Don’t give up

They say ignorance is bliss. And sometimes I hear from people who wish they had never had their eyes opened to bigger possibilities. Do you think it’s time to give up on your dreams? Or do they keep pulling you to new adventures and new levels of success? Check out this week’s quotation – yes, I think your dreams are “the blueprints of your ultimate achievements.”

Episode #679 August 30, 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:

1. What do you do when circumstances, family situations, etc. keep you from the things you would really like to do?

The big question is what is it that you are doing overseas to provide hope and encouragement that is not needed in the United States.

Don’t think that your calling limits you geographically. I don’t think that’s true for any of us. Instead, get creative about how you can put legs on your vision and your calling right here.

2. This past week has left me feeling hopeless and I’m tired of waking up every morning in my house with my parents. I’m also losing my motivation and just want to settle and give up on my stupid dreams

My functional medicine doctor says there are two things that motivate us best: pain and feeling good.

If you want to be a writer, you can be a writer. It may be challenging, however, to find a JOB that pays you a regular income and salary to write.

Get the 2019 edition of the Writer’s Market (Deluxe Version) to find magazines, newspapers and publishers that are looking for content in particular areas.

3. How do I do a job search if the position has already been posted?

Highlight what you bring to the table — your unique talents and abilities.

Do creative things to get on the radar of the people who are making the decisions about that position.

Apply to other companies — broaden your job search — to uncover other opportunities.

Find out more in Dan’s book 48 Days To The Work You Love

4. “You just have to figure out what unique value you have to offer” – how do I do that? I just don’t understand.

Michael’s guide to selecting a product is part of the 48 Days Eagles Kickstart Guide to Starting an Online Business. Get it here.

The key is not in the magic of the product but in the system that he has mastered to create profits.

5. Will adding a different product or service to my business help or derail me?

While these are two unrelated businesses, it doesn’t mean you can’t do both.

It is often better if the two things you are doing fuel each other. Find out more about Dan’s Venn Diagram here.

6. How do I figure out what unique value I have to offer?

Here’s the exercise I recommend for finding your Zone of Genius. This is the place where you will be most productive, successful and happy.

1. Make a list of the 40-50 things you do.

2. Group that list into these 4 categories.

• Zone of Genius (what is it that you love to do and you do best)

• Zone of Excellence (things you have a great reputation for doing, but you’re not passionate about them or don’t enjoy doing them)

• Zone of Competence (your pretty good at these things, but there are people who can do them better)

• Zone of Incompetence (when you do these things, you experience failure, frustration, stress, but they need to be done)

3. Now, estimate the percentage of your time that is spent in each of those four areas.

4. Look at ways you can increase the percentage of time you spend in your Zone of Genius. For instance, I’m working to increase the time I spend in my Zone of Genius to 75% of my time. Set a goal. Establish action steps. Act.

A lot of people get trapped in their Zone of Excellence. Be comfortable affirming your Zone of Genius.

Editor’s note: I want to say a big thank you to Dan and Joanne Miller of 48days.com. There’s an old adage that says, “Your future is determined by the books you read and the people you meet.” While working at Nissan Motor manufacturing in my 20s my wife and I were attending Christ Church in Nashville on Old Hickory Blvd. I met Dan attending church in a Tae Kwan Do class that was offered in the evenings at church. Dan introduced himself to me and I asked, “Are you the Dan on the radio?” he was surprised and asked, “Do you listen to our show?” Which obviously I did. Dan and Joanna radio show on WTN Super-talk 99.7 FM was called, Career Link heard every Sunday night. At the time I was praying daily for “The Good Lord” to answer my prayers and help direct me  out of that Nissan assembly plant. I had a taste of owning and operating my own business at 21, which was called Hardbodies Fitness Center, which I ran for a  few years and later sold. I had been selling cars on the  internet part time while working at Nissan and wanting to start my own business, but the thought of leaving that nice weekly paycheck with good benefits was very daunting. I was attending Dan and Joanne’s Career Link classes every Wednesday evening at Christ Church. Dan said to me one evening, “You need to follow your passion and quit that job at Nissan.” Dan and Joanne later became some of my best customers- even buying 11 cars from us. If you yourself are looking fr some career advice or you know someone who is have them checkout 48Days.com or buys one of Dan’s many career books… I greatly appreciate Dan placing my story in the book “No More Mondays.” In fact the original signed copy is on my office wall in my Tennessee General Assembly office.