Dear Dreamers,
Ah, the Holidays! As hectic a time as this is, I thought I would simply share what attendees at the October Rendezvous had to say about their motivations to become Workampers. See how like-minded you are with your motivations to enjoy America, one job at a time!
Motivations:
1. Support my traveling habit;
2. Different experiences; save money while traveling
3. Keep busy;
4. Love outdoors;
5. Stay in touch with grandchildren all across the country
6. Retirement option
7. Get out of the rate race
8. Meet new people
9. Learn new skills
10. Stay long enough in an area to really learn about it
11. Visit friends and family
12. Live “for a time” (not visit) in other parts of the country
13. See God’s beautiful creations
14. My husband! X2 (but now love it!)
15. Need a little money while travel
16. Support lifestyle
17. Downsize; see the country
18. Camping lifestyle;
19. Wanderlust!
20. Lifeboat to weather any economic condition [Darren]
21. Offer my kids an amazing childhood
22. Change.
23. See country on limited budget.
24. My wife.
25. Retired Navy and I missed traveling.
26. I am a semi-minimalist and house is too darn much!
27. Fun.
Dreamers, I am sure you share many of these motivations and have some of your own. Keep envisioning reaching your goals, like visions of sugarplums!
Have a blessed Holiday season and stay motivated!
Ho, Ho, Ho
Steve Anderson
Dreamers,
Have you ever been on a path or course of action and started to wonder what you were doing? At times, it helps to “step back” from something to attain a new perspective. It seems hard to believe, but we can be giving our all to attain a goal and then lose sight of why we made the decision to embark on a path in the first place. Putting distance between ourselves and a course of action can remind us of the “whys.”
We must be able to see our goal or envision our end result, no matter how far away we are from attaining it. We don’t want to be buried in our tasks and never get ahead. Some people are task-oriented and are good at focusing on the task at hand but end up slowing down. Think about this: If something is held two inches from our eyes, it all becomes a blur. Try this: hold an unfamiliar photograph (or a page from a magazine) no more than two inches away from your eyes and you won’t have a clue what you are looking at. Then, hold it two feet away and the picture is clear.
By focusing on the end result, we don’t get discouraged with our tasks at hand; we stay motivated!
One area of life we often lose our way with or get discouraged is with our finances. We pay a bill here, another there, finance a car, buy insurance, and put aside money for vacation, kids’ college, emergencies and retirement. Day to day managing of finances is important, but it is easy to get discouraged if we seem to barely make it from paycheck to paycheck. We need to focus on the big picture. The money we have set aside for the future due to great decision-making will cause us to enjoy life more and protect us so that we will have a decent future. Balancing our finances for today’s needs as well as tomorrow is an important decision. The rising cost of living and unexpected life events will cause uneasiness unless we’ve planned for it.
The same holds true for anything we are working towards. Despite tasks we may or may not enjoy, obstacles, disappointments in things we can’t change, and circumstances we are powerless to control, when we focus on the positive results we will achieve if we keep at it, we will stay motivated and realize our goal.
Keep the prize ahead of you where you can see it!
Until next time…
Steve Anderson, Dream Engineer
Tags: action, focus, goal, perspective
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Dreamers,
Ask Not What Others Can Do for You. Ask What You Can Do for Yourself!
We are very good about not taking responsibility for our incompletes. We can always find someone else or some other circumstance to blame.
You know it is true: the only one to blame is ourselves! Even if someone else’s input, signature, or blessing is necessary to move forward, somewhere along the line, you have dropped the ball. Have you really pursued it? It is up to you to keep after the person, circumstance that is standing in the way of your success. Get out your calendar and schedule reminders to yourself; even if you passed it on to someone else’s desk. That’s right: there is always the option to delegate! If you don’t have the expertise, system or ability to finish a task, enlist others! The rule of thumb, however, to get something done, is to do it yourself. If you have delegated it, make sure you are kept apprised of progress made.
Do what you have to do to get your tasks completed. Assess what needs to be done. Plan how to accomplish each one. Involve others, if you must. Consciously take the next step of filling out required documents, mailing them in, meet with your [fill in the blank – be it lawyer, accountant, parent, boss, child].
Remember—limit yourself to a couple of projects at a time. Don’t let multiple projects take up space in your house, your RV, and most definitely, Your Mind!!!!
Evaluate progress on the task. Then, realize that if the task is not completed, you have yourself to blame.
Until next time…
Steve Anderson, Director of Possibilities
Tags: accomplish, blame, delegate, enlist, evaluate, involve, pursuit, tasks
Have you taken the time to make an assessment of all the things you want or need to be completed before you can begin the Workamper lifestyle? There is a difference, you know. There are those sensible, very important things to do that will save you tax dollars, keep you healthy, protect your assets, make your family feel cared for, etc., that are on your “To Do” lists that should be in the “need” category. Then, there are those things that aren’t necessary, but you would like to do them. If they will give you a measure of peace or happiness; if they are tasks you otherwise would feel guilty or bad about not completing before you begin the lifestyle, then they might actually be a need! You want to feel a sense of freedom when you leave your comfort zone to workamp.
Too often, we try to accomplish too many tasks at once. In fact, we pride ourselves on multi-tasking, but recent research has shown we are better off giving full attention to one or two projects or tasks at a time rather than numerous ones that divide our attention. Our brains don’t react well with the overload and may even shut down. A tendency to multi-task often leads to poor outcome or less completion in the long run. Separate your needs from your wants and attack the needs first, one task at a time.
What will you feel best about: 50 things you have half-started or 15 things you have completed?
There are bound to be tasks that you struggle with, so you keep moving them to the bottom of the pile. How often have you stared past that sticky note? How many papers on your pile would be marked “Incomplete – F” from a teacher because it is way past the deadline? In fact, why do you think the word “deadline” was coined? Something is considered dead in the water if not completed in a timely fashion! Quit giving yourself credit for things left unfinished! Try to focus on how good it feels to have tasks behind you.
Learn to say “no” to those requests that you just are not up to doing right from the beginning! Putting someone off by delaying a “no” can cause added stress to that person and yourself. Just say “no” from the beginning! Get comfortable with your decisions. After all, that is the first step toward completion: “Decide.”
I am with you along the way,
Steve Anderson, your Dream Engineer
Tags: deadlines, decide, needs, tasks, wants
Dreamers,
Hopefully, by now you realize it is to your benefit to ask for and receive feedback faithfully. If you are confident that you are better off to know the whole truth, people’s experiences and concerns will only light your path. Your success, your relationships, your performance all depend on positive and negative feedback. In fact, ask for it regularly!
Intentionally ask for feedback. Ask your spouse, parents, kids, friends, educators, colleagues, and anyone that you KNOW has experience or knowledge to share their opinions with you!
Specifically ask: “What do you see my limitations are?” “What do you see that is holding me back?” “What can I do to improve my chances of succeeding?” Or, “What can I do for you?” “What would it take to gain your confidence?” “What price is success?”
Of course, not all feedback appears useful, except as a means of confirmation you are heading in the right direction. However, if you are given the same advice from several people or resources, then give that advice serious consideration. Don’t let your ego warp your good sense. Would you rather be “right” or “successful.” If you ignore the majority opinion, you are likely to be alienated and unhappy.
How, exactly, should you respond to feedback?
Acknowledge each opinion and thank them for their thoughts. Do not argue. Write down the advice, when and from whom it came. Reflect on it. Explaining, justifying and blaming are just a waste of everyone’s time and reflects badly on you. Use what is valuable; put the rest aside. If you fail using anyone else’s advice, don’t point it out. Just take what you have learned from the experience and regroup. Refocus your vision. Recommit yourself to the path at hand. Keep moving forward toward fulfilling your dream.
In this way, you will not alienate anyone. In fact, you will draw closer to those you consulted because you let them know you value them. You will be a better person for it and more than likely find success!
Until next week….
Steve Anderson, Dream Engineer
Tags: concern, consult, experience, feedback, performance, sense, success, value
Hello, Dreamers!
Do you find yourself so in fear of feedback that you never ask for it? There are always people in your life that will give unasked advice; but others, fearing confrontation, won’t give it unless you ask them. They are afraid of your reaction, so you need to learn to ask for it sincerely. Prepare yourself to NOT react in the ways we discussed last week. Then, prepare to be open-minded and plan to consider whatever piece of advice is offered.
How many times have you observed someone going about something the wrong way and haven’t offered your opinion? Then, afterwards, you exclaimed [either out loud or to yourself] “I knew you were heading in the wrong direction or going about it the wrong way!” You might have been the only person around that had the experience or necessary piece of information that could have been of assistance “if they only had asked.”
People love to offer beneficial information that can lead to success. Get in the habit of receiving feedback if even for the opportunity to let someone else feel good about themselves and boost their self-esteem. Either way, you are the winner!
Asking for feedback is a good habit to have, whether in accomplishing a goal, or maintaining a relationship. For most, it will take practice, because most people like to claim independence. You can claim it all you want, but the truth is, it really does “take a village” to accomplish the most.
God created us to be companions to each other, to help each other out. Are you always on the giving end or the receiving end? Can you give advice, but can’t take it? Or do you take advice, but don’t give it?!
Ponder this question this week and observe how many opportunities you have in a week to give or receive feedback. Decide for yourself if the habit of giving and receiving feedback will benefit you.
Until Later….
Steve Anderson
Your Dream Engineer
Tags: accomplishment, advice, consider, fear, feedback, habit, reaction
Do not wander aimlessly. Your journey is one with a purpose that requires you to take action!
How do you take those thousand steps to accomplish your desired goal?
First, consult with people who have already done what you want to do. Find out what steps they took to realize their dreams. You can learn so much from experienced people. Not only can you learn what TO DO; you can learn what NOT to do!
Second, do your research! Purchase books and take courses that guide you step by step. There are probably things you didn’t even know you need to consider in your planning process. The only way to know ahead of time is to do your research.
Third, is to visualize your way, from the end to the beginning. That is, imagine you have already reached your goal, and then look back and visualize the steps it took to get there.
Sometimes you can get guidance and advice for free. Other times, you have to pay for it. The main thing is to keep researching and asking—step by step. Your list of steps may get longer, but at least you know what you have to accomplish to reach your desired dreams.
Until later…
Steve Anderson, Dream Engineer
Tags: action, advice, consult, desire, experience, goal, guidance, journey, learn, purpose, steps, visualize
Your journey is made up of many thousands of steps that must be taken in order to have success. Where many come up short is they stop taking those steps. They get very close and then give up in frustration, or lack of motivation, most of which is caused by not realizing that the whole process is part of the journey. The Law of Attraction you will recall states that “like attracts like.” In the case of your journey, enthusiasm towards your goals and enjoying the journey will attract others with like enthusiasm.
Begin today to realize that the daily steps you take towards your goal is just as important as obtaining it. Think about your journey each day. If you are wavering today, read over your goals and get back on track.
Today’s world provides us with many challenges and if we focus on the negatives of present circumstances you will at best remain even and not moving forward with your dreams.
If you are clear about your goals, and you take several steps in that direction every day, you eventually will get there.
Have you written down your goals? Have you decided when you’d like to accomplish those goals? Be specific! Then, review it constantly. Each day, do something that moves you toward those goals.
Until later….
Steve Anderson, Dream Engineer
Tags: accomplish, challenges, enthusiasm, focus, goal, motivation, success
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To review, the goal of this blog is simple: to encourage you to develop your Dream to become an active Workamper (or whatever else you wish to accomplish) in your future. It is a journey, not a destination.
Everyone must have dreams in order to live life fully. One of my dreams is to provide you—the Dreamer—with as many tools and perspectives as possible to develop your dream.
I can’t live your dream for you—but, I can help you develop that dream!
What does “develop” mean? It is a progression, something that takes time and patience…thought and problem-solving. To “develop” means to expand, to grow, to mature, to cultivate, to build up. It doesn’t happen overnight, but it also doesn’t happen on its’ own!
The more you focus on your goals and dreams, the closer you will get to obtaining them. If you can take the time each and every day, you will that much sooner realize your dream.
However, we all struggle with being impatient and wanting to see the fruition of our goals right now. Don’t let the dreaming process be just a means to an end. The journey itself can be an enjoyable experience, if you let it.
I’ll be with you on your journey,
Steve Anderson, Dream Engineer
Last week I asked you to find a quiet time to sit and visualize the life you would like to be living in the future and to write that vision down. If you have not taken time to do that, please don’t read on until you have. You need to have a goal or a destination of where you are headed and what it is you desire in order to develop your future roadmap.
The first principle is about “Developing your Awareness.” This first principle is all about developing an understanding and realization of the infinite potential that flows through you and within you. Please don’t shut me off at this point and please don’t think you don’t have infinite potential!” We all have infinite potential and many of the reasons most people do not experience the life they would like to live, is that their potential is being dictated by others and the current life they are living.
If you have been reading this blog for awhile, we have discussed how we all have a paradigm: a set of habits and beliefs that are maintained in our minds in the subconscious. This paradigm has been developed over the years in your life through programming from your DNA, your family, your life’s experiences, etc. What happens to people as they live life and let circumstances dictate their futures, they begin to develop paradigms that are beat-down and restrained by a multitude amount of stuff that has happened to them. This constant beating down causes the development of strong beliefs and habits that keep the vast majority from ever being able to live the life they really wanted. A life developed as a result of circumstances; that becomes one that you complain each day about is no life at all. Instead, you should work toward an improved life!
No one has to be a victim of circumstances. You have the option to change your paradigm and to develop your life and live it to suit yourself! You do have the infinite potential to do just that. Perhaps the problem is that no one has ever told you that, so you do not have an understanding in your mind of just how powerful you can be in shaping your current and future life! Yes, you do have that much power!
Principle Number One is about taking the time to begin programming your subconscious that you have infinite potential to live the life you wish to live. Over the coming week find some quiet time and take your written statement of how you would like to be living and begin to believe that you have the potential to live the life you want to live. You don’t have to convince anyone else of this. You just must believe it yourself. Become aware of how infinite your potential truly is!
Until next time…
Steve Anderson
Dream Engineer
Tags: awareness, beliefs, destination, DNA, future, goal, habits, infinite, life, paradigm, potential, principle, vision, visualize
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