 hours a week – no more, no less. If you sleep 8 hours a night and work 70 hours a week you are left with 42 hours – or 6 hours a day. That has to cover your investment of time in your physical, social, parenting and marital, spiritual and personal development areas. If you are the “average” American you are also watching 2.6 hours of TV every day. That drops the time down to 3.4 hours for all those important life areas.
I trust it’s clear there won’t be much success in any of those areas with that little time invested. Don’t compromise the success you want physically, spiritually, in your marriage and your family by having it dry up from lack of attention.
Okay – what are you if you have it all together. My Japanese is pretty weak so let’s just go with: “Urfulealive”
So the election is finally over today. Are your financial problems now over? Is your job more secure now? Are your concerns about health care things of the past? Are your financial investments now safe and rising in value? I suspect the answer is “No” to all of the above. And so it is.
Your responsibility for working, managing and investing is quite the same as it was a week ago – or a decade ago. No one is going to step in and solve your personal concerns. Yes, we can work together, but ultimately, we each have to find our passion, turn that into meaningful work and then manage our finances with wisdom.
Don’t wait on someone else to fix your problems.
*If your job is in jeopardy – or has already disappeared:
Recognize that time doesn’t always deserve compensation.
Discover that results are what create income.
Free yourself from a paycheck mentality.
Understand that security comes from producing excellent results.
Realize that not getting a paycheck may open the door to extraordinary income.
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.
A reader asks: Where can I get above average stability and compensation? (It can be in making pizzas or doing brain surgery – if it’s a “fit” for you.)
And here's a sampling of some more questions answered:
I know exactly what I want to do--writing--but can't find anyone to pay me to do it. I just want to find a job I love that pays the bills. What should I do?
I am currently a burned out CAD Technician, looking to get into a career that can offer above average stability and compensation.
What business can I start to include my 3 sons?
I want to know the purpose of God in my life.
I've been in the field of education for 18 years. In order to move to the next level, I would have to invest in a PhD. I will never recoup that investment in earnings. Is it worth it?
I am high in I (Influencer) on the 48 Days Personality Profile. Can you talk about the possible careers for this and some of the pitfalls?
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If you have a question, just click on the 48 Days Online Radio link below 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.
Hold Fast to Your Dreams Event -- FULL
Last week in this spot I mentioned that on November 13th 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.” Well, all our seats were taken in about 24 hours – so if you took a day or two to think about it -- just hang on. We’ll be scheduling another one of these very soon. Watch for that announcement.
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Personal coaching
Many of you are asking about my personal coaching. Yes, I still work with 2-3 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. We have many fee options available – what you see here is just mine. If you want to review the process 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.
********************************************** The Power of Focus
On Saturday I had the privilege of speaking at the FishNet Ministries event at the Convention Center in Hampton, VA. Larry Andes and his team do an amazing job of bringing a quality program together. Jeff Allen provided humor and the music was rocking with Mary, Mary, the David Crowder Band and Mandisa. Here I caught Joanne sharing stories with Mandisa. These opportunities are plentiful because I decided on a clear focus years ago. I don’t talk about a lot of topics – but if the message needs to be how to find meaningful work – I do love to give some thoughts on that. Incidentally the picture at the top of the newsletter today is of Joanne and me walking along the Atlantic Ocean in Virginia Beach the next morning.
******************************************** Chuck Bowen - Financial & Business Coaching "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. Contact Chuck Bowen Coaching now!
Need help finding work balance?
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!
"We have overstretched our personal boundaries and forgotten that true happiness comes from living an authentic life fueled with a sense of purpose and balance." Dr. Kathleen Hall, from A Life in Balance
“Something in human nature causes us to start slacking off at our moment of greatest accomplishment. As you become successful, you will need a great deal of self-discipline not to lose your sense of balance, humility, and commitment.” -- H. Ross Perot
“No book has yet been written in praise of a woman who let her husband and children starve or suffer while she invented even the most useful things, or wrote books, or expressed herself in art, or evolved philosophic systems.” -- ANNA GARLIN SPENCER -- Woman's Share in Social Culture, 1912
“The finest workers in stone are not copper or steel tools, but the gentle touches of air and water working at their leisure with a liberal allowance of time.” -- Henry David Thoreau
“Never work just for money or for power. They won't save your soul or help you sleep at night.” -- Marian Wright Edelman
“Most people struggle with life balance simply because they haven't paid the price to decide what is really important to them.” -- Stephen Covey
"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. 
Need help finding work balance?
