Archives For Purpose

Are you wondering about your purpose in life? We’ve got some ideas to help.

Are you necessary?

March 14, 2013 — Leave a comment

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Uniqueness isn’t a virtue. It’s a responsibility. | Mark Batterson

Unique. The appearance of the word validates its meaning. Unfortunately, many people in our society seem to have forgotten that they have a responsibility to be unique. The same can be said about many organizations. We all have the tendency to identify someone who is achieving success and then attempt to imitate them.

They say that imitation is the greatest form of flattery. I disagree. Imitation is the greatest form of laziness. You weren’t created to be like someone else. You were created to be you… the best you possible. If we spend our lives trying to copy others, one of us is unnecessary. Yet, copying others is about as creative as some people get.

A coworker and I once talked about creating a fictitious organization that we controlled. We knew that the leaders of our organization were prone to copy what others did, so by creating and controlling the make-believe organization, we could control the place we worked. It was a genius plot that would make for great television or a comic strip!

When you pause to copy others, you stop short of your potential. It’s not that you desire to be better than someone else. The point is that life isn’t a competition. When I’m at my best, those around me are at their best. When you are at your best, you have the same effect on those around you.

Don’t squander your life becoming a cheap imitation of something or someone. Dare to explore your creativity. Don’t imitate, initiate. Create change. If you don’t become you, who will? Think about it!

In what ways are you expressing your uniqueness?

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The Reviews Are In

March 5, 2013 — Leave a comment

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I just finished leading a group of about 50 people through Live Your Why and the feedback affirms my suspicions–people really do want to know their purpose in life! After the six sessions, we received the following comments:

  • This seminar showed me how I should live my life.
  • The story of Esther reminded me how living my why affects the lives of others.
  • I was reminded how important it is to stop going through the motions.
  • This was eye-opening. It helped me be honest with myself and refocus my life. Very easy to follow and practical.
  • I now think about my life and its purpose.
  • Very engaging! Helped me better understand God’s purpose for my life.
  • Made me aware of my need to live the life God created me to live. Now I must take the first step.
  • It made me think about my box and how to move out of it.
  • This seminar was informative, timely, well-organized, interesting, and much needed.

All six sessions of Live Your Why are now available through the online learning channel at My Thinking Box. You can download the same worksheets used in the live seminar and follow along on the screen as you hear Terry Hadaway walk you though the process. You’ll see the same presentation used in the sessions. So, the experience will be much the same as the seminar (with the exception of the candy and doughnut holes).

If your church or organization would like to have Terry Hadaway lead Live Your Why in a live event, click here. The experience can be customized to work in a variety of settings and time frames. What will happen in your church or organization when people start living their whys? Why not find out?

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Beyond the Numbers

February 27, 2013 — 1 Comment

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I honestly think it is better to be a failure
at something you love than to be a
success at something you hate.
George Burns

Success. Every business, organization, and person has a definition of success. Though there might be some shared elements, most definitions are unique. What one person sees as success represents failure to another. What one organization celebrates, another ignores. Success is a common, yet elusive, concept.

Many people view success in terms of income. Yet, many wealthy people are extremely unhappy. The same is true for businesses and organizations. Success isn’t found only in the numbers; success is far more complex than that.

Bill Cosby said, “I don’t know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody.” This is true for individuals and organizations. When we try to please everyone, we lose our identity and become slaves to those we intend to serve. When this happens in an organization, the leaders will do whatever it takes to keep people happy. You and I do it when we vacate our passions in order to gain acceptance.

Numbers don’t paint an accurate picture. Numbers are easily manipulated to paint a false picture that provides satisfaction to individuals or organizational leaders. We can get caught up in the pursuit of the world’s definition of success. In doing so, we abandon our unique design. We arrive at a goal only to discover that it holds no real value.

Success is measured in terms of integrity, passion, honesty, and humility. We are successful when we choose truth, contribution, and concern for others. If you’re really the person or organization you claim to be, you won’t have to hype yourself. If you’re relying on hype to maintain the perception of success, you don’t understand what real success is.

Don’t be a success at something you hate because that success is fragile. Live to make a difference right here, right now.

I’ve been teaching Live Your Why for several weeks and the final session is this week. More than fifty people now understand how they are wired, their passions, and how to determine their opportunities. This group is poised to live with purpose and passion. Average in America is a bad goal. We weren’t created to be average; we were created to invest our lives in things that really matter. You can begin your journey now.

Don’t waste any more time. Stop counting and start living. Think about it.

What is your definition of success and how will you know when you’ve achieved it?

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When your platform is a plank

February 25, 2013 — 1 Comment

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I want a platform that, like a book or a magazine,
I can carry into the bath or leave at the beach. | Walter Jon Williams

We hear a lot about building a platform. There are a number of books, podcasts, and websites that deal with the subject. There is a lot of useful information that can help a budding author or speaker develop a tribe of loyal followers. Apparently the strategy works for some people.

But, there is a problem. Many of us who are in the process of building a platform lack the advantage some experts enjoy. Our previous or present employers aren’t high profile publishing or media giants. Our names aren’t household words. We can contact everyone we know and still not come up with someone who can write an endorsement for our books. If someone stole our identity, they’d give it back!

So, here is some platform-building advice for regular people:

  • Refine your message until it is stated in 25 words or less. If you have to take a breath in the middle of explaining your primary purpose, your statement is too long.
  • Work in circles. Start with yourself. If you aren’t convinced your message needs to be heard, no one else will buy into it. Once you’ve convinced yourself, work outward… family, friends, acquaintances, etc. Keep expanding your audience until you reach the public.
  • Don’t be intimidated by the success of others. Face it, you and I aren’t going to have 40,000 unique visitors to our websites this month. That’s OK. Celebrate those you do have. Respond to their comments. Ask them to help spread the word.
  • Be confident in your message but humble in your approach. Your humility enables others to trust you. When they trust you, they will be loyal to you. It is possible to be confident without being obnoxious.
  • Live to give, not get. We aren’t here to wallow in self-gratification. We are here to make a difference. Give in proportion to what you make. Select some causes you believe in and direct part of your income to them. When people know what you believe, they’ll believe what you claim to know.

Are these foolproof strategies? Nope. Success can’t be guaranteed. Anyone who tries to sell you a recipe for success includes you in the list of ingredients. Think about it.

What strategies are you using to develop your platform?

writeNOWseminarMaybe you need a few pointers to help get you started on the write path. Why not join my FREE Write Now Teleseminar on Tuesday, March 12 at 7:00pm (CDT)? I’ll spend 45 minutes answering some of the most common questions about writing and building a platform. Just click Write Now image to learn more.

Did you miss Five Mistakes Would Be Writers Make? Click here to read it!
In Publishing, Purpose , , ,
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Five Mistakes Would-be Writers Make

February 22, 2013 — Leave a comment

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How vain it is to sit down to write when you
have not stood up to live.
― Henry David Thoreau

Through the years, I have dealt with many would-be writers. I’ve also had the opportunity to deal with a few very successful writers. Success, of course, is a vague term. Most writers view success in terms of their real or perceived audience. Many writers reach literally millions of people without collecting any money. A writer who writes to achieve fame or fortune will receive neither. A writer who writes because of an inner drive that can be satisfied no other way will view success in terms other than fame or fortune.

Would-be writers make a lot of assumptions. Here are five mistaken ones.

  1. If I write it, they will buy. Writing is about ten percent of the process. The other ninety percent is marketing. If you don’t develop a following, publishers won’t come knocking. If you don’t develop a following, self-publishing won’t work. How you publish is insignificant if you aren’t marketing yourself.
  2. I need thousands of dollars to get my writing career started. That’s just an excuse people use to justify their procrastination. You can write and self-publish without spending a penny.
  3. I need connections in the publishing industry before I can’t publish. I hate to break it to you, but the big publishers aren’t looking for you and me. The publishers that pursue you will offer publishing opportunities that require you to pay them. RUN! Don’t worry about connecting with a publisher. Focus on connecting with your audience.
  4. I can write in my spare time. You don’t have any spare time, therefore, you won’t write. You must make time to write everyday. Set a goal for writing 500 words a day. In a few months, you’ll have a book.
  5. Blogging isn’t writing. Wow. Don’t tell that to Seth Godin, Michael Hyatt, Dan Miller, or Joshua Becker. Many finished books started as blogs.

writeNOWseminarMaybe you need a few pointers to help get you started on the write path. Why not join my FREE Write Now Teleseminar on Tuesday, March 12 at 7:00pm (CDT)? I’ll spend 45 minutes answering some of the most common questions about writing. Just click Write Now image to learn more.

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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 God-given purpose and set out on the journey to make Him famous by living 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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Left brain, write brain

February 20, 2013 — Leave a comment

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There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down
at a typewriter and bleed.
― Ernest Hemingway

One of the most common comments made to writers is something like this–I’ve always wanted to write a book. My response is quick and predictable–Well, write. Writing is the tangible expression of a person’s thoughts. Some people have big imaginations, so their thoughts lean toward fiction. Others are linear, organized thinkers, so their thoughts lean toward non-fiction. People who see the world through the eyes of a child are great candidates for writing a children’s book. While people who have rambling thoughts that make no sense can have a career writing speeches for politicians.

If you write because you think you will become wealthy, think again. Most writers never get a publishing contract. Those who get a contract aren’t guaranteed success. So, if writing for money isn’t the point, why write? It’s simple. Your thoughts are a valuable asset. When invested in others, they pay enormous, eternal dividends.

Some people push back because they don’t see themselves as writers. I understand. There was a point in my life when I didn’t see myself as a writer, either. Now that I’ve discovered my why (purpose), I am convinced that writing isn’t something I should do; it’s something I must do. Maybe you’re a lot like I was. You don’t see yourself as a writer, but you have a message to share. Write!

Will a publisher call? I don’t know. Is that going to stop me? Nope. This isn’t a left brain-right brain issue; it’s a left brain-write brain issue. When you unlock your passions and open your mind, you might discover a love for writing you never knew you had. You can keep doing what you’re doing and experience predictable results or you can open the vault and let your thoughts out. Think about it!

What can you write about? What keeps you getting started?

You can Write Now. Coming soon are some exciting opportunities for you to investigate writing as a career. The FREE Write Now Teleseminar is a few weeks away. You’ll see more information about it in the coming days.

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Five Keys to Your Passion

February 18, 2013 — Leave a 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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Anything not Everything

February 14, 2013 — 1 Comment

Busy Businessman

All the mistakes I ever made in my life were when I wanted to say no, and said yes. | Moss Hart

The average person makes more than one thousand decisions each day. That works out to a decision every minute during the hours we aren’t asleep. Because we make a decision every minute, we don’t have time to process all the implications. Due to the sheer volume of decisions being made, it’s likely we’ll make a bad decision or two everyday.

We have a problem saying no. After all, every option that comes our way wants us to say yes. Our tendency is to do whatever it takes to please others, earn acceptance, reinforce our power position, or play the role of martyr. Busyness becomes our badge of honor. We like to think we can multitask, but brain researchers confirm that multitasking is physically impossible. Our brains can only focus on one thing at a time. What we call multitasking is more like rapidly changing the channel.

We believe we can do anything, but do we have to do everything that comes our way? Is it necessary for us to run from one thing to another? By default, we say yes because we don’t have a filter that allows us to say no. This 30-minute commitment isn’t a big deal, is it?

Sleeping, working, driving, being online, and watching television occupy 73% of your day. If you do anything other than these five activities, your available time is less. Toss in cooking, cleaning, yard work, kids homework, getting ready each day, socializing, etc. and you become one of the people who showed up in my college classes.

Over a seven-year period, I had the privilege of teaching the first class adult students took when returning to college. I began by asking them to talk about their time commitments (before adding school). Seven years and hundreds of students later, I concluded that the average adult is committed to 26.3 hours of activity each day (without adding college classes).

If you don’t develop a filter that allows you to say no, saying yes will cost you personally, physically, relationally, and financially. If you don’t say no now, you won’t have the opportunity to say yes later. Think about it.

What criteria do you use to say no? In what situations do you find it most difficult to say no?

Do you need a new thinking strategy? Check out What If Thinking. This book will help you develop a decision-making strategy that says yes to what’s best and no to unnecessary activities.

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