This past week while reading the words of an ancient Hebrew prophet I was reminded of how easy it is to wake up one day and find yourself heading so far down the wrong track that you don’t recognize yourself or the direction you are going in life. The world we live in puts so much pressure on us to perform at a certain level and live up to other’s expectations, while at the same time deceiving us that this is all being done for own good.

As you head down this wrong path the destruction you leave behind starts to impact more than just your life. Your engagement level at work and home suffer, your relationships at home and work deteriorate, and the dreams you had of making a difference are replaced with dreams of prestige and success at all costs.

How do we know if we are headed in the wrong direction? I believe that in life we can always see signs that reflect what is in our heart. As you reflect on where you are at right now in your career or leadership at home, consider these six signs that you might be headed in the wrong direction and in need of a course correction very soon!

1. You think too highly of yourself – you believe your title, position, or income level make you better than others.
2. You are arrogant – you not only think your important but actually constantly communicate it to people.
3. Money is your master – you believe money is the solution to all emotional, physical, mental, spiritual problems.
4. You turn your head away from injustice – you don’t have time to deal with other’s issues or problems.
5. You are focused only what feels good, not what is right – if it does not bring pleasure or joy its not worth doing.
6. You worship materialism over relationship – your thoughts, money, and actions all lead to increasing your net worth in things rather than relationships with people.

Six Signs You’re Headed In The Wrong Direction is a post from: Coach Dan Foster

Not long ago, I wrote a post entitled, Filling the Space Between Where You Are and Where You Want To Be. The space between our current reality and where we want to be never has a shortage of activities, feelings, or people waiting to fill it up. I am often reminded of how important it is to be mindful of what I allow into this space. The choices we make have immediate and long term consequences that either widen this gap or bring us closer to the life we want to live and the goals we are striving to achieve.

This past week I had the great privilege of speaking to the Christian Chamber of Commerce in Newberg, Oregon on this topic. In this 24 minute talk I share three tools and four different relationships that I believe are essential for business leaders to have in place when making decisions about how they fill the space between where they are and where they want to be in life and business:

1. Life Plan
2. Vision Plan
3. Personal Development Plan
4. Spousal Relationship
5. Group of Close Friends
6. Coach/Mentor
7. Faith

If you are not able to see this video in RSS Feed or Email, Click Here.

I hope you find this speech encouraging and helpful. If you are interested in having me speak to your group or team, Click Here.

Make it a great day!

Coach Dan

KEYNOTE: FILLING THE SPACE is a post from: Coach Dan Foster

A 2011 USA Today/Gallup Poll found that 92 percent of Americans believe in God. If any of that 92% are like me, I bet they wonder how they can actually please God in their careers and personal life. Is it possible to bring joy to the creator of the universe? As I go through life each day, is there anything that I can do that really helps me connect with the Almighty? I believe these types of questions have been asked for thousands of years and many of us are still searching for the answer.

The search for learning how to please God can lead you down many paths and provide you with many potential answers. Over the course of my life, I’ve learned that most of the answers the world provides and that I come up with are more pleasing to me then they are God. I’ll donate money once a year to some charitable cause, I’ll hold a door open for an old lady, I’ll help a client by lowering my commission, or I’ll tell someone,  ”Hey, I’m praying for you”. All good things, don’t get me wrong. But, also very temporary and inconsistent.

Imagine finding an answer that could stand the test of time, outlive any season of life, and provide everlasting security to whomever learns it. In a short, but powerful, story written almost 2700 years ago, the prophet Micah give us the simple and powerful answer to the question, “how can we please God?” In its simplicity we find a road map to joy and peace in our daily actions. In its power, we find the opportunity to not only please God but impact the world we live in for generations to come. Here is Micah’s answer:

ACT JUSTLY in everything you do. Be honest and fair to the people you serve, your family and friends, and in all your business dealings. Do not seek ways to take advantage of others, “pull one over” on someone, or use someone’s misfortune as your gain. If you make a promise keep it. If you give your word, keep your word.

LOVE MERCY and administer it liberally. Take care of those that are less fortunate than you. Help people that are going through difficult times by being generous with your time, money, and resources. Have compassion as a mother would for her newborn child that looks to her for its every need. Forgive those that have wronged you and be quick to extend grace to those that need it. Seek out ways in which to serve in your community and love your neighbor.

WALK HUMBLY no matter what level of success you’ve attained. Understand that there is a greater purpose in life than the growth and development of your ego. The gifts and talents you have been given are for service to others and the betterment of community. Follow the golden rule of doing unto others as you would have them do unto you. Continually seek Truth, justice, and mercy and don’t take yourself so seriously. Lead by example, serve your followers, and develop the next generation of leaders in your home and business.

Three simple but difficult actions to live by. Make no mistake, the world will throw challenges, temptations, and opportunities your way that will distract you from these truths. If you find yourself off track, start over. Recommit to the three and surround yourself with others that want to please God. If 92% of us believe in Him, I bet there are few out there that want to impact the world and please Him too.

Question: As you look back over your life, how have you tried to please God?

Make it a great day!

Coach Dan

A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO PLEASING GOD is a post from: Coach Dan Foster

Have you ever reflected on your actions and discovered that they go completely against everything you’ve always stood for? Its difficult to have the words we say and the things we do always be a positive reflection of our values and convictions. In my experience, it does not just happen naturally once you state your guiding principles in a vision or mission statement. Rather, it takes dedication, discipline, and hard work to stay faithful to what you believe in and hold true. What do we do then when we find our actions do not match our beliefs?

This week I was reading the book of Jonah, a story in the Old Testament (Hebrew Bible) written almost 800 years before Jesus arrived on the scene in Israel. The book begins with a situation similar to the one I described above. Jonah negatively reacts to a message from God and find himself acting in a way that completely contradicts his values and calling as a prophet of God. Because of his actions he risked loosing both his credibility as messenger of God and his God-given calling. I believe the book provides four lessons on how to approach a situation where your actions and beliefs are at war with each other.

Consider these four lessons from Jonah’s struggle:

1. Don’t run from the fact that you are struggling to do the right thing. There is no shame in this type of struggle. In fact, this type of struggle helps you gain clarity around your convictions and the behaviors that support them.
2. Seek help. How you do this is up to you. Hopefully, you have a small group of people you trust for support and wise counsel. If you don’t, then do what Jonah did and pray. No matter where you are at in your relationship with the Almighty, He always wants to hear from you and help you.
3. Remember you were created for a purpose and a calling. Sometimes we lose site of the fact that each of us has been given amazing gifts and talents to serve others. When we use those special gifts and talents we don’t need to worry so much about the outcome or struggle because we know if we are true to ourselves and our calling, our actions will be blessed.
4. Rejoice in your freedom to choose. What an amazing gift is free will and to live in a country where we have the ability to make personal choices based on our beliefs. Give thanks for this opportunity.

If you are struggling with a decision or behavior that does not align with your core beliefs, don’t give up or lose hope. Remember these lessons from Jonah and start making the small decisions to help you stay true to your beliefs. As always, I’m here to help…

Make it a great day!

Coach Dan

DO YOUR ACTIONS SUPPORT YOUR BELIEFS? is a post from: Coach Dan Foster

If we play the part of someone we’re not for too long, do we eventually forget who we truly are? Striving to be good at things we are not, performing tasks we are not gifted in, setting goals we will never achieve, and holding ourselves accountable to disciplines that do not match our talents is an exhausting and depressing existence. Why do we do it?

We play the part in business, at home, and in life instead of being transparent and authentically displaying who we truly are. We fear losing a job, a client, or a friend. We fear abandonment from those we love the most. We fear the idea of coming face to face with who we really are and realizing that we cannot live up to even our own expectations.

We fear showing people who we really are. So we play the part, and our calling in life becomes nothing more than soft whisper we occasionally hear when the noise of life quiets down for a brief moment.

In what areas of your life are you playing the part? Is there another option? I believe there is. Living a life of purpose begins with the understanding that each of us was created for something special. We all have gifts and talents to share with the world. When we focus on these and strive to be our authentic self in life and work we can have the greatest influence on those we love and serve. We have to stop playing the part though, or we will never experience the joy that comes through living out our dreams and living a life of purpose.

Make it a great day!

Coach Dan

STOP PLAYING THE PART is a post from: Coach Dan Foster