Think people are hunkering down in this tough economy? Only buying the bare essentials? Apparently not. Taylor Swift is selling out every arena on her tour. I just checked tickets for her next appearance in Pittsburgh - a place hit hard in this economic downturn. Okay - there are only 70 seats left and they range in price from $208 to $375. I wouldn't consider that a necessity and yet people continue to line up for three hours of entertainment.
I have always said that you can make a living providing what people need. But you can get rich giving them what they want. Are you providing something that people want in your work or business?
*************************** "The greater danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it. But that it is too low... and we reach it." -- Michelangelo, 1475-1564
Italian Sculptor, Painter, Architect and Poet
This week I saw a very successful airline captain. In his own words - "I'm at the apex of my career." He makes in excess of $200,000 annually and has the respect and admiration of everyone who knows him. Unfortunately, the stress of his position and the volatility of his industry are forcing him to consider some new options.
When we began to explore his interests, hobbies and community activities, he apologized for his lack of ideas. He struggled to explain how he had become so narrow and out of touch - his best description was that his own "success" had "neutered my creativity."
Unfortunately, high levels of academic and positional success often narrow rather than expand our ability to see new opportunities. Physicians, attorneys, dentists, pastors and accountants are notorious for missing the changing options around them because they are so focused on doing their all-consuming work in the same repetitive way.
We must be open to new ideas and inspiration. The seeds of new opportunities abound as we just look around with new eyes. "The real act of discovery is not in finding new lands, but in seeing with new eyes." -- Marcel Proust
Here are some helpful ways to birth new ideas. I try to do all of these regularly:
Taking a warm bath
Spending time in solitude
Listening to great music
Hearing a joke
Playing with children
Observing nature
Taking a leisurely walk
Pausing for inner reflection
Paying attention to your dreams
Seeing a movie
Watching a sunset or sunrise
Reading a great book
Talking with an elderly person
Keep in mind that "Creativity, when not used, turns to depression." -- Henri Reiman
I recently purchased the rights to an out-of-print book, The Little Book of Big Ideas. It's a wonderful compilation of ways to stimulate our creativity. We are going to update it and revive it for your enjoyment - stay tuned.
If your creativity has been "neutered" just commit to reversing that process. No surgery necessary - just change your thinking and activities.
This isn't what you think. I know this slogan was used to recruit volunteers into the armed services in years past. But today, the critical need for Uncle Sam is in filling the thousands of government jobs that are coming available. Half of the federal work force is scheduled to retire in the next five years and the government is trying to modernize their recruiting methods. Traditionally, people have seen the government jobs as bureaucratic, robotic Dilbert positions with little room for advancement.
But there has been a growth in patriotism recently - and more thinking of "our government" rather than "the government." Their web site has some fancy graphics and flash technology - might want to check it out.
You don't need to move to Washington DC. There are jobs all over the country and around the world. You can search for positions in your state and city.
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.
This week's podcast is brought to you by Audible.com. the internet's leading provider of spoken word entertainment. In the podcast I suggest a great book you can get for Free if you sign up as a new member. Logon to audiblepodcast.com/work today for details.
I start off this podcast by playing a jingle - Ole Dan Miller - submitted by reader Kenny Day. His question is: Can he make money doing this for other people?
And here are some other questions I cover:
I love writing, and my blog, newspaper articles, book reviews and textbook writing is fulfilling--one problem--it does not generate an income! I've been stumped how to turn this into a money-making opportunity.
I've recently lost a pet and noticed that there are not many books out there for Christians coping with this kind of grief. My idea is to write about my cat and all that God taught me about His love through her.
My mother wrote a column in a local weekly newspaper for several years about life experiences and the early history of our town. Years ago I compiled most of the numerous articles then printed them as self published books and she sold them at her store. My question is who legally owns the copyrights to these articles and books since it was not mentioned in her will?
My question is would it be feasible to start a site where people can log on and review books and maybe have some type of rating as to the amount of offensive content in each book. Would this site be legal and if so how would I go about launching it?
I just got back from 5 days in the high Nevada desert and the Burning Man festival. I don't know what you know about it, or what you have heard. But for me it is a very powerful spiritual retreat. What are your thoughts on retreats? What elements do you think are necessary for them to be "successful"?
*************************** 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.
Dan's 5 Tips for Entrepreneurs Here's a brief and entertaining video where my son Kevin interviews me on my advice for anyone starting a venture of their own. He also gives details on the upcoming Free Agent Academy event Sept. 21-23 in beautiful Woodland Park, CO. See if you agree with my 5 tips: Free Agent Academy Colorado Event Joanne and I would love to see you there!
*************************** 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
*************************** Oct 8-10th, 2009 - Suwanee, GA
Speak It Forward - Boot Camp
Are you (or do you want to be) a professional speaker? Do you feel like you have a message to share? Are you interested in speaking in the youth, college, education, or corporate market... BUT…HAVE NO CLUE how to get started, get booked, or get it all together? Check out Kent Julian's upcoming Professional Speakers' Boot Camp Complete Info & Registration
*************************** 48Days.net
At 48Days.net you'll see over 3800 other excited people who have ideas - and plans for their accomplishment. 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 people who are committed to helping each other succeed.
*************************** Are you ready to move past fear?
Do you know how to take advantage of change?"?
The most popular product in the 48 Days arsenal continues to be the 48 Days Career Profile. What's the best environment for you to live out your "calling?" You can find out here.
Okay, I love quotations - even those that put a twist on our normal inspiration:
"Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. That way you're a mile away and you have their shoes, too." ~ Unknown
"Somebody just gave me a shower radio. Thanks a lot. Do you really want music in the shower? I guess there's no better place to dance than a slick surface next to a glass door." - Jerry Seinfeld
"You get a lot of tension? You get a lot of headaches? I do what it says on the aspirin bottle: Take two and keep away from children." ~ Rosanne
"My fiancée told me the rule of thumb on how much to spend on an engagement ring was two months' salary. So I moved to Haiti for a couple months, made a buck eighty. Nice plywood ring - no knots. I sanded it myself." ~ Barry Kennedy
"A Canadian psychologist is selling a video that teaches you how to test your dog's IQ. Here's how it works: if you spend $12.99 for the video, your dog is smarter than you." -- Jay Leno
"Sometimes I lie awake at night, and I ask, ‘Where have I gone wrong?' Then a voice says to me, ‘This is going to take more than one night.'" -- Charlie Brown, Peanuts
"Why is it that when we talk to God we're said to be praying, but when God talks to us were schizophrenic?" -- Lily Tomlin
"Somewhere on this globe, every ten seconds, there is a woman giving birth to a child. She must be found and stopped." - Sam Levenson (1911-1980)
"I waited and waited, and when no message came, I knew it must have been
from you." -- Ashleigh Brilliant
Do you know how to take advantage of change?"?
