How To Stay Optimistic, Enjoy Your Work and Your Life

Several of our questions this week lead back to how to stay optimistic. Plus a listener unpacks his own question. He has a side business that’s very profitable and now he’s bored at his regular job. No surprise there! Once you realize you can be the captain of your own ship, it’s hard to be a shipmate on someone else’s. Check out my advice.

Episode #684 October 04, 2019

Hi, this is Dan Miller – and yes you’re listening to the 48 Days Radio show – where each week we take 48 minutes to dive into real life questions about finding your passion, deciding what kind of life you want to live – and then finding or creating work that allows you to show up every day, excited to be able to do something that is meaningful, fulfilling – and profitable.  This is where normal, indecision and ambiguity come to die.  Welcome to the 48 Days Radio Show.

Questions:

My total commitment to the corporate world, to the office environment, to high heels and to Microsoft Excel has run its course.

Do you have to choose one job or industry? No you absolutely don’t. But don’t be putting on totally different hats every day. I encourage you to do things that have a lot of overlap, where activity in one can fuel the activity of another. And be sure to still confine it to 40 hours per week so you can still dedicate your time to other areas of your life. Find out more about my thoughts on this in my blog: Work Harder To Kill Your Marriage.

I am wondering what is your secret to staying optimistic and continuing to have a positive outlook.

There are so many things we all can do to take initiative and stay optimistic. We have all experienced anxiety and worry in one way or another. I want to encourage you to stay connected and stay active. One thing I do to control stress is group my time in segments. You can also practice relaxation techniques. When people are anxious it’s often because they are looking at things that have already happened. Instead, look at what you’re moving to. Take focused action, and you can control your outlook. This will help you to stay optimistic.

I lost money on an investment………how can I keep from being angry.

Focus on what it is you do control and stop obsessing on the things you can’t control. But we need to recognize when we make an investment with the hope of a high return that we also have a higher risk of loss. For me, part of the thrill of a business idea is not knowing if it’s going to work. Don’t chase the snake -listen to Dan’s recent podcast on this here. Instead, come up with a way you can make that money and replace it. Frame your experience not as losing but as learning.

Maybe it’s not my job that I hate, maybe it’s the career path I’ve chosen. Why can’t I be happy designing and marketing for someone else? I really enjoy my side business.

You have just coached yourself right through the entire process. You are an entrepreneur! This should be a real gentle transition for you. I encourage you to be prepared to give your notice and be out of your current job by January 1st. If you move the 40 hours you’re devoting to your current job to your side business, just think of what you can do with that. Here are questions to ask yourself to find out if you’re an entrepreneur like George.

I have written a book, but have been advised to focus on graduate school right now, instead of publishing now…

Don’t ever let formal education slow you down from the life you know you could be living. Education should go alongside your other goals and dreams. It shouldn’t be an either/or choice. Find out more in my blog: You Always Have Another Choice See your book as something that adds to your personal development but not necessarily your career.

Quotation:

[click_to_tweet tweet=”‘Too many people go through life as a passenger with the windows rolled up.’ Steve Sims (author of Bluefishing: The Art of Making Things Happen) @48daysteam” quote=”‘Too many people go through life as a passenger with the windows rolled up.’ Steve Sims (author of Bluefishing: The Art of Making Things Happen)”]

Resource:

Make something new happen in 2020 – Want perfect vision? https://www.48days.com/goals/