Chuck Goetschel :: Wake Up, Life's Happening!

Last week I was flying up to Salt Lake City to speak at a TEAM convention of around 5,000 of the most fired-up people you have ever seen. I was asked to speak on "Inspiration".

Why are people not inspired today? So many are simply tired...burnt-out, over-worked, and living without a purpose. It takes a dream, a vision, and something that stirs your soul to truly inspire you!

While en route to SLC, I had a layover in Las Vegas and decided to take a random survey (thanks to Wendy) as to what stirs people's souls. It was amazing what happened. I didn't have a lot of time but was able to ask nine people the question: "What Stirs Your Soul?" I know, it was a random question from a complete stranger but I wanted to see what responses I would receive. It was amazing how quickly people opened up! Here are the nine responses in order that I received:

1. Not having enough money to pay my bills.
2. Not being able to give my daughter what she wants.
3. Going to church.
4. Working away from my new bride (He had been married for three weeks and spent the last two of them out of town working).
5. No idea whatsoever (I confirmed he wasn't avoiding the question, he really had no idea).
6. Traveling and experiencing other cultures and people.
7. My kids--"They give me a reason to live each day." (A female security guard response).
8. Disturbed that more people live by their head and not by their heart.
9. "Guidance." The idea of having some guidance in life vs just being lost (She had lost her daughter and the grief led to the loss of her marriage).

I boarded my plane to SLC thinking there are a lot of hurting people out there. Life is difficult--no doubt. However, it is also important to realize that the things that stir your soul (your passions) are often a guide to your purpose. Focus on the negative of it, and it will likely drain your energy. Focus on what you could do to make a difference with it, and you may begin to uncover a calling. It is true: "Life is like a camera--what you focus on you will develop."

As a result, as difficult as it may be, it is essential that each of us focus our lives around the fulfillment our God-given purpose. Discover it and invest your life into the pursuit of it! As crazy as it may seem, wake up excited about life in spite of your current challenges! Wake up with great expectations! Wake up with the words of my son saying to you:

"Wake Up, Life's Happening!"

These were the words of my three year old boy very early in the morning nearly two years ago. I was enjoying a deep sleep in the comfort of my Tempurpedic bed when he came in all excited pulling the blinds up in my room exposing the still dark sky outside.

"What are you doing, Chase?"

"I'm telling you to wake up, Daddy! Life's Happening!" he responded again.

It was his birthday and he was excited! He knew it was going to be a great day! As far as he was concerned, his birthday had officially arrived and he wasn't about to miss a minute of it!

He's right. Life is happening. This is not a dress rehearsal. This is it! Make it count!

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Re: Wake Up, Life's Happening!

by John on Thu 09 Oct 2008 10:13 AM PDT | Profile | Permanent Link

Chuck,

I attended the Team Monavie event in SLC this weekend past. I throughly enjoyed your speeches, especially when you spoke about Jason Lezak. Thank you also for giving us a glimpse into the lives of others(via your poll) and how we are positioned to make a difference in peoples lives.

The very first conference I attended was in St. George, UT where you were the key note speaker, so naturally you are my favorite. Your advice to START and DON"T STOP is one I follow to this day, though we are all in TEAM now.

Your story is truly inspiring. I only hope that I can become half as successful as you are. Thanks for sticking it out and thanks for joining the TEAM. Your CD, "A Dream that stirs your soul" is AWESOME!

I wish you and your family the best.

John Murdock

Re: Wake Up, Life's Happening!

by Chris on Mon 13 Oct 2008 12:07 AM PDT | Profile | Permanent Link

Hi! My name is Chris Swanson and I traveled from edmonton alberta by charter bus took 50 hrs round trip to go but it was worth it! I had a lot of time to reflect on what I saw and you made it hit home for me. I totaly enjoyed your visit when you came here and hope you come back soon. Your talk on the inspiration at the team conference was a awsome thing to hear. The las Vegas survey made me realize that I had just travelled quite the distance and it did not matter if I was a Canadian or American the general hurt of a lot of people is out there. You have me the decision to say all in and do this monavie biz with all my heart and soul. You have hit spots with me that I did not know where there! You have definitely made my life better and one day I hope to say thanks to you in person. I am going to try my best to get to St Louis and be there as well, need the passport but iam sure that will come through. Wish you all the best in everything and hope to attend the next event you are at and come back to edmonton soon! You were great!

Re: Wake Up, Life's Happening!

by Foodin65 on Mon 20 Oct 2008 08:34 PM PDT | Profile | Permanent Link

Hey Chuck,

The name's Richard, and I just wanted to post a hear-felt thank you for what you have done and been for me in my life. Your Old CD's "Show Your Best Plan" and "The System is That Good" were my first exposure to a Leadership Development System and I've nearly worn them out from listening to them. You have long been one of my favorite speaker's and your talks and blog post have been mentoring me for several years now. I very much look forward to meeting you in person as I get to Round Table and Policy Council with the TEAM. What an amazing opportunity for someone to actually be able to work for a chance to meet and build relationships with their hero's. Keep fighting the good fight cause you are having an impact beyond what you could possibly know.

Go Power Player,
Richard Matthews

Re: Wake Up, Life's Happening!

by Megan on Mon 17 Nov 2008 05:32 AM PST | Profile | Permanent Link

Hi Chuck! Thank you so much for all you do; it was a CD from you that first got me thinking differently 3 years ago. You don't know me, but I'm from Team-Monavie in Atlanta, and my upline said you might be interested in something I'm doing:

I work as a high school English teacher, and one of my classes is non-college-prep seniors. I was told they needed to do a "senior paper," but I really wanted it to be useful to them (and these kids are so sick of "career research," plus I didn't want to join in the chorus that says if they get a good job life will be great). So, my students are writing a "Purpose Paper!" And the first paragraph in each paper is the student's mission statement, based on your talk in Kentucky(?) last year. We actually watched part of the DVD in class!

After the mission statement, they have to write specific, measurable goals, a plan for achieving them, and then in the end tie everything back together, explain how those goals will help them live out and become what they wrote in their mission statements.

Most of my students have never thought this way before, and I think that, at least for a few of them, this paper might really make a difference. Thanks so much; you're an inspiration to more than you know!

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