You and I were not designed to be intimidated of what stands before us.
What is before us was designed to be afraid of what (and WHO) lies within us.
The Recession has paralyzed many Americans like a terrorist attack; with its choice weapon of mass destruction being fear. So many have been affected or influenced by layoffs and media hype that they have refused to take risks.
The Associated Press recently reported:
"Some 5 million people, about one-third of those on the unemployment list, have been without a job for six months or more, a record since data started being recorded in 1948, according to the research and advocacy group National Employment Law Project. "It smashes any other figure we have ever seen. It is an unthinkable number," said Andrew Stettner, NELP's deputy director. He said there are currently about six jobless people for every job opening, so it's unlikely people are purposefully living off unemployment insurance while waiting for something better to come along."
We held Dream Job this past Saturday and it was a tremendous success. I'd like to personally thank you for your prayers, support, donations and volunteer hours (if you had a chance to participate.) As we prepared for Dream Job, I had a chance to see the condition of California's job market up close. Countless attendees came up to our team afterwards and said, "Before I came here, I had lost hope and given up. My hope has been restored and inspired to rebrand myself and dream again-THANK YOU!"
Many have now entered back into the job market battlefield. How about you? How are you faring in the economy? Have fewer job openings and increased competition in the job market discouraged you?
King Solomon once wrote: "Then I saw that all painful effort in labor and ALL SKILL IN WORK comes from man's rivalry with his neighbor" (Eccl. 4:4.)
A rival (or an opponent) will always make you better in the game.
Competition increases innovation and skill on so many levels.
King Solomon added some other great wisdom:
"The fool folds his hands together and eats his own flesh [destroying himself by indolence (slothfulness, inactivity and doing things that cause little or no pain or exertion)] (Eccl. 4:5.)
"Be not rash with your mouth, and let not your heart be hasty to utter a word before God. For God is in heaven, and you are on earth; therefore let your words be few. For a dream comes with much business and painful effort, and a fool's voice with many words" (Eccl. 5:2-3.)
You must do something with your hands and not just your mouth. This recession will either make you bitter or better. Only you and I determine when the famine (or drought) in our life ends.
And you will either live by fear or its opposite: FAITH. When the Israelites were backed against the Red Sea with the Egyptians in pursuit of them, the enemy was trying to kill the unborn conqueror or potential (still inside of them) with fear.
When the Israelites saw the Red Sea, they were afraid of it and thought it was over; At the first sign of delay or opposition, they thought they would end up short again (short of their dream, short of their opportunity, short of their promotion, business, ministry and chance.)
BUT WHEN THE WATERS OF THE RED SEA SAW GOD, THEY WERE AFRAID OF HIM.
In 1446 BC, Moses held a prayer meeting and said: "The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace and remain at rest."
But the Lord said to Moses: "WHY DO YOU CRY TO ME? Tell the people of Israel to go forward! Lift up your rod and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, AND THE ISRAELITES SHALL GO ON DRY GROUND THROUGH THE MIDST OF THE SEA" (Ex. 14:14-16.)
Whatever is in front of you was created for you to breakthrough it.
Today, don't limit your dream by just praying for it (but never taking steps.) GO FORWARD. One of the greatest mistakes we can make with an enemy in hot pursuit is to stay in one place.
We must be red hot and relevant in the industry. FEAR will keep you on the wrong side of your dream and destiny. Fear will cripple your ability to walk through and defy the nature of something that was intended to kill (or intimidate) you.
After the 911 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, no one wanted to fly. We were afraid. Yet it was the best time to fly; it was the best time to take a risk. Airline fares were the lowest. You could get a ticket and a whole row to yourself, because no one else was on the plane.
This recession is the best time to fly and take a risk.
People are afraid of taking risks right now. People are leaving deals on the real estate market; leaving innovative business ideas without an entrepreneur (or someone that will take leadership for it.)
All for you.
John Maxwell said in his recent Maximum Impact Simulcast, "When you have ownership of your dream, you will bet on yourself."
Are you willing to bet on yourself in this economic season?
