Take Permission

The Right Tools & Mindset For Success

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How I'm Confronting My Weaknesses by Going Through The Living Forward Process

Books are generous things. A team of people put hundreds of hours and often decades of experience into one book. We click a button and get it delivered in two days or sometimes instantly.

Accept it or Reject it?

Then we make a decision. Will we accept it or will we reject it? Every time we open a book, we get the chance to open ourselves to its message.

Living ForwardI’m opening myself up to Living Forward by Michael Hyatt and Daniel Harkavy. I’ve paid for my copies so don’t take this endorsement as a friend promoting his friends. This is someone believing and investing in a proven path.

I Need Direction

I am a man in need of direction. That may sound weak to you but it’s not. I have weaknesses, we all do. There is wisdom in knowing you need direction. There is strength in knowing your weaknesses. This book is going to help me take the steps to seek the direction I need. It will not tell me where to go; it’s not that kind of book. This is a choose your own adventure book.

The keywords are YOUR and ADVENTURE. This looks like another business self-help book but what I think and hope it is, is a tool I can use to stop being a wandering generality and start being a man who lives with purpose and joy.

All that for $13. That’s a generous exchange.

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I encourage you to get this book and then follow the steps it provides. It’s an easy read and a worthwhile process to walk through. If you follow Mike and Daniel’s advice you’ll end up with a map you can live by and revisit to tweak if necessary.

I’m 38, and I’m tired of drifting.

Average Isn’t A Worthy Goal

There are many things I do well. I provide tremendous value for my customers and I’m a good husband and father. The struggle is that good is average and average isn’t what we’re created to be.

I have a wonderful life, but God has more for me than I am experiencing and it’s not God’s fault I’m not experiencing everything He has for me. It’s time for me to stop drifting. My family deserves better. My friends deserve better. This world needs me at my best. I need to live a life I’m proud of.

Taking One Day

Monday I’m taking the entire day to go through the life planning process. One day that could help direct the rest of my days. That’s worth investing in for me and for you.

Click here to get Mike and Daniel’s book Living Forward: A Proven Plan to Stop Drifting and Get the Life You Want

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Why We Worry About Work When We're With Our Family

Worrying about work, or the inability to stop working when we should be investing in our family isn’t because we’re selfish, it’s because we lack faith.

If you and I really believed that God would provide for us then we could work hard and then stop. But we don’t work hard and then stop. We work hard and then work some more and then work a little bit more. Then we check our email one more time before going to bed. You get the point.

Our boundaries between work and family are lousy. (highlight to tweet)

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The reason you worry is normal. It’s human. I struggle with it even though I know it too.

Worry About Work from Andy Traub on Vimeo.

How to stop worrying about work

Either God cares about you or He doesn’t. Either He will provide for you or He won’t. That’s His job. Our job is to work diligently and then when we’re done working to work hard on being present with our family.

  • Stop working at a specific time every day, no matter what
  • Leave your phone in the car when you go out with your family
  • Make your bedroom an email free zone
  • Schedule time with your spouse and your kids just like you do appointments with co-workers
  • Ask God to give you great effectiveness at work
  • Thank God for His provision
  • Repent of not being grateful and for not having faith that He will provide

None of this is that complicated. I’m encouraging you to let God be God and you be you. You’re the parent. You’re the spouse. You’ve got your job with your family and your job with your employer. Do them both well but do them both separately and with intentionality.

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Work-life Balance is a Stupid Idea

“Work-life balance” implies that when one is happening the other isn’t. It implies that “work” takes and “life” gives. Work doesn’t take from our life, it gives life meaning if we allow it to.

Work-life Synergy

We need work-life synergy, not work-life balance. Work should dance with the rest of our life. Work is a component of a great life, not an opponent to it.

Life isn’t what it was meant to be when we don’t do meaningful work.

Stop trying to achieve work life balance. Mix them together. Life cannot be great without doing meaningful work.

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We Get To Ascribe The Meaning

Mothers, writers, baristas, and pastors all feel their work is thankless, unappreciated and many days unproductive. The truth is that we ascribe meaning to our work.

  • Mothers bring into the world then shape the future of our world.
  • Writers birth words and use them to influence culture.
  • Baristas create drinks and shape the day of each customer they greet.
  • Pastors bring vision to their church family and remind them of a forever life.

Work has meaning if we give it meaning. There’s no need to balance it with life.
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Do you have to work next Friday?

“The problem is, you love your family in your heart, but you don’t love them in your schedule. And they can’t see your heart.” – Andy Stanley, Choosing to Cheat

Choosing To Cheat by Andy Stanley

Do you have to work next Friday? Answer the question.

The honest answer is likely “No, I don’t have to work”. It’s also very that you said “Yes, I do have to work”. My friend Chris LoCurto has a daughter in the hospital right now with a medical condition that has changed their lives forever. Two weeks ago I saw Chris speak in front of 7,000 people. After his talk he got back in his car and returned to the hospital. Chris doesn’t have to work Friday and neither do you.

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