Running Toward Your Destiny

By Dan Miller
48days.com

CBN.com – We are now officially in spring – the time of year when we see new growth. Flowers emerge where we didn’t remember there were any. Trees explode with new blossoms and leaves. If we did not have the wealth of years of experience, we would have thought that the trees and grass were dead. But no, they were just being rejuvenated by the harsh winter and now they are ready to burst back into life.

Just like the “winters” in our own lives. We should have enough life experience to recognize that those seemingly dead times are times of restoration and planning for the springtime that’s coming. If you are in a wintertime, take advantage of the opportunity to be preparing for entering the next season of your life.

“When you’re waiting, you’re not doing nothing. You’re doing the most important something there is. You’re allowing your soul to grow up. If you can’t be still and wait, you can’t become what God created you to be.” —From When the Heart Waits, Sue Monk Kidd

Need resources to find your "springtime?"

Hardship or Opportunity?

Lornah Kiplagat learned to run because she did not want to be late for school. Each morning, this little Kenyan girl would help her father milk the family cows as soon as there was enough light from the rising sun. Then she would run the 14 miles from her home to school – where she was an eager student, knowing education was her best option for a better future.

At the time, she did not realize that her running was laying the foundation for her world-class status as a long-distance runner. She ran because she was poor – but in the process she developed the discipline and stamina to rise above all competition in running.

Could it be that there is an opportunity in something you consider a hardship right now? Most inventions, great books, and leadership skills emerge from those tough times in our lives when we needed a solution or the fortitude to just survive.

As I look back on my own early farming days – yes, those days of just looking forward to leaving the farm – I now realize the value of having significant carpentry, plumbing, electrical, and mechanical skills. Those insights have saved me thousands of dollars over the years and also opened my eyes to innovative solutions in business. My writing draws from the challenges I’ve faced in career and business.

Is the “running” in your own life just a means to an end, or is it teaching you and preparing you for something great? Maybe that long commute is giving you time to learn a new language or better parenting skills. Maybe the broken machinery at work is providing you the opportunity for the next great invention. Perhaps your constant struggle with fatigue is positioning you to discover a nutritional breakthrough.

Lornah, that little Kenyan girl, is now 33 years old. She holds four world records. She has also established an academic foundation for other little girls in Kenya. They are trained in athletics but also in academics and personal development. Lornah is committed to putting an end to the enduring tradition of female subservience in Kenya and recognizes that her running has given her the opportunity to be that force for change.

Job Loss Ouch

No matter how it happens, a job loss is painful. Maybe you were caught up in a corporate downsizing, and it’s nothing personal. Maybe it was personal; your boss was an insensitive jerk who didn’t recognize your talent. Either way, it’s easy to start questioning your self-worth at such a time. You may wonder if you’ll end up homeless, never to contribute in a meaningful way to civilization again. In 30 days, your savings will be depleted. Are your old office workers laughing behind your back? Are your neighbors looking at “the loser” when they see you at home on a weekday?

Well, don’t get caught up in the negatives. This will only sabotage your immediate future. Here are some tips for moving forward:

Release Your Anger. It’s OK to be angry at the unfairness of the boss, the company, or the world. But don’t stay there. While you may have been treated unfairly, sharing that will only make potential new employers uneasy and prevent them from wanting you on their team.
Evaluate Your Life. Take advantage of these transitions to take a fresh look at your life. What is unique about you? How important is time flexibility? What income do you want? What does success mean for you in relationships, physically and spiritually? See this as a time to move up and forward in all these areas, not down.
Network Constantly. Start each day with an action plan. Get out there and meet people. Talk to anyone you can who might offer suggestions on how to improve your job search. Don’t be embarrassed to let people know you are looking for work. You are selling a product, and that product is YOU.
Don’t Make Excuses. You are not too old, too short, or missing a degree. Excuses tend to become self-fulfilling after a while, and mentally you can become your own worst enemy in the job-search process.
Stay Balanced. Our successes tend to spiral up or down together. Career success leads to financial success, more social and family success, etc. The opposite is also true. Don’t allow a job loss to turn you into a couch potato. Stay sharp physically and mentally. Keep your personal development in high gear. Read more, volunteer more, expect more!

Need to find your next opportunity?

Humor: Retirement Fun

The other day I went downtown and went into a shop. I was only in there for about five minutes. When I came out there was a cop writing out a parking ticket. I went up to him and said, "Come on, man, how about giving a retired person a break."

He ignored me and continued writing the ticket. I called him a "Nazi." He glared at me and started writing another ticket for having worn tires. So I called him a "doughnut eating Gestapo." He finished the second ticket and put it on the windshield with the first. Then he started writing a third ticket. This went on for about 20 minutes.

The more I abused him, the more tickets he wrote. Personally, I didn't care. I came downtown on the bus. The car that he was putting the tickets on had a bumper sticker that said "Hillary in '08." I try to have a little fun each day now that I'm retired. It's important to my health.

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The Barefoot Executive
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PlainFaith.com
Steven Deaton has been an avid 48 Days fan for years and took the principles for 'work you love' to create PlainFaith, whose goal is to protect families. He's giving a free book from his Plainfaith library to all 48 Days subscribers. Get the details here.

eAudioSource
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YTB
As 48 Days subscribers for the past three years, Bernie and Debbie Swartzendruber have truly found work they love in the travel industry. Book travel and learn how to do what they did at our 'Recommended Business' info page.

Paid 'Featured Business' Disclaimer:
48 Days LLC does not represent the accuracy or reliability of any of the recommendations or promotions shown above...or the quality of any products, information, or other materials displayed, purchased, or obtained by you as a result of an offer in connection with this newsletter... Please...do your own due diligence before purchasing any product or service.

More Recommended Resources

What work "fits" you ?
The most popular product in the 48 Days arsenal continues to be the Computerized Personality Report. 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!\

Have you found your opportunity?
Here’s an updated version of the classic little book, Acres of Diamonds: It’s free, only 31 pages, and you can just open and read it. Or save it for future reading. You’ll discover that the best opportunity may be right under your own nose.

360 Identity
If you are a regular reader, you know I love to create new products. And an important part of having those products do well in the marketplace is having a professional look – graphics that get your attention. Bryce Davis at 360 Identity is the man behind the stunning look of our 48 Days seminar package. If you’ve got a business and would like an attention-getting look, check out 360 Identity.

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Dan Miller is the bestselling author of 48 Days To The Work You Love and a renowned Life Coach specializing in career fulfillment. His weekly newsletter reaches 70,000 subscribers. Dan’s articles are featured here at CBN every Tuesday, and you can find out more about Dan at www.48days.com.