Archives For purpose

Your Someday Starts Today

May 22, 2013 — Leave a comment

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One day you will wonder what was so important that you put off doing the most important things. Someday can be a thief in the night. | Deborah Brown

Have you ever said, “Someday I’m going to…?” Do you remember what was at the end of that statement? Maybe you dreamed about starting your own business, writing a book, traveling, going back to school, or relaxing with a cup of great coffee and wonderful friends. Though we all aren’t dreamers, we all dream. So, what happened on the way to your someday?

Your someday could be connected to the inner drives and passions that motivate you and bring out your best. Remembering your someday statement might help unlock your why and get you on the right path headed in the right direction. Your someday probably isn’t a momentary interest because it has stood the test of time. It resonates with your soul and makes your eyes sparkle when you talk about it. When you replay the image in your mind, you see the best possible you.

No matter how young or old you are, you can’t ignore your someday statement. It developed at a time when you thought anything was possible. It was fueled by your belief that you could accomplish anything you set out to do. It was more than wishful thinking; it was a vision that still can become a reality.

It’s not too late for your someday. In fact, now might be the perfect time for it. You might be going through a struggle right now. You have tried different jobs, but they leave you empty and frustrated. Rather than do what you’ve always done and hope it turns out differently this time, why not give your someday statement a try? You might discover exactly what you’ve been looking for all along. Think about it.

What is your someday statement? What will it take to bring it to life?

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Living for Dreams or Trophies?

May 21, 2013 — Leave a comment

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I used to play sports. Then I realized you can buy trophies. Now I am good at everything. | Demetri Martin

Trophies represent something that previously happened. They commemorate experiences in the recent or distant past. Dreams, on the other hand, are those things that we hope to achieve someday. So, what’s between trophies and dreams? Today.

We can get so focused on our trophies that we live life in reverse. People and organizations do that all the time. They remember days when things were better and they try to recreate those experiences. They believe that recreating the past is better than moving toward an unknown future.

We also can get so focused on our dreams that we overlook our present realities. We have a picture of the future that we believe can become a reality someday. People in this frame of mind can easily ignore today’s responsibilities because their hyper-focus on their dreams is distracting them.

Somewhere between our trophies and our dreams is a reality in which you and I must live. We can’t escape it. We can’t go back and alter past experiences. Neither can we fast forward to the future to avoid the present. We must live it one moment at a time.

So, what are you doing with the moments you have? It’s great to learn from experiences and to develop goals that motivate you, but what about today? Are you investing your life in someone else? Are you looking for ways to motivate someone to achieve his or her goals? Are you cheering on others or listening for applause?

You’ll never become something in the future that you aren’t becoming right now. Live your purpose today and you’ll get to live your purpose in the days to come. Put off living your purpose until later and you’ll never live it. Life has taught me that later never arrives early. Think about it.

What are you doing to live your why today?

Tired of wondering what you want to be when you grow up? Live Your Why can help. This book and discovery guide will help you identify your purpose and develop a plan to live it. You can learn more about it by clicking here.

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Five Words That Will Change Your Life

May 15, 2013 — 1 Comment

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Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind. | Rudyard Kipling

You’ve probably heard someone say that women speak about five times as many words as men per day. That comparison probably was manufactured and, over time, has been edited to achieve the author’s or speaker’s desired results. More recent research reveals that men and women use about the same number of words per day–approximately 16,000. So, of the 16,000 words you speak per day, are there some that have the capacity to change your life? Yes, but only if you put these words into action.

  1. Purpose. You were created with a purpose and your best life will be found only when you choose to embrace your purpose and live with intentionality. You can take all kinds of tests and attend all sorts of seminars, but if you keep doing what you’ve always done, you’ll get nothing more than what you already have. If your life lacks meaning, find your purpose.
  2. Responsibility. You are responsible for the decisions and the difference you make. When you fail to fulfill your responsibility, someone else must step in and fulfill it for you. If you leave a shopping cart in the middle of the parking lot, someone has to retrieve it. In the words of Andy Stanley, “Your irresponsibility becomes someone else’s responsibility.”
  3. Celebration. When we live with an attitude of celebration, we will inspire others to purse excellence. Celebrate the people around you who do thankless jobs. Take time to engage the cashier in conversation about her. Thank the package delivery guy for getting your packages to you on time. Celebrate what others are doing and you’ll find new appreciation for those things you have the opportunity to do.
  4. Remarkable. Dan Cathy says that every experience is remarkable–people will remark positively or negatively. In every situation, strive to create experiences that make a positive impression. When people walk away from you, they will remark. What will they say?
  5. Excellence. I was on the commissioning crew of the USS Carl Vinson. Our pre-commissioning slogan was, ‘Do it right the first time.” Excellence has become so rare that people blog about it when they experience it. The world is satisfied with good enough. If you pursue excellence, you can set yourself and your business apart from those who are fine with mediocrity.

These five words–purpose, responsibility, celebration, remarkable, and excellence–will make the difference between being average and being exceptional. Average in America isn’t worth pursuing unless you enjoy living paycheck to paycheck, being $30,000 in credit card debt, owing more on your car than it is worth, and anticipating a future funded by a struggling government entitlement program. That’s not my definition of a good life. Is it yours? Think about it.

How can these five words make a difference in your life today?

In how to get out of a rut, motivation, Thinking , , ,
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What Defines You Defends You

April 16, 2013 — 1 Comment

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He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how. | Friedrich Nietzsche

I’ve written and taught a lot about discovering your purpose in life. I’m aware of people who are making significant life-changes because they finally know why they are on the earth. Until recently, however, I’ve never given much thought to the defensive value of knowing your purpose.

If my purpose allows me to put a fence around my life so I know what to do, it stands to reason that the fence also separates me from those things I shouldn’t do. The more area I fence in, the more tasks I’ll have on my list of things to do. Likewise, the tighter I set the fence, the more focused I can be on those things that are inside the fence. What defines you defends you.

When you are certain about your purpose, you can say no to things that are outside your fence. When you don’t know your purpose, you’ll say yes to a lot of things you should have rejected. Trust me. I’ve learned the hard way!

You don’t have to know your purpose in life. Some people enjoy trying this and that without any sense of accomplishment or contribution. Some people would rather claim victim status than take control of their futures. Some people are content to let everyone else decide what they should and shouldn’t do. In America, “normal” is head over heels in debt, living paycheck to paycheck, dependent upon a company to provide them a job, and trusting the government for their futures.

I’m not real interested in being “normal.” Are you? Think about it!

What defines you and how does it help defend you?

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Seek contentment not complacency

March 8, 2013 — Leave a comment

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We are not rich by what we possess but by what we can do without. | Immanuel Kant

We have a tendency to confuse contentment and complacency. Contentment is the state of being satisfied or possessing peace of mind. Complacency is being unaware of a potential danger. Contentment is desired. Complacency is dangerous.

It is interesting, however, that complacency seems to be more common than contentment. People today demonstrate complacency regarding many areas of life. Yet, a person who is content is like a unicorn… rare and dangerous! What makes a content person dangerous? Consider the following characteristics.

  • Content people prove that  quality of life has nothing to do with possessions, popularity, prestige, etc. People who are content don’t need the latest fashions and probably won’t buy new furniture before inviting you to dinner. They are comfortable being who they are and are not concerned with impressing anyone.
  • Content people defy modern marketing strategies. Since they are content, they don’t need the latest, greatest, most amazing gadget. They might be carrying a flip phone and it could take them 10 minutes to send a text. That’s OK because they prefer face to face conversation in a relaxed atmosphere, anyway.
  • Content people give. They give their time and resources because they aren’t drowning in debt incurred buying things they didn’t need to impress people they don’t know. They have margin in their lives and they realize that real meaning happens in the margins.
  • Content people put pressure on the rest of us to reevaluate our lives. A truly content person exudes an energy and vibrancy that can’t be obtained through other means. Content people remind complacent people that it is possible to live a life that matters today and in the years to come.

Complacency is a social disease. Contentment is the cure. Are you one of the sick or a healer? Think about it!

In what areas of life are you complacent? How would true contentment affect your attitude toward your everyday life?

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Tomorrow will look like today unless…

March 7, 2013 — 2 Comments

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Though we like to complain about the way things are, we often are reluctant to make even the smallest changes. Navigators know that a one degree deviation at the onset of a voyage can take a vessel on an unintended path. Similarly, a slight shift in our approach to life today can make a radical difference in the future we experience. By choosing wisely today we can change the course of our lives.

Where you are today is a direct result of decisions made in previous days, months, and years. Your destiny tomorrow will be affected by the choices you make today. If where you’ve been determines where you are, then where you are determines where you will be. Your future will look like your past unless you choose to do something about it.

Will you be satisfied if tomorrow looks just like today? If nothing changes in the next few months will you feel like you’ve made significant progress toward discovering and living your why? Are you on the right path headed in the right direction or are the days beginning to look like repeats of the past?

You can be certain of one thing… it’s going to be the way it was unless YOU decide it’s going to be different. You aren’t a victim; you are a unique individual designed by a loving Creator for a specific purpose. Where you’ve been is just preparation for where you are going. If you want to pursue your dream, choose to do something differently today. Think about it!

What is one thing you can do differently today that will put you on the path toward discovering your dream?

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Live to Inspire, Not Retire

February 21, 2013 — Leave a comment

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You get old faster when you think about retirement.
― Toba Beta

It might surprise you to know that retirement isn’t the life goal in many cultures around the world. Living to stop doing something we stopped enjoying years ago isn’t a universal dream. As the working world continues to change, people of all ages are spreading their entrepreneurial wings and unlocking the secrets to a life they never imagined possible. More and more people are discovering the joy of living to inspire, not retire.

What are the characteristics of that kind of life? A person living to inspire, not retire…

  • Has an optimistic vision for his or her future.
  • Looks for opportunities to learn and do new things.
  • Encourages others by recognizing their efforts.
  • Chooses to focus more on the days ahead than the ones behind.
  • Brings laughter and energy to almost every part of life.
  • Leave others saying, “I can’t wait to talk to him/her again,” and not, “Warn me when you see him/her coming.”

In Genesis 6:3, God said, “My Spirit will not contend with man forever, for he is mortal; his days will be a hundred and twenty years.” There is a limit to our lifespan, but there is no limit to the life we can live while in that span. Rather than living to quit, why not set up a life you aren’t trying to escape? Why not discover your purpose and set out on the journey to live a life that matters today and in years to come?

The distance from comfortable to complacent is short. If you seek comfort, you’ll become complacent. When you become complacent, you start complaining. When you start complaining, you become one of those people no one likes to see coming. Think about it!

Are you living to quit or living to inspire others? What are people catching from being around you?

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Five Keys to Your Passion

February 18, 2013 — 1 Comment

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It is obvious that we can no more explain a
passion to a person who has never experienced
it than we can explain light to the blind. | T. S. Eliot

The dictionary defines passion as any powerful or compelling emotion or feeling. When it comes to discovering your purpose in life, it is much more than that. In Live Your Why, WHY stands for how you are wired, your heart, and your opportunities. How you are wired–your personality–doesn’t change much. Your heart–passions–do change over time. That’s why it’s important to identify a quick process that helps us identify our passions.

Here’s a process to bring your passions into focus.

  1. If money weren’t an issue, how would you spend your time? Give some thought to your response because it reveals what’s at the core of your passion. List at least three possibilities.
  2. Using the three possibilities above, which one would you do if success were guaranteed? Arrange the possibilities in order with the one you’d be more likely to do at the top of the list.
  3. Based on the prioritized list above, what makes each activity appealing to you? Identify one or two characteristics of each activity.
  4. Take a look at the characteristics you identified in step three. Do you see any duplication or similarities? If so, list them. If not, proceed to the next question.
  5. Arrange the characteristics in order with the most common characteristics at the top and the least common at the bottom. Now, rearrange the list with the characteristics that are most appealing to you at the top of the list.

Take a look at the list of characteristics you developed. It is likely that the most common characteristics and the most preferred characteristics are the same. This is a huge clue to your current passion in life. Use it to guide your thinking about the future and your discovery of your opportunities. Revisit the passion discovery process as often as you want. The more you use it, the better equipped you’ll be to discover your passion.

If you are living a life that squelches your passion, you aren’t really living. Think about it.

What are your top passions? How do you plan to incorporate them into your life?

Are you intrigued by the idea that you can live a life that matters by discovering your why or purpose? Why wait? You can order a copy of Live Your Why and begin the journey on your own or you can enroll in the Live Your Why Online Seminar and have an experience similar to the live seminar.

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Start Discovering Your Purpose

February 15, 2013 — Leave a comment

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Do you wish you could attend a Live Your Why Seminar and be led through the process by Terry Hadaway? If you have a computer and about six hours, you can start the process with Terry right now.

Who needs Live Your Why? Right now, there are people of all ages participating in the Live Your Why Seminar being held in Birmingham, AL. The class includes high school students and retirees. There are people from all walks of life and the response has been consistent. One retired man said, “This makes me wish I could go back and start all over again.”

As a professor, Terry Hadaway utilized elearning to enhance the effectiveness of his teaching. With the opening of the My Thinking Box Online Learning site, Dr. Hadaway is making available high-quality elearning that you can enjoy anytime, anywhere. When you enroll in Live Your Why Online, you’ll get:

  • Immediate access to an electronic copy of Live Your Why.
  • The same workbook pages used in the live seminar.
  • A video/audio presentation of each lesson.
  • Access to the discussion room where you can talk about your experience with others who are discovering their whys.
  • Frequent opportunities to interact with Terry Hadaway via synchronous class conversations, discussions, or email.
  • As an added bonus, everyone enrolled in the Live Your Why Online Seminar will receive free admission to an upcoming Live Your Why Teleseminar.

Why go through the online experience? Isn’t reading the book enough? The book provides the basic information; the seminar adds additional information and provides practical steps to help you navigate the process. The elearning platform is the same platform used by many of the largest universities in the world. It is safe, secure, and proven to be effective.

If you’d like to know more about the Live Your Why Online Seminar click the banner above. If you know of someone who can benefit from discovering their purpose in life, pass this information along. If you’d like to have Terry Hadaway speak at your church, organization, or in your community, click on the contact me link at the top of the page.

Whether you choose to attend the live seminar or participate in the online seminar, the opportunity is yours. If you keep doing what you’re doing, the future will look strangely familiar. If you discover your purpose and start living it, your potential is unlimited. You get to choose. Think about it.

Who do you know who could benefit from discovering and living his or her purpose? Use the contact form to tell me about that person and both of you might win FREE admission to the Live Your Why Online Seminar.

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Passion Matters

February 6, 2013 — Leave a comment

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The dictionary defines passion as any powerful or compelling emotion or feeling. It is one of the predictors of success and one aspect of a successful endeavor. When it comes to your why, passion is synonymous with heart (the H in WHY).

Unfortunately, many people can’t really identify their passion. Yet, the authors of The Passion Test suggest that passions are “the loves of your life. They are the things that are most deeply important to you. These are the things that, when you’re doing them or talking about them, light you up.” So, everyone is passionate about something.

Unlike personality, passions change over time. What you are passionate about today might not make the list five years from now. Today’s passions are significant because they lead you to your opportunities (the Y in WHY). Opportunities almost always are connected to passion. You probably won’t pursue an opportunity you aren’t passionate about.

That’s why passion matters. It points you to your opportunities. It helps you identify specific situations in which you can live your why. Passion turns future dreams in to present realities.

So, how can you know your passion. In my book, Live Your Why, I encourage people to respond to the following questions:

  • If money weren’t an issue, how would you spend your time?
  • What do others say you do well?
  • What do you think you do well? What do you enjoy doing?
  • When you are at a bookstore, what magazines and books grab your attention?
  • What “big dreams” have you been carrying around most of your life?
  • For what do you want to be known?

Once you understand how to determine your passions, you’ll be better prepared to pursue future passions. But, beware of the enemies of passion–fear, insecurity, and comfort. These emotions have the capacity to derail your pursuit of your purpose in life. You have one or more passions that point to your purpose. Think about it!

What are you passionate about? What opportunities do you have to express that passion?

 

 

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