My blog on Ted Williams, the homeless man with the golden voice, being inspirational or not, got a lot of response. I wasn't trying to be a downer (as one reader labeled me, and it's OK), but was pushing for what we fill our lives with under the label 'inspiring.' A lot of listeners joined Chuck Bowen and me on the live call and chat room, here is a snippet of the thread:
Anthonyplack: Can a person say they are inspired, without actually doing anything because of the story?
Justhughes: how can we claim everyone is a winner if some choose not to race?
Ninanelson: I struggle with this so much, "you were uniquely and wonderfully created to have something unique to offer."
Terissamichele: HOW do WE find our amazing BREAK...when we are just a regular person, with some nice talents, have made some mistakes...but have HOPE for greatness??????
CarolyneJ: I differentiate it as I am born a woman like any other woman, I am ordinary in most every way. The difference is I know He has created in me something so unique it is only for me. I AM ordinary, but I can to choose to BE exceedingly extraordianry in HIM!
Justhughes: Personally , I've had a really hard time understanding that the point is not the end of the race, but the race itself
Anthonyplack: I think there is a a logic problem here... If everyone is special, then no one is special (Incredibles quote). I don't believe everyone IS special, but I do believe everyone CAN BE special. It is just most people don't choose to be special.
Chuck finally hit the nail on the head with what I was pushing for on the topic of 'inspiration,' and Tony Plack in the above chat hit it as well. The point of INSPIRING should be to INFLUENCE and EQUIP others to take positive action in their lives.
And I'll go further to submit that if 'inspiration' does not do that...then it's merely entertainment. Which is fine, let's just not kid ourselves into thinking we are adding to our personal development and enriching our lives by watching Rudy or Rocky or a Hallmark movie.
So now I'm now asking for you to share what has caused you to take action in your life and actually change and grow? Literally, what motivation or circumstance caused you to change yourself, your life, your habits...in a positive direction? What...influenced you?!
Please post it below and we'll be back here to discuss it live on Monday, January 17th at 9:30am Mountain time at the 'Live Show' link above.
Flunking almost every class my first semester in college caused me to return home to attend a Community College and bring my GPA back up. My failure in the first semester to be self-disciplined caused me to consider the possibility (and eventually join) the Marine Corps Reserves. This decision changed my life for the better in a multitude of ways.
Birth of my son and daughter. With Luke I re-committed to a previous covenant with God that I would look at pornography. I had kept my previous pledge, but having another set of eyes to protect made it even more meaningful. (I first saw Playboy for the first time at age 6 after my dad had left his magazines in the living room). With Abby I stopped drinking soda pop, which obviously is not as important spiritually, but allowed me to instantly lose 5 pounds and continue on the path toward better health.
Posted by: Bill R. | January 10, 2011 at 11:23 AM
For me it was health - my Mom's health years ago got me moving in the direction of working out an arrangement of telecommuting part time. HUGE step towards me moving to self employment.
The health of my sister and my own health this past year has caused me to re-evaluate a lot of things and in some respects started moving me in a totally new direction.
Being stuck - stuck to the point of feeling unable to move forwards, backwards or sideways. Being stuck and knowing I need help - forced me to reach out and ask for it. Just the simple step of asking helped me move and make changes.
This weekend I have been thinking a lot about this and the messages in my inbox, devotions, blog posts I have been reading have all had a similar theme/message. That gets my attention and gets me moving as well.
Posted by: Marta Goertzen | January 10, 2011 at 11:30 AM
Extreme discomfort coupled with opportunity.
We didn't move out of our rental until the walls were literally falling in. I didn't want to be self-employed till I lived thru the mass layoffs of 2001-2003. I was happy at the house in the 'burbs until I had to play musical cars every day & park on the street.
I was surprised by this. I don't know what I was expecting. Maybe that reading a great book or seeing a great speaker made me change? The outside influences might help me realize that there is another way or open my eyes to opportunities, but the real motivation to change seems to be internal.
Posted by: alison | January 10, 2011 at 12:20 PM
God showed me through a book, "Good News about Injustice" by Gary Haugen. The bottom line was this: If I want to know God on an extraordinarily, personal and intimate level, I must express my passion back into the world, and point it all back to him. Where my "rubber meets the road", when a situation or progression requires my deep, conscious awareness of His presence in order to take a single step further, that is where I want to live. No more life representative of a "tidy patio garden" where the goal is to stay in and keep intruders and pesky needy (children of the One True God) out. How many more sermons, classes, studies, speeches did I need in order to put what I knew He wanted into action? It finally got to the point where to stay in a safe, protected, predictable, life was a far worse prospect than any "mistake" I might make along the new way. FAU understands that to stay the same is to perish. Consider having knocked on the door of FAU - having the door slam OPEN to you and your ideas - a providential confirmation of your very being. Whatever they tell you to do, do it.
Posted by: Winnie | January 10, 2011 at 12:32 PM
I had been battling years of struggles and despite my efforts got nowhere and began to feel trapped. As I grew closer to God he awakened an appreciation for life and opened my eyes to see that he could take me home 60 years from now, 5 months from now, or even today. When I asked myself the question, What if He took me home today." I was so taken back by the fact that I haven't even LIVED LIFE yet, even though I was 37 years old. So being taken home without ever experiencing LIFE, a true pure exceedingly extraordinarily LIFE in CHRIST, would be a horrible tragedy that I didn't want to succumb to. So here we are 1 year later and I would have appreciated being farther along than I am, but first things first. The solid unbreakable foundation is being laid as my relationship with Christ is intense, deep, lovely, & diamond strong. Of course I want it all and I want it NOW, but I know I am building in the right order.
Carolyne
Posted by: Carolyne Jimenez | January 10, 2011 at 10:37 PM
Th thing that has motivated me is my lack of contentment. I realized this is what I was feeling and then found people ways to solve it. Through my search for a solution I found people that have done what I want to do and they are my source of inspitation.
Josh Bulloc
Kansas City, MO
How can I help?
Posted by: Josh Bulloc | January 11, 2011 at 08:11 AM
Pulled by a need to find purpose (that journey started when I read your dad's books)...pushed by pain (of my job at the time)...and powered by passion (which Free Agent Academy helped me find).
THANK YOU!
Posted by: Brenda Dunagan | January 11, 2011 at 09:23 AM
My family was my inspiration. As an airline pilot, I traveled a lot. I was gone all the time. Playing that forward with young kids, I knew I'd be missing things. In fact, I missed the first steps of our two oldest. I missed all sorts of stuff.
I enjoyed flying airplanes, but what good is enjoying a job when other things in your life are out of whack?
Motivated doesn't even describe how driven I was to provide a better life for my family. I would stop at nothing to make it happen. That's the kind of drive people need to have if they want to succeed.
Posted by: Justin Lukasavige | January 11, 2011 at 09:35 AM
Carolyn, I so appreciate the "want it NOW" comment, and was unprepared for the experiences as He prepares me all along the way for what is next... I love your post!
Posted by: Winnie | January 11, 2011 at 09:42 AM
Okay. What has caused me to take action. The book "The E Myth revisited" by Michael E. Gerber puts it like this,
". . . But whatever you were, you were doing technical work. And you were probably damn good at it. But you were doing it for somebody else. Then, one day, for no apparent reason, something happened. . . It might have been the paycheck you received on a Friday afternoon, or a sideways glance from the boss that just didn't sit right. It might have been a feeling that your boss didn't really appreciate your contribution to the success of his business. It could have been anything; it doesn't matter what. But one day, for apparently no reason, you were suddenly stricken with an entrepreneurial Seizure. And from that day on your life was never to be the same. Inside your mind it sounded something like this: 'What am I dong this for? Why am I working for this guy? Hell, I know as much about this business as he does. If it weren't for me, he wouldn't have a business. Andy dummy can run a business. I'm working for one."
So I definitely agree that I had a Entrepreneurial Seizure. However, learning from Free Agent Academy has shown me that you can't just run out of being a corporate employee to a business owner without some major issues. As you all have seen from my 2 year history, it is not easy.
However, within this book I am reading now, Mr. Gerber explains something that I know I have been learning from FAA over the last few years that is helping me finally succeed within self-employment. . . to summarize:
Each of us has three personalities within us. 'The entrepreneur', 'The manager' and 'The technician'. If we as small business owners do not balance the three of those personalities, there will be major unrest within our own bodies and in our business.
So to finally get to answering the question 'What has inspired me to make change' -- first it was the Entrepreneurial Seizure that occurred within me the Spring of 2008.
Then it was going to 'The Sanctuary' and joining 212connection (now Free Agent Academy), then it was attending another event. It was seeing what everyone else has as Free Agents that fuels my desire to work for myself. It is the support, love and encouragement I receive from my FAAmily that keeps me going and to NOT give up.
It is knowing that I am aligned with the calling that the Lord Jesus has for me and I am going to fulfill it!! That is my ultimate inspiration. For the first time in my life and I NOT afraid!!
I am ready willing and able to run my own business. Feeding the different 'personalities' within myself to assure that my business does not fail! I WILL SUCCEED!!
Posted by: wendy staas | January 11, 2011 at 09:44 AM
To be completely honest, it is competition. Recently I discovered someone wanting to attemp to do what I do at www.Customstix.com and I realized I had taken a break in the easy chair due to our recent explosion during the Christmas holidays. So...I really got motivated and took advantage of that little "Scare" as a wake up call to get me more motivated to dominate the market and not settle for pretty good, but become the BEST!
Posted by: Jeff | January 11, 2011 at 10:20 AM
Positive influences and encouragement from people I respect has likely been the biggest factor in my growth. Without FAU, Coach Radio, and later FAA, I think I'd probably be in the same place, but more frustrated.
Posted by: Justin H | January 11, 2011 at 10:32 AM
I will also say FAU, FAA, CoachRadio, and the like. They inspire me to think of the life I want. They inspire me to explore ways on how to get that life I want. They inspire me to find out what are my priorities in my life and align my life accordingly.
But the most inspirational thing to me is my wife and family, and creating a life for them that is only dreamt about.
Posted by: Randy Buckman | January 11, 2011 at 01:26 PM
Kevin,
Bottom line - YOU inspired me to take action. My entire adult life I have been haunted by the idea that I have no specific thing that I know without a doubt I was born to do. And I have this fired up need to know right now.
Before joining FAA I sent an email to you, and your response moved me to action. Here are snippets that I would like to share with others.
I emailed you:
"I'm 44 and still don't know what I want to do when I grow up. And I'm tired of not knowing. My boss just gave me a $100 bill for Christmas, and I want to find the answer to my question as fast as I can! Is this the place for me?"
You replied:
"Thanks for sharing all this. Made me smile. What a great use of $100, when most folks would blow it. It's actually daunting for you to ask...with your $100, is this the place for it. I honestly don't know a better resource that will help you find what you desire...for $100."
The humility of your answer by saying it was a "daunting" question for you. Well... your energy and your heart connected with me, and propelled me into motion. As you well know, I'm off and running with FAA.
And just so your head stays its normal size, there have been loads and loads of inspiration from others within FAA. So every step of the way, there has been another inspiring story, inspiring note, inspiring class, inspiring chat that has help keep me in motion!
And a really funny thing hit me the other day. Gary's material is so full of movie clips, it's nearly impossible to watch one without looking for my calling in it. Anyway, Finding Nemo was on. And I began to see myself as Nemo, trying to find my way. And all the critters in the ocean are doing everything they can to help him get there. So, yes, I see all of my FAAmily peeps as fish, turtles and whales -- all trying to help me find my way!
And for the record, I believe I look more like a clown fish than anyone else looks like turtles, whales, etc. :)
I won't be on the call during the day on Wednesday, but wanted to give you my shout out about inspiration -- just so you know that I've been listening! Rock On!
Posted by: SusanTyler | January 11, 2011 at 11:17 PM
I've had many different motivators at different times. The latest was losing my job last year. Actually, though, it was seeing my boss let go several months before me. As the company was spiraling down, I knew my turn would eventually come, and following my boss home with his box of stuff in my car (because he "resigned" with no notice on a day he rode his motorcycle to work) was like a slap upside the head.
I pulled out my 48Days book and started re-reading it. That led me to the 48days.net community and to FAU. When I lost my job several months later (same circumstance as my old boss, minus the motorcycle), I knew I had to get a job fast, but I also knew I had begun my transition to free agency. I'm done working for "the man".
Lots of books have helped push me along, too. Notably, A Million Miles... (Donald Miller).
Posted by: Scott Moore | January 13, 2011 at 12:46 PM
What has encouraged me to move forward and change my life are the problems that have been there. I want to have a life that is better than the issues in my life. I would not have changed near as much if money weren't an issue or if I hadn't had health issues. If there is no resistance then the muscle is not grown. Whether I wanted the issues or not looking back those are what pushed me to grow. I think that it is the overcoming of our problems, I may not have been homeless but I have had my share of learning to do. If I work on that and grow and learn who I am and what God has given me that will most bless this world at this point I am inspiring myself.
Posted by: Ken Gerber | January 14, 2011 at 09:41 AM
As I look back on the last 10 plus years I would have to say the common denominator in inspiring me to change is my wife and 2 sons. I was always the kind of guy who had to have an answer for everything. As a chemist it came with the territory. As a Sales Manager I needed to portray (or so I thought)a know it all attitude. Then the young kids started asking the tough Life Questions and Unexpected sickness struck my wife 1 week after 9/11.
That started me on a Journey which led to finding the Lord (actually he was always there I just wasn't paying attention). I realized that I do not have all of the answers, what a crazy thought to begin with. I can however with discernment and yielding learn from people who have gone ahead of me.
In my Corporate Job I see such despair , pain and numbing as us 40 somethings brace ourselves for the disappointment of working for someone/something else. Having a taste of some Freedom in my current J-O-B and schedule; I want to live my life with purpose and support my family abundantly and teach my boys that Traditional 9-5 employment is not the best option. This is especially poignant as my 18 Year Old is getting ready for college and I am talking to him about freelance work to support his journey.
It's amazing that each situation that the Lord has walked me through was an amazing time of learning and Growth. I believe it is essential to surround yourself with wise Counsel (FAA and Godly Friends). For me I have to have a clear plan in front of me ; that... actually inspires me ,believe it or not. Guess that is typical for my High S&C ( DISC) personality.
So to Summarize What inspires me to Change my Life for the Better:
My Lord: who has set me apart with Gifts and a Purpose
My Wife and 2 Sons: who look to me for direction and Leadership
My J-O-B: which shows me there is a better way outside the Corporate grind.
A Plan : which guides me to achieving a goal.
Posted by: John DiMare | January 15, 2011 at 03:58 PM
I have also been motivated and challenged by constant encouragement from others who not only tell me, "Jeff, you can do this thing", but also can teach me or show me HOW to do this thing. A recent example which has helped to inspire and motivate me and is presently resulting in positive change in my life, is a songwriters group that I joined a few months ago. We are all given a song theme to begin writing a new song with, and are then given a specific timeline in which we are expected to complete a first draft of our song. We are asked to also, create a song/lyric sheet, with music and also to record our song and then post an mp3 file of our song to a private group that has been created just for us in the group. The outcome for me, so far, has been challenging, inspiring, and is producing positive change in me that I can actually see. I can see my progress, I receive constructive and positive feedback from others in the songwriting group, which is helping me to grow and improve in my craft of songwriting. OH, and did I mention, this is an absolute joy and blast for me, because it's doing something that I LOVE!!!
-Jeff-
Posted by: Jeff Batson | January 15, 2011 at 04:55 PM
I got sick to my stomach thinking about working another 25 + years for someone else. Getting 2 weeks vacation, asking to take off, working for someone else and their dreams.....then I realized the only way to change that was to change my priorities, to change myself and take steps to make MY dreams come true!
Lisa
Posted by: [email protected] | January 16, 2011 at 07:25 AM
The answer to this is really simple for me. Twenty years ago my first wife was diagnosed with an aggressive breast cancer. As we pursued what was necessary for her to thrive and survive, I saw how complex the issue was and how so many suffered in silence and were totally intimidated by the issue. It was almost exactly 20 years ago, while in a grad school seminar, that I felt called to "do something about this cancer thing." The rest is history. I have since devoted my life to learning all I could, staying inspired myself, and helping to alleviate the pain others might experience.
Posted by: Jim Henry | January 16, 2011 at 07:44 AM
Two main themes: A deep desire to be free and a deep desire to not get taken out. Life seems to come at us like that either to free us more or shut us down and take us out.
Posted by: Jack Lynady | January 16, 2011 at 08:37 AM
The biggest thing for me has been a nagging, gnawing sense that there has to be something more. At the end of my life I don't want to look back and say I wasted it.
Posted by: ScottKantner | January 16, 2011 at 05:13 PM
This may be a bit harsh but. . . My father died of lung cancer in 2006. He was broke and in debt when he passed. My mother was forced to sell the house and move in with other family because she couldn't afford to keep it and my grandmother gave her the money so she could pay of and keep her car. My dad had no retirement, savings or investments of any kind. My mother now lives on a small Social Security check. I don't want leave my wife and kids like that! I want them to be taken care of long after I'm gone, that's what has caused me to take action and change. First, I quit smoking, then focused on getting out of debt, and now working on staying as healthy as possible and building a business. I do love my mom and miss my dad, but I have learned from their example.
Posted by: Chris Puckett | January 16, 2011 at 06:00 PM
Jeff - I hear ya!! It can also be a huge thorn in my side...but I'm really motivated by competition.
Wendy - You mentioned books - and that's been a HUGE source of change for me too. A few big life-changers: Preparation for Parenting (Ezzo), To Train Up A Child (Pearl), Love Is A Decision, In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day (Batterson), Raving Fans (Blanchard), First We Have Coffee (Jensen), Henry and The Great Society (Roush), A Million Miles in a Thousand Years (Miller)...
Above all - PAIN, and then pressing into God for help & healing has been the biggest change agent. NOTHING changes my day, attitude, outlook, actions, and life, like heading outside to spend time praying & singing & talking to God, and spending time in God's Word.
Posted by: Teri Miller | January 17, 2011 at 09:50 AM