Life’s successes exist on the other side of Lake Perseverance. Lake Perseverance is filled with molasses, and must be swum under your own steam. Here, you earn every shoulder burning arm stroke toward success. It pulls every leg kick downward and strains against every leg kick upward, as you propel yourself slowly toward perseverance’s promise.
However, you cannot give up. Every stroke places you closer to your goal. Every stroke builds muscles you did not have before. Every stroke proves you can make it! When you pull yourself from the life draining molasses of Perseverance, you can flop down on the beach of success and cheer other’s arrival. Do not lament perseverance. Embrace your perseverance, because it teaches you what is critical for reaching and sustaining a successful life.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Monday, April 6, 2009
Living with a Dead End Job
In Greek Mythology, Sisyphus was a wise mortal who angered the Gods of Olympus. The angry Gods ultimately condemned Sisyphus to rolling a great rock up a steep hill. Upon reaching the hilltop, the great rock rolled back down the hill. Sisyphus did this day and night forever. Sisyphus became mythology's greatest example of futile effort. If your job makes you feel like Sisyphus, and your job/life seems like a futile, joyless effort, then it is time you unshackle yourself from that great rock. If your job has you feeling like Sisyphus, you are not alone.
Inc. Magazine published an article in 2007 called "U.S. Workers Hate their Jobs More than Ever." They cited 50% of 5000 households polled reported that they hated their jobs. When you factor in:
Inc. Magazine published an article in 2007 called "U.S. Workers Hate their Jobs More than Ever." They cited 50% of 5000 households polled reported that they hated their jobs. When you factor in:
- Job stress
- Reduced hours/pay
- Benefit cuts
- Severance/Layoff/Termination
- Decreased revenue/profitability
- Increased cost cutting
- Leadership apathy
- Unethical business practices
- Fewer lenders
- Higher line of credit requirements
It's apparent why so many of us hate our jobs. However, you can't leave your job without courting disaster. With jobs in short supply, you cannot leave your dead-end job for something more engaging, when jobs are being cut locally and globally. According to the NYTimes.com (April 2009), the jobless rate topped 8.5%, which means the U.S. economy has lost 5 million jobs, to a lengthening recession. The walls get a little bit closer for you. What will you do? I have an answer: Engage your gift.
Yes, if you cannot engage your job, then engage your gift. Your gift is that special thing you do that not only improves your life, but the lives of those around you. It will grant you respite from your "Sisyphus Experience" and give you something that satisfies the soul. It will put the spring back into your step by doing something positive in a world filled with so many negatives. If you haven't found your gift (shackle key), you can visit http://www.thegifttable.com/ and learn more about your gift, which will be far more than your temporary escape from your dead-end job. It will help you live with and move beyond your dead-end job! It is the new life and career that won't leave you feeling trapped, hopelessness, and in despair at day's end.
Even though you must continue rolling Sisyphus' rock up the hill, each day, and engage your job's futility of effort, promise me that you will spend some quality time exploring:
- What is your gift?
- How can you use your gift at work or home, to give yourself greater satisfaction from life?
- Where could your gift take you post-recession?
- Can your gifts unlock greater value and opportunity in your current job?
If you need some help, I've written a book called the "Gift Table: Getting Your Giftedness in Gear" (http://www.thegifttable.com/). It has helped many and will help you, too. Finally, your dead-end job is not the end of life. It is a road sign that tells you there are other directions you must travel for fulfillment, excitement, and peace. The vehicle of choice is your gift. Get in, familiarize yourself with the controls, and take life in a new direction. A direction that will replace or help you live better with your dead-end job.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Dreams and Pragmatism Go Hand In Hand
Too often, we give up too quickly on our dreams. Too many of us give up our dreams and become pragmatist. Not that pragmatism is wrong, but should never be taken out of context. It should never be used to escape the hard work needed to breathe life into a dream or fanciful pursuit that others deem impractical, silly, or a waste of time.
Pragmatism works when you know what is important, worthwhile, and fulfilling - like your dreams. It does not work, as an escape from that which is important, worthwhile, and fulfilling (dreams). However, people do it everyday. I hear people say, "I'll become a (fill-in the blank), because it gives me (fill-in the blank). It is generally some practical pursuit based on sound reasoning, but lacks heart, vision, or passion. Unless you are filling in the blanks with something meaningful, well, life's just one big blank!
Hundreds, maybe thousands, are experiencing gaping holes in their existence. They may even gaze up at the stars and wonder, "Why am I unfulfilled." The stars remark, "Because you've left your hopes and dreams up here. Instead of living your dreams, you've abandoned them for a practical life of servitude that brings you nothing but empty promises, sleepless nights, and the list goes on. Take your pragmatism and do something worthwhile, give soundness to your dreams."
When you think about it, many of the inventions existing today, that give us joy, comfort, and fulfillment began as fanciful, silly, and risky endeavors - flight, electricity, automobiles, etc. Dreams are the essence of life. However, a dream is just a dream without a healthy does of pragmatism, which goes along way. Why don't you take your pragmatism and love it: Use it to make sense of realizing your dreams.
Pragmatism works when you know what is important, worthwhile, and fulfilling - like your dreams. It does not work, as an escape from that which is important, worthwhile, and fulfilling (dreams). However, people do it everyday. I hear people say, "I'll become a (fill-in the blank), because it gives me (fill-in the blank). It is generally some practical pursuit based on sound reasoning, but lacks heart, vision, or passion. Unless you are filling in the blanks with something meaningful, well, life's just one big blank!
Hundreds, maybe thousands, are experiencing gaping holes in their existence. They may even gaze up at the stars and wonder, "Why am I unfulfilled." The stars remark, "Because you've left your hopes and dreams up here. Instead of living your dreams, you've abandoned them for a practical life of servitude that brings you nothing but empty promises, sleepless nights, and the list goes on. Take your pragmatism and do something worthwhile, give soundness to your dreams."
When you think about it, many of the inventions existing today, that give us joy, comfort, and fulfillment began as fanciful, silly, and risky endeavors - flight, electricity, automobiles, etc. Dreams are the essence of life. However, a dream is just a dream without a healthy does of pragmatism, which goes along way. Why don't you take your pragmatism and love it: Use it to make sense of realizing your dreams.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Welcome to the Gift Table
Hello,
I am so very excited about this blog and its purpose. This blog will allow everyone on, starting, or considering their Gift Table Journey, to visit here and share their experience. As the book’s author, I am learning each day that the Gift Table Journey is an individual and group activity. By talking about our Journey’s trials and successes, we can grow in our collective understanding, perspective, and support of each other’s Gift Table Journey. A journey for all people, all seasons, and all reasons. Everyone is invited!
Your positive input is always welcomed here. Positive input does not equal agreement. It does equal respect, tact, and kindness for positions that do not mesh with your own. We are all coming into awareness about our gifts and will arrive at our own answers intuitively, intellectually, and/or spiritually. There will be a few tenets I believe apply to all Gift Seekers, which I outline in the book: God gave us all gifts that help fulfill our lives and other’s lives, while providing for our financial, social, and spiritual well-being. This is an immutable absolute for me and the foundation of the Gift Table message as revealed to me by God.
Finally, I thank and appreciate all supporters of this book and will endeavor to help resource Gift Seekers, on their journey toward greater awareness of their gifting and purpose in life.
John,
I am so very excited about this blog and its purpose. This blog will allow everyone on, starting, or considering their Gift Table Journey, to visit here and share their experience. As the book’s author, I am learning each day that the Gift Table Journey is an individual and group activity. By talking about our Journey’s trials and successes, we can grow in our collective understanding, perspective, and support of each other’s Gift Table Journey. A journey for all people, all seasons, and all reasons. Everyone is invited!
Your positive input is always welcomed here. Positive input does not equal agreement. It does equal respect, tact, and kindness for positions that do not mesh with your own. We are all coming into awareness about our gifts and will arrive at our own answers intuitively, intellectually, and/or spiritually. There will be a few tenets I believe apply to all Gift Seekers, which I outline in the book: God gave us all gifts that help fulfill our lives and other’s lives, while providing for our financial, social, and spiritual well-being. This is an immutable absolute for me and the foundation of the Gift Table message as revealed to me by God.
Finally, I thank and appreciate all supporters of this book and will endeavor to help resource Gift Seekers, on their journey toward greater awareness of their gifting and purpose in life.
John,
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