[quote style=”boxed”]Success is never an accident. It typically starts as imagination, becomes a dream, stimulates a goal, and grows into a plan of action–which then inevitably meets with opportunity. Don’t get stuck along the way.[/quote]
Dan Miller, president of 48 Days, specializes in creative thinking for increased personal and business success. He believes the most effective life plans are achieved by integrating natural gifts, unique personality traits and one’s own values and passions. Dan is active in helping individuals redirect careers, evaluate new income sources, and achieve balanced living. He believes that a clear sense of direction can help us become all that God designed us to be.
Dan is the author of the widely acclaimed 48 Days To The Work You Love and No More Mondays. He writes regularly for many popular magazines and web portals, including CBN.com, Crosswalk.com, New Man, AARP and Success magazine. He has been a guest on CBS’ The Early Show, MSNBC’s Hardball with Chris Mathews, 700 Club’s Living The Life and the Dave Ramsey Show–to hit some highlights. Dan is also a frequent speaker and guest on popular radio programs like Fox News, Moody Broadcasting, Crown Financial, Janet Parshall’s America, American Family Radio, and Prime Time Chicago.
Being committed to personal priorities, Dan and wife, Joanne, have been happily married for more than 44 years.
What are you working on right now?
We are developing a new, coaching certification program. People have been asking for it for ten years, and we finally decided to create a complete program to prepare people for success in the coaching field.
I’m also working on lots of details for the release of my next book, Wisdom Meets Passion. Things are changing dramatically in the publishing industry, which opens the door to some really cool and creative options for launching a book. Stay tuned!
Where did the idea for 48 Days come from?
The actual business grew out of a Sunday School class. I was just teaching some principles on navigating inevitable career transitions, and people kept coming and asking for more resources. Everything I’m doing today grew out of that unexpected start.
What does your typical day look like?
Nothing but sunshine. No, really, I love every day and getting to do what I do. I’m an early riser, so I have a chance to read for 30 minutes, and then I hit the treadmill for an hour. Although I’ve got a killer TV and sound system, I can’t tolerate the commercial overload of TV–and the cheesy programming. So I use that time to listen to selected podcasts by people who are big thinkers and doers. Then I join my wife for a muffin and smoothie, and wander back to my office by about 8:30 a.m. I spend every morning writing blogs, requested magazine articles, new product manifestos, and upcoming book projects. I have no phone in my office, and I don’t have my email set to load automatically. I typically have lunch appointments with someone, where I expect a two-way learning dialogue. Then I come back to my office, open my email, and handle communication with clients, customers, independent contractors and VAs. I’m home by 6:30 to enjoy the evening.
How do you bring ideas to life?
I have developed a rich library of great thinkers who provide plenty of resources for putting legs on ideas. One of my statements in my new book is: “Success is never an accident. It typically starts as imagination, becomes a dream, stimulates a goal, and grows into a plan of action–which then inevitably meets with opportunity. Don’t get stuck along the way.”
What’s one trend that really excites you?
That change is relentless and inevitable. Change is not necessarily good or bad. But progress, by definition, requires change. So I always expect change to be bringing progress in some fashion. I’m one of those eternal optimists or guys who always sees the glass as half full.
What was the worst job you ever had and what did you learn from it?
After one of my business disasters, I took a position recruiting students into training programs. I spent my days in the ghettos and slums, meeting all kinds of unsavory individuals. While I was very successful financially in that role, I soon found out it takes a whole lot more than education and knowledge to change lives that are meaningless and hopeless.
If you were to start again, what would you do differently?
Wow, I’d pretty much want to take the same path if it were to lead me to where I am today. I’m enjoying success in many areas, and I love the life I’m privileged to live.
As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?
Take action. If there’s one thing that separates the “wannapreneurs” from the entrepreneurs, it’s that. Create a plan and act.
What is one problem you encountered as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?
Having bank personnel and practices change overnight. I learned to never be dependent on banks for anything; they don’t contain business people–they’re full of administrators.
What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?
I live in a wealthy country where lots of us have water wells. There is no service provided for maintaining our softeners and filters. I’ve always thought that would be a no-brainer to provide a monthly service to check filters, salt, etc. I’ve got a popular ebook, with 48 more ideas in it, that you can download for free.
If you could change one thing in the world, what would it be and how would you go about it?
I like to see people understand the power of cooperation. We glamorize competition and think someone has to lose. There’s enough to go around. Everyone can win.
Tell us a secret.
As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he. It’s not really a secret, but recent writers like to make it appear so.
What are your three favorite online tools or resources and what do you love about them?
- Amazon is the bomb. As a Prime member, I typically get anything I order the next day. How cool is that?
- Obviously, I don’t know how I wrote before Google. My ability to research facts and write productively has escalated dramatically.
- Our 48Days.net community. The power of community in sharing advice and resources is amazing to watch.
What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?
There are so many great ones. But I’ll recommend the old classic, How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie, as an absolute necessity. Follow those principles, and you’ll be successful in whatever business or career you choose.
Three people we should follow on Twitter and why?
I don’t follow anyone on Twitter. I don’t know of anyone who has that many important thoughts in the course of a day.
When was the last time you laughed out loud? What caused it?
I laughed this morning while reading Dilbert. Those daily cartoons about the maladies of corporate America crack me up.
Who is your hero?
Zig Ziglar is certainly one who has influenced me throughout the years. His character and integrity made his business principles believable.
Why would anyone settle for doing work that was not meaningful, purposeful and profitable?
Those who continue to do so simply haven’t taken the time or made the effort to decide where they want to be three years from now. Thus they drift, pushed along by circumstances.
Why do people take personal relationships for granted?
Just like businesses, relationships either thrive or struggle based on people having a clear plan and being strategic and intentional about actions taken.
Connect:
48 Days on Twitter: @48DaysTeam
Dan Miller on Facebook: Dan Miller
48 Days on YouTube: eagle5747
48 Days’ website: www.48days.com
48 Days’ social media site: www.48days.net
Mario Schulzke is the Founder of ideamensch, which he started a decade ago to learn from entrepreneurs and give them a platform for their ideas.