For many years I fought the idea of using GPS because I already had a GPS. Her name was Diane. She was my wife. “Turn left in 500 ft – Stay on this road for three miles – Stop! – We’re here!”
Diane was always right and she didn’t need batteries.
Now I have become dependent of the voice of a strange woman. She has my destination locked in her memory and shows me the perfect way to get there.
Like Diane, she’s always right. Unlike Diane, she never asks me what I am thinking or insists on stopping at every outlet mall we pass.
But occasionally I deliberately, or by accident, make a wrong turn. What happens next is amazing!
My GPS gently tells me how to get back on track. With no hint of anger or disappointment, I hear a single word, “recalculating.” Then she comes up with a whole new perfect plan for me.
A new beginning from my current position. How cool is that! The destination remains the same… the journey getting there has been adjusted taking into account my diversion.
We have a lot to learn from this woman. A lesson that can make 2016 a productive and happy new year.
Here is the strategy to help lead you to a happy and successful new year.
Anticipate the need to recalculate!
The path to success, in business, marriage, friendship or faith is NEVER, you heard it right, NEVER, without misguided or intentional detours. Like missiles fired at some distant target, we begin making errors shortly after lift off.
Every missile fired into space goes astray, every single one. Back at the command center, the missiles “GPS” is constantly recalculating and sending new commands, “correct one degree to the left.” Soon the missile is back on course….. but not for long. What looks like a flawless shot to the moon is actually a million little recalculations made along the way. The ability to recalculate gets the missile to where it is going. The same ability will get you where you want to go and where you are supposed to go.
We are extremely reluctant to accept “recalculating” as a pattern of success. We want to believe the journey will be seamless and without error. But it is those who accept failure as a reality, those who eagerly seek to learn from mistakes, those who are anxious to recalculate and get back on course, those are the people who reach the pinnacles of success.
- It took Thomas Edison thousands of failures and approximately 10,000 experiments to invent the electric light bulb. He knew how to recalculate.
- Robert Fulton, the inventor of the steam engine, failed so publicly that his creation was dubbed Fulton’s Folly. But he knew how to recalculate!
- Abraham Lincoln was defeated in several elections before he was elected as president of the United States. He didn’t give up! He recalculated, made adjustments, and changed the face of history.
Even God recalculates for us. It’s called GRACE! God’s Provision for Stupiditiy! GPS. So if God does it, why shouldn’t we? When we make a wrong turn in life God doesn’t ban us from making the journey. He just whispers, “recalculating” and redirects us, from where we find ourselves in the moment, to a NEW and PERFECT path to the right destination.
Where are you right now? Where do you want to be? Recalculate! You can get there from here! I look forward to reading your comments.
I’d like to write more but I have to make a U-turn!
[reminder]
Comments
Thanks Ken. You always inspire. Wish you would come to Greensburg , PA some day.
This is so true. Sometimes we miss the point of failure and give up, rather than sitting with God to ask His direction. We gain strength, courage, wisdom and so much more if we will take the time to recalculate in His direction rather than giving up or throwing a dart to determine our next step.
Sometimes it’s just our heart to mind connection that needs plugging in.
I wish I could afford to come to one of your workshops. I need a new direction. I started my career as a Domestic Violence Family Law Attorney working for legal aid and I got burned out. My Father got ill and I moved and became a Elder Law Attorney for a different legal aid office and I loved it. I got worried about my job in 2011 because of the crisis that non-profits were having and opened my own firm. I loved it for awhile but the strain of running the firm were huge and then my parents got ill. I then began to be their caretaker and work the firm, which was a lot. In 2015 my Father died, my Maternal Grandmother died and then my mother died. I am lost. I have adopted a new baby girl in May of 2015 and that is my only happiness (and my supportive husband). I need a new direction where I can use my education and experience to help people, get paid enough to pay my bills, and find happiness again. I would love to become a public speaker, but just don’t know how to start.
Dawn – This is Joy from Ken’s team. I would love to talk to you about SCORRE and how we might be able to help you in your dreams to be a public speaker. If you’re interested, please email me – [email protected].
I love it! A few months ago I wrote an article about ‘RECALCULATING’ in our lives.
That woman’s voice when one misses a turn is so rude! I think if she could come thru the GPS, she would hit us and call us stupid.
lol
Oh my goodness Ken, you are spot on and speaking right to me. What a great analogy! Thank you! I needed to hear that. I tend to quit instead of regalulate. I’m so thankful for Gods grace, patience and forgiveness.
You are so right about God being our GPS at all times. That is a comforting thought. Thank you for this word.
Ken, I can say you are so right. after 48 years of marriage and 72 years on this earth, I can say RECALCULATE ! it makes the journey much easier as you go along 🙂 If I did not recalculate when I got to Western North Carolina, I would never have continued my Children’s ministry and added a Radio ministry.