Sunday Inspiration: Successful Failures

03 Feb

In my Sunday Inspiration last week titled “Another day, another adventure“, I shared a message from Mark Batterson’s book “The Wild Goose: Reclaim the Adventure of Pursuing God.” Apparently that hit some hot buttons because I received more comments than any other message I have ever sent. Therefore I am going to continue to share more messages from this outstanding book.

In chapter 2 of The Wild Goose, Mark writes:

I had a professor in grad school who posed a profound question when it comes to determining God-ordained passions: “What makes you cry or pound your fist on the table?” In other words what makes you sad or mad? And let me add one more question to the mix: “What makes you smile?” If you want to discover your God-ordained passions, then you to need to identify what makes you sad, mad, or glad.

Pursuing our passion is the key to living a fruitful and fulfilling life. It is the thing that wakes us up early in the morning and keeps us up late at night. It is the thing that turns a career into a calling.

All of us have heard of people who are extremely successful and extremely unhappy. I call them successful failures. Their ladder is leaning against the wrong wall. Climbing the wrong ladder is succeeding at the wrong thing. Sure you might make some money or get your fifteen minutes of fame. But what’s the point? I would rather fail at something I love than succeed at something I don’t enjoy.

This past summer, my son Robbie backpacked the Camino de Santiago across northern Spain with Sean, a close friend. While hiking, Robbie and Sean stumbled across an elderly lady who spoke English and told them,

One of the most important things in life is figuring out and pursuing what you are most passionate about. It will be a combination of two things – something you have always loved and something you have struggled through.”

As Robbie journaled and reflected deeply on these words. he realized he had always loved seeing the fire in me and my wife when we pursued our passions, but at the same time he was frustrated not being able to help us succeed more or faster in business.

Out of his deep reflecting, Robbie’s life mission was birthed – to impact communities and the world by empowering thousands of people to pursue their passions through business.

So what makes you sad, mad, or glad?

And what are you doing to pursue your God-given passion?

If you are pursuing your passion, who can you add to your team to accelerate things and magnify your impact?

Prayer Power
Heavenly Father, it is You who prompted me to write this message today. May these words go like cruise missiles to their targets. Speak Spirit to spirit to my readers to give them hope, light sparks, and inspire ideas to help launch people into their destinies. Surround those of us who want to move forward with the right people so that we may have the safety in a multitude of counselors that you talk about. In Jesus name I pray. Amen and hallelujah!

Blessings to pursue your God-given passion!

Joseph

More blessings

1) Reforming Corporate Culture for Prosperity – replay of webinar on Jan 29

2) Career Readiness Certificate – Finding the Right Person for the Right Job – replay of webinar on Jan 23

 

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